Q: How do I paint my living room?
A: Redoing a living room can be as simple as putting a new coat of paint on the walls. Use this painting advice to help you pick a color, grab some supplies, prepare your space and get started with your painting project.
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Four Steps To Paint A Living Room
Painting Advice
1. Choose Your Color
Your living room should reflect how you and your family live. Consider the following questions:
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Are you more formal or casual?
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What types of furniture, draperies and décor accent your room?
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Does your living room connect with other areas of your home?
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If it does, can you use the color you select as an accent in adjoining areas?
Pair a bright color, like yellow, with more neutral-colored shades, such as gray, to energize your space without being too overwhelming.
White and blue paints can foster a beachy feeling in your living room, while using different shades of white together promotes a classic feel.
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Four Steps To Paint A Living Room
Painting Advice
2. Gather Supplies
After you've chosen your ideal paint color, you'll need to select the proper sheen. House painters recommend a flat sheen for touch-ups and hiding problem areas. Higher gloss sheens are easier to clean and perfect if you have children or pets, due to their higher scrubbability.
Next, it’s time to gather the supplies you'll need for the job. In addition to your paint, you'll need:
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Paint brushes
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Roller (and possibly an extender rod)
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Roller tray
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Masking tape or painter's tape
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Drop cloths
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Rags
Four Steps To Paint A Living Room
Painting Advice
3. Prepare Room
Prep the room before you begin painting:
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Take down all of your drapes.
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Remove rugs, pictures, furniture, and light switch plates.
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Use drop cloths and painter's tape to protect any surfaces you don't want to accidentally get paint on.
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Make sure walls are clean and any holes or imperfections are filled.
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Four Steps To Paint A Living Room
Painting Advice
4. Paint Your Walls
With a small brush, cut in a 2 to 3-inch wide area at the top of the first wall where it meets the ceiling. To avoid "hat banding" or "picture-framing" cut in one wall at a time, then paint the rest of the wall with a roller.
Using a 9-inch roller, paint each wall in square areas approximately 3 to 4 feet in size. Lightly paint back into wet paint to minimize the chance of a splotchy, inconsistent finish on the wall.
Paint from the top of your walls to the floor. Go over the surface a few times to ensure that you've got an even coat of paint on the wall.
Let the paint dry before applying a second coat. Keep in mind that oil-based paints take longer to dry than latex paint.
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As always, refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.
Four Steps To Paint A Living Room
Painting Advice
Conclusion
By following this room painting advice and room painting tips, you are increasing the value of your home and modernizing its look.
Give your living room a fresh, clean look by simply putting a coat of paint on your walls.
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