How to Prepare a Room for Interior Painting in New Haven, CT

24 December 2020

Preparing your painting project well beforehand means working in complete serenity afterward. Here’s what you need to think about before you get started with your interior painting project in New Haven, CT.

Protect the Room

It will be easier to work in an empty room; however, if you do not have the opportunity to do so, empty as much furniture and knick-knacks as possible. If you have to paint all the walls, group what is left in the room’s center. The fewer objects there are in the room, the more comfortable you will be when working. Also, remove pictures, shelves, rods, and curtains, even if they are not on the wall to be painted, as they could receive splashes.

Spilled Paint Can Be Catastrophic

Therefore, you must take the time to cover everything that remains in the room to be painted. If you have to redo the floor, do it after painting the walls: your painting job will be more comfortable. The plastic sheeting that protects the floor must be positioned halfway up the baseboards, without folds to avoid any sagging, and fixed with double-sided tape. As for furniture and objects that may remain, also use a plastic sheet and especially not old fabrics to cover them. Remember, the paint can pass through the fabric and stain what is underneath.


Also, remove the switch, and wall outlet covers to paint as close as possible to the holes. By depositing the paint widely in a regular way, avoiding repetitions (to go around the socket with a small brush, for example), the final result will be even more beautiful. If you can’t remove the covers, you will protect them with masking tape. This same adhesive will also be placed on the plinths not protected by the plastic sheet of the floor. It must be installed without wrinkles to prevent any paint dripping from getting underneath.

Protect Yourself, Too

Choose comfortable clothes that can be stained without fear or dress up in a painter’s suit. Also, consider protecting your hair. It is advisable to wear gloves. Protective goggles are essential if you are painting with glycerol paint or using a stripper.

Set the Amount of Paint Needed To Cover the Desired Surface

Measure the width and height of the area you want to cover and multiply those two numbers. Add all the results to get the total area. Then refer to the directions for the paint can to estimate the total number of cans you need. If you hesitate because you are at the upper limit, buy an additional can. If you keep the receipt, you can return the jar unused. Keep in mind that a dark shade will require more coats than a light shade.

Choose Your Equipment Carefully

When it comes to rollers and brushes, choose quality: rollers that are too thin or brushes that lose their hair will lengthen the work duration and compromise the quality of the final result. Also, choose the brushes suited to the nature of the paint you have selected: it is not the same material depending on whether you wash the material with water or white spirit. Finally, make sure you have a stepladder of sufficient height to allow you to reach the top of the wall safely and effortlessly.

The Bottom Line

Interior painting is the easiest and cheapest way to transform your home almost instantly. It can boost the aesthetic appeal, make your walls easy to clean and maintain and protect your walls against moisture damage and mold growth. Need professional help repainting your home’s interior? New Haven Painters can help. We offer affordable, reliable, and durable residential painting services in New Haven, Branford, Milford, Orange, North Haven, West Haven, East Haven, and the surrounding areas. Book a FREE estimate below to get started, or call us at (203) 606-2346 to talk about your project.

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