How to Update Your Walls
Redoing your walls can be an extremely enjoyable experience, or it can be an extremely miserable one. Take the time to prepare for each step to keep the issues that may arise at a minimum.
CHOOSING YOUR MATERIALS:
Different Types of Paint:
There are some types of paint that are for interior use but not for exterior use and vice versa. There are also some that are compatible for both. Acrylic and Oil are the two types of paints currently available for use in the home. Oil paints are commonly only recommended for use on smaller surface areas, if at all. Acrylic and Latex paints come in many different styles making them a great option for any project.
Both Acrylic and Latex paints have a variety of textures and finishes that you can choose from. The finish, or the sheen, of paint is the level of light that reflects from the final product. Texture gives the paint dimension and style. Paint can come in the following finishes: Flat/Matte, Eggshell, Satin, and High-Gloss.
Flat/Matte paints are paints that have no sheen whatsoever; while high-gloss paints are all sheen, and are the most reflective paints on the market. If you are considering to paint a room with a lot of natural lighting, then consider using a less reflective paint with a lower sheen level. On the other hand, if the room you are painting does not have a lot of natural lighting, then using a paint with a higher level of sheen can give the room an illusion of openness and light.
There are also different types of textures available for interior paints. One can choose from the following textures or choose no texture: Sand, Plaster, Popcorn, Orange Peel, Stone/Granite, and Brushed On. Textured paints can add dimension and focus points to a room, but keep in mind that some textures may date the room prematurely.
Different Types of Wallpaper:
Wallpaper is a great substitute for paint because of its ease of use and flexibility of design. Mixing and matching wallpaper with paint can give the room a considerable amount of dimension and character. There are a few different types of wallpapers on the market. One can choose from Vinyl, Grasscloth, Peel and Stick, Flock, and Paintable. Each of these types of wallpaper come in a large array of patterns, textures, and designs.
PREPARING TO UPDATE YOUR WALLS:
Before you can begin painting or wallpapering, you must check if there are any issues with the surfaces you are working with. When looking for problems or issues, you must look for things that may hinder the process later, for you or for another homeowner. You should look for mold, old paint, old wallpaper, dirt, and holes. After fixing any of these issues, you can decide exactly what you want to do with the room. There are a list of basic things you will need to paint or wallpaper a room. This list is in no way extensive, and can be modified for each project as needed.
Painting:
Primer
Painter’s tape
Drop cloths
Sandpaper
Paint Bucket
Roller
Ladder
Wallpapering:
Tape Measure
Ladder
Level
Putty knife
Drop Cloth
Bucket of Water (for pasted and pre-pasted wallpaper)
Gathering your materials beforehand can make your project go much smoother. It can also keep the whole process from becoming monotonous
PAINTING AND WALLPAPERING TIPS:
Painting:
Ventilation: When painting or wallpapering it is important to leave the room well ventilated. If you are painting a room with poor ventilation, then leave the door open at all times, and make sure to take plenty of breathing breaks.
Prepare Beforehand: Don’t wait until the last minute to gather materials and supplies. It is better to have extra materials than not enough to even finish. Think about having a backup plan if what you planned originally for a space or furniture does not work out the way you planned.
Clean and Prime: Dust surfaces thoroughly when cleaning everything. Clean first with a warm water and a sponge before moving on to tougher cleaning materials. Make sure to get small corners and cracks with a toothbrush or small cleaning brushes. If needed remove old paint or wallpaper, and sand surface before priming. Use a high quality prime when painting. Make sure to test it on a small surface. Sanding is essential for proper application.
Test: Take a small corner of the room or furniture and apply each step as a test subject for the rest of the room. Some paints will look a lot different when on the finished product versus when you were first picking out paint. This could do with the color of primer, the material of the thing being painted, or the lighting of the room; or maybe even all of the above. Do this on a small area to avoid a large mistake later.
Tape: Tape every corner and line that you want to avoid painting over. Take your time when applying, to ensure a clean and sharp line of paint that will require minimum cleanups. Taping will help you a lot in the long run.
Easy Clean-up: Try using canvas drop-cloths versus plastic ones. They tend to lay flatter and keep more paint from getting all over the place. Place them everywhere, even if you think you don’t need it.
Wallpapering:
Ventilation: If using a wallpaper that requires paste or glue, make sure to ventilate the room properly. However, even if it is a peel and stick option, it is always a great idea to have ventilation just in case.
Clean and Prime: This step is nearly the most essential when wallpapering to ensure long-lasting application, and easy removal. Dust, wipe, and wash every surface you wish to wallpaper. Sand where needed. Use proper smoothing and sanding tools when laying down wallpaper. Tape corners of the wall if you are planning to paint some of the room.
Test: Be sure to test wallpaper on a small corner of the room to see if it will even stick to the material of the wall. If it does not, try sanding more or a different wallpaper paste. If you are unsure about wallpapering on your own, try practicing on smaller surfaces first.
Measure: Reminder that wallpapering will almost never be perfect. Each surface will be slightly different, and come with its own set of imperfections. Knowing this, be sure to measure and level what you can. When laying down the wallpaper never overlap the corners, but lay extremely closely. It will be more noticeable if there is a bump all the way down a wall than if there is a small gap between pieces.
CONCLUSION
Painting and wallpapering is something that is a great recourse available to almost everyone who wishes to improve their space. There are a lot of options and variety to choose from when deciding which route to take. Updating your walls is one of the easiest and most effective ways to elevate your space with minimal experience.
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