Andy Wiegand, owner of Phoenix Decorating & Design, shares his top interior decorating advice…
In these times of austerity, many people are opting to do their own decorating, and with Christmas looming, now is the perfect time to get those paint brushes out!
But before you jump straight into it, remember these five tips to achieve a fantastic finish…
1. When Painting Walls, Edges First
When painting walls, remember to do the cutting in first. This requires some patience – and initially you may feel like you aren’t getting very far – but once you get the roller out, you’ll be thankful to have persevered!
Remember to use good quality equipment for this. You won’t get a sharp edge with cheap brushes, and you’ll forever be picking bristles off your wall. Likewise, cheap rollers result in a sloppy, patchy finish.
Always apply at least two coats (three if you’re using a silk paint) and allow plenty of time for each coat to dry.
2. When Painting Gloss, Use Good Brushes
The right equipment is essential. Good quality brushes will help you achieve a streak-free finish. Use a paint guard to avoid getting paint on walls or flooring, and have plenty of baby wipes handy to wipe up any excess paint.
If you’re wary of spillages, are pushed for time, or have children or animals, use a water-based gloss. It’s easy to clean, doesn’t smell, and dries relatively quickly. You may need to apply extra coats, however.
3. When Painting Doors…
For panelled doors, use brushes to do edges and any pattern, then use a gloss roller to apply paint to the rest of the door. It’s much quicker and avoids all of those nasty brush marks!
Remember not to press too hard with either the brushes or the roller. Use gentle, long strokes to ensure a smooth finish, and keep an eye out for any drips or runs.
4. When Painting Ceilings…
Take as much furniture out of the room as possible, and cover everything else with dust sheets. Tape the edges down with masking tape.
Paint the edges first. Use a step ladder, and do not climb on furniture! If possible, buy an extendable pole to attach to your roller handle. It saves a lot of time and prevents a lot of neck ache!
Paint the ceiling in sections. Use light fittings as reference points in order to ensure full coverage. Alternatively, use ‘magic’ paint (it looks pink but dries white).
5. Look After Your Equipment
You’ll have spent a significant amount of money on good brushes and rollers, so it’s a good idea to look after them so you can use them next time.
When you’ve finished, wash any emulsion or water-based gloss out of your brushes/rollers with warm water. Soak any brushes used for gloss work in white spirit, and then rinse out with soapy water. Alternatively, use ‘clean’ spirit to avoid that strong smell!
Don’t feel confident tackling the interior yourself? You can contact Phoenix Decorating & Design on 07468 232160, or email Andy at phoenixdecorating40@gmail.com.
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