In the first half of our guide to painting interiors in bold colors, we got you ready with clean surfaces and just the right primer. Now it’s time to get dirty with the second half of Zenith Painting’s guide to painting interiors in bold colors like red.
Cut In
It’s time to begin painting with a brush by carefully applying a narrow strip of paint on corners, window trim, and other angles that will be difficult to reach to with a roller. This is known as “cutting in.” You may wish to pour some paint into a smaller bucket. That way you can move around the room quickly, holding paint in one hand and brush in the other. Mastering a smooth stroke to apply paint evenly is a valuable skill. Paint pros who have developed the ability to “cut in” save hours of work by almost eliminating the need for painter’s tape.
Prime Time
After cutting in with primer, prime the rest of the wall by advancing from the top down. Move from the painted area to unpainted ones. Apply primer evenly. Load the roller with a moderate amount of primer and apply gentle, steady pressure.
After the primer has dried, examine the wall under strong light. If the old color is bleeding through or if the primer looks transparent, your wall may need a second coat of primer.
Paint Your Heart out
At last, it’s time to apply the paint itself. As with the primer, cut in corners with a brush and use a roller for the rest. Use a new roller cover for the finish coats. Using the same cover you for primer and paint may dilute some of the new color and leave streaks. Roller covers are cheap and you don’t want to take any chances with a bright, bold color.
Allow the paint to dry and then evaluate the result. If you obviously need a second coat, go right ahead and apply it. Even if it looks perfect, don’t pack up your gear yet. Allow the paint to dry completely overnight and then take another look the next morning. After the paint has completely dried you can safely consider the job finished.
Learning to Love Your Walls
Bold changes may take some time to get used to, and you may have second thoughts. Of course you can always change your mind, but before you make that call, give the new room a chance to grow on you. Perhaps other parts of the room need updating to match your new look: windows, furniture, and wall decorations may need to be updated. It’s a whole new room, so spend some time getting to know it.
And congratulations on going bold.
As always, if you’re short on time or dubious of your own skill, give Zenith Painting a call at 800-381-4601 and we’ll get the job done to perfection.
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