Repainting your home interiors is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to spruce up your property. However, it can also be a daunting and messy task if it’s not done the right away. Think about the possibility of paint splatters all over your pricey furniture, carpets, rugs, or your newly installed hardwood floor. Without any know-how, this simple home improvement job can lead to costly and stressful repair.

If you’re planning to do it yourself, the following tips will greatly help you avoid any mess or damage when painting a room.

As much as possible, free up the room

Whatever home improvement task you are working on, whether it’s a simple paint job or a complex wall restoration, the first and most important thing to do is to free up the space. A cramped working environment makes the job difficult and is a recipe for disaster. Take out all movable furniture and remove furnishings. For fixed cabinets, tables and fixtures, cover them with tarp, canvas drop cloths, or plastic – whichever is more accessible to you. You can also cover tables with cardboard and some old linens. Just place a chair on top so the cover doesn’t drip or fall out. Additionally, ensure that the furniture stack doesn’t prevent you from conveniently accessing the wall or ceiling you are painting.

Cover the floors and carpets

Your floor and carpet are also prone to paint splatters and the bad news is, you can’t just take them off and put them back on once you’re done. The only way to go is to cover them. Different surfaces work better with different covers. For example, for tiled and hardwood floors, the best protection would be rosin paper. Canvas and plastic can get slippery when used on hard surfaces like wood or tiles while rosin paper stays put. However, you need to clean your floor before covering with rosin paper as any grit underneath could lead to scratches on your floor. Small paint drippings are okay. But for big spills, you have to replace the rosin paper as the paint can soak and still damage your floor. For carpets, the best protection would be canvas drop cloths.

‘Mask’ doors and windows

Don’t forget to add protection for your doors and windows too. For windows in the shade, you can use white tape. To ensure that it sticks well, wipe the window trim with a clean rag to remove any moisture that could prevent the tape from sticking. Do the same thing around door knobs. You can also use tape to cover switches and outlets.

Protect baseboards with overhanging tapes

Baseboards are the most susceptible to paint drippings. But they can be well protected using overhanging tape, working like a roof overhang that protects your house siding from rain. There is no need to cover your baseboards with multiple strips of tape. You can use a single wide tape instead. Choose the size of tape that fits the size of your baseboard. Also, make sure to wipe off dust from the baseboard as the tape won’t stick to dusty surfaces. Fasten the tape tightly by running a putty knife over it.

Speed up the paint drying process

The longer the paint stays wet, the more opportunities there are for mess and damage. Thankfully, there are effective ways to speed up the drying process. One is by using air movers. This portable equipment works by forcing water or moisture to evaporate quickly. It can be directed on a specific direction or surface. You can also circulate air by turning on a fan. But make sure the room is clean because dirt and debris could end up sticking to the newly painted wall or ceiling. Aim to reduce humidity in the room as well. You can do so by closing windows and doors especially if it’s humid outside, or running a dehumidifier.

More Tips

Aside from these five important preparatory works, there are a few more helpful steps to avoid disaster. Instead of applying paint directly from the tin, pour it in a bucket caddy or a pie tin to avoid spillage onto the floor. If you don’t have any of these, you can just place the tin on a foil baking pan to catch spills and side drippings on the floor. Lastly, you also want to protect yourself. Make use of gloves and a mask to avoid inhaling potentially toxic fumes. Also, consider applying lotion all over your face and arms before a painting project so you can easily wash off paint splatters.

By simply following these tips, you can paint your room or house with ease and more importantly – with peace of mind knowing that your precious furniture and belongings are safe from any damage. Happy painting!

This article was written by Megan Jones. She’s a writer working with b-air.com and an interior designer of residential and commercial spaces, striving to inform people how to design unique interiors.

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