I have a small bathroom and I want to paint the walls. I've never pain
by
Jacqui Fuca
+8
How do I get started to paint the walls in a small bathroom?
11 answers
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Oh Boy! First thing...bathrooms and kitchens are hardest to paint. Why? Because small surfaces in cramped quarters, hard to reach! If you are impatient, do not bother. 1. get a small box to hold all the things...knobs, vent covers, light globs, door knobs, etc...that you will have to remove. DO NOT try to trim in around them. Either do a professional job or get a professional to do it! 2., put down a drop cloth. 3. dust down and wipe down walls. 4. Repair walls if needed 5. use a PRIMER! This will cover the grime and not allow it to bleed through your paint. 6...use tape because if you are not an experienced painter, your work will look sloppy. (when using tape, don't load brush down with paint) 7. Keep a damp rag handy to wipe up smudges (and keep paint away from work area to avoid bumping into it. Good luck. You know what looks good and what looks like a kid did the painting!
Jeanette S
on Oct 19, 2013
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P.S. If you can, buy some samples of paint and put some in all areas of the room to see how it reacts to your lighting. What you like in the paint store can be very different one you get it up!
Jeanette S
on Oct 19, 2013
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Painting is not hard, it just takes patience. In fact, call me weird but I almost enjoy it. Nothing has the power to improve or change the look of a room like paint. To expound on Jeannette's response... if you have never painted, you probably need to pick up a few basic supplies. You will need a decent quality paint brush to cut in around the trim around the door(s) and any windows, the tile, at the ceiling, above the baseboards etc. I find I have the most control with a 1 inch angled brush and due to the angled edge and small size, I don't even have to tape anything off. It helps a lot if you have a steady hand. You will also need a roller handle and cover. The salesperson in your paint store can help you pick the appropriate kind of roller cover for the texture (or non-texture) of your walls. You'll also want a roller pan and maybe some kind of disposable cup or small container. A step stool or ladder will also be needed. For a small bathroom, a gallon of paint will probably be more than enough, but again your paint store can help you calculate how much paint you will need if you are not sure. Once you are ready to begin painting, pour some of your paint into a cup or small container (so you are not lugging the gallon can or roller pan up and down the ladder or stool), dip the tip your brush into the paint, wipe off the excess and, beginning at one corner, start cutting in at the ceiling, down the corner edge (because your roller won't get all the way into the corner), along the top of the baseboard etc. Then, roll your roller in the roller pan of paint until it is evenly saturated with paint (but not dripping) and start rolling paint on the walls in the areas you have just cut in. The main idea is to work in small sections and try to keep a wet edge so the paint is all even. From time to time, step back and check for places you may have missed, drips, or uneven coverage. If you need to take a break, try to at least finish up one wall so you don't have to start painting next to or over dry paint when you begin again. Depending on whether you prime or not, the quality of your paint, what color you are painting over, and what your new color is, you may need two coats of paint. YouTube is a wealth of information if you are a visual learner and think it would be helpful for you to actually see video(s) of how it's done.
Shari
on Oct 19, 2013
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sg tip for painting behind the toilet....cover the toilet in a big garbage bag sure saves a lot of frustration
Shelley G
on Oct 20, 2013
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They make rollers with small diameters, they are wonderful for putting paint in the small spaces (like behind the toilet).
Cheryl Hudson
on Oct 20, 2013
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In a small bathroom use light colors for the walls. Dark walls will make the small room look even smaller. You can get samples of paints that seem like they would work for you and brush on or roll on in a small area. Let them sit for a day or two to help you visualize how they will appear in day light as well as after dark when using just the rooms lighting. Use painters tape to mask off the areas you don't want paint like the door casing. Begin with a good quality paint brush for the borders of the wall and then fill in with rollers.
Pat Dollar
on Oct 21, 2013
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Make sure you get a paint that is for kitchens and baths...a semi gloss is easier to keep clean.Make sure you prep..that is what makes the difference between a job well done and a do over. Use a Good primer. They do have paint with primer already in it, but I think if you get a separate primer the paint goes further...but it really depends on the brand paint. Make sure you tape all the p[laces off...Take your time and do it right. Be patient. I love painting..it makes the biggest difference with less cost.
Terra Gazelle
on Feb 01, 2015
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Agree with everyone above, other suggestions are to paint white paper rather than the wall if you are using darker colors to move around to see light variables (easier to not have to cover up later, primer & paint separately (you will use less paint and be able to see variations in the wall texture and stains that may need to be addressed like water damage will be darker), always use gloss or semi gloss in a bathroom because of moisture and washablity (I prefer gloss because of the durablity and how light reflects off of it), wash the walls first with plain water to remove dirt, tape off wood because paint will be hard to get off later, remove as much stuff out of the room as possible because it's a small space and Everything will be in your way, keep a small container with a little water and a rag to ready to clean up mistakes as they happen. The order I use is remove stuff, wash walls, Wait 24 hours to dry, tape & prep, primer, test colors, paint, wait 24 hours, clean up, reassemble.
Opal
on Mar 16, 2015
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I'm an expert on painting bathrooms, as I painted mine 5 times, because I hated the color once it was on the walls. haha. The first thing I did was the trim painting, got all the trim painted, took the tape down and then rolled the rest of it. The last color I painted was a gray, and it just looked dreary. so I have finally decided that I will paint it white, then I can add color anyway I want. Behr makes a paint with primer in it, one coat covers.
LeeAnn Gerleman
on Feb 13, 2016
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If you are not painting the ceiling. Take the extra step to run painters tape (take your time) around on the ceiling side. Then put very little painters caulk where it meets the wall. Wipe it with a damp rag, you really shouldn't even see the caulking. Let it sit just for a few minutes then paint. When you remove the tape you should have a nice, clean line.
Denise
on Feb 19, 2016
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Go to your WalMart and ash for assistance in the hardware dept. You can also take paint samples (paper charts) home and pick out a color. Color Place paint is good as expensive paint. :-)
Pam Kirkland Shelton
on May 10, 2016
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