10 Mistakes You Make When Painting Your House.

Taking time to educate yourself on DIY projects is a must as you will avoid a lot of mistakes that are bound to happen because of a lack of experience. Here are some basic points to keep in mind before you start painting your house.

• Finalize your colors and buy the right quantity of paint based on the areas you want to renew. You would never want to run of paint in between a stop-start has never really worked. You will end up re-doing the complete wall.
• Invest in the right equipment and make sure you have all the tools for the job. Without proper gear you are risking yourself of an unfinished job.
• Primer is essential to all paint jobs. All flaws on a surface are covered by applying a primer and finishing up the surface to be painted.
• Just like primer is important, sanding is equally important to remove burrs on the wall. In cases where the surface is very smooth sanding should be used to make the surface grippable – especially if you are painting over high gloss paint.
• Dipping you brush completely into paint is definitely not what a professional painter would do! You need to dip the brush only two-thirds into the paint. Doing this will prevent paint wastage and make cleaning easier.
• The painting direction is crucial to get the right surface finish on the wall. Always work your way down from the top.
• Always use a roller to cover vast flat surfaces like the mid portion of the wall. This can be done with a brush as well but the type of finish you get with a roller is far better.
• Never let the roller touch the floor or ceiling. Always maintain a 6 inch gap when you start applying the roller on the wall. Educate yourself on finishing touches at the joining areas.
• Ensure adequate lighting as painting in low light can lead to ‘edge marking’ which could be due to poor visibility when you are overlapping edges.
• Cleaning equipment and cloth are very essential to maintain a good work area. Spillage will happen every time and adequate ground cover is essential to avoid a messy floor.

 

Type of Ladder Should Use for a Paint Job

  What type of ladder should you use for a paint job? Most people having an interest in painting, would love to start somewhere and what’s better that your own living / bed room? Painting is definitely a DIY activity provided you have the right equipment and a ladder is one of the most important one as it helps you reach the top part of the wall. Having the right ladder will not only ensure your safety but will help in having a uniform paint colour throughout. Keep in mind that you must have a ladder that occupies less space as you don’t want a portion of your store to be occupied by a big ladder! There are 3 basic construction materials used for ladders: [caption id="attachment_2488" align="alignleft" width="192"] Aluminium Ladder[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2515" align="alignleft" width="209"] Fibreglass Ladder[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2516" align="alignleft" width="126"] Wood Ladder[/caption] Wood and Fiberglass ladders: These are very sturdy but if you are a hobbyist and want to paint a few rooms, this can prove quite heavy and moving it around from place to place will put you in a spot of bother. Though you get fold able types, it can still occupy a fair amount of space. Aluminum Ladders These ladders are light weight, strong and durable. The only thing to take note of when using an Aluminium ladder is the electrical conductivity. Make sure that you are not too close to open hanging wires or better insulate and secure them before using an Aluminium ladder. If you switch from a wooden / fibreglass ladder to an Aluminium ladder you will surprised the weight reduction that Aluminium ladders bring in. Ladder Rating All ladders come with a weight rating that are marked on the sides. The following list provides a guideline to select one based on your preferred weight category: Type III: 200 lb Type II: 225 lb Type I: 250 lb Type IA: 300 lb Type IAA: 375 lb Select the one that suits your body weight plus the tools / equipment you intend to carry along. Along with the weight we have another important criteria in height that will decide your reach to the top. Again this depends on the height of the wall you want to paint. The ladders range from 7 feet to as tall as 20 feet. Use this vital information to make a quick selection and– Happy Painting! Type of Ladder Should Use for a Paint Job!

Celebrating Hari Raya with All Things New

Hari Raya Home Decoration Wall Ideas. Another Eid is upon us — also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa celebrations! Once again, 1.6 billion Muslims from all around the world celebrate the end of another month of abstinence training and reflection during the month of Ramadan in the Islamic lunar calendar. It’s often celebrated with food and social gatherings over three days, and for some communities, up to a month! If you plan to host an event on or in the days proceeding Hari Raya Aidilfitri, from a meetup, to a workshop or conference, or even a house party, consider adding a touch of decorative flair to evoke the aesthetics of the celebration. Doing so can give Muslim attendees a warm fuzzy feeling at your thoughtfulness, and provide attendees unfamiliar with the festival an introduction to other cultures!   Here are tips on getting started in planning your event with elements of the festival of Hari Raya in mind. Adorn your walls with Islamic art

Islamic art is richly influenced by a variety of cultures, namely, Greek, Egyptian, Persian,Chinese and Indian! You can spot Islamic art in architecture, calligraphy, paintings,glass work, ceramics, and textiles all over the world.The Islamic Decor provides artwork you can print for free, and also sells affordable and modern wall decals and printed artwork shipped worldwide that you can use at your event. Alternatively, if you feel inspired to design your own, Irada Arts prints customised decals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Vibrant colour palettes

It follows then that green is often associated with Islamic culture and therefore Eid. But since Islamic art is so diverse and has such a long history, think also of the rich jewel colours found in the palaces of sultans, mosaics, and illuminations of the Qur’an— all the tones of blue, purple, emerald, magenta, gold, ivory, and earth.

Green fresh or moss greens work best in a hall, garden room or conservatory – rooms that link to the outside. A good way to use these shades without the effect feeling overpowering and heavy is to feature them on half a wall and choose a paler/fresher shade for rest of the wall. Darker, natural textures and tones, such as woven willow, wicker or wood, which mirror the colors of the natural world, are good partners.

• Pick one shade of green to use throughout a room.
• Enliven with prints and patterns on delicate botanical themes.
• Choose textured, natural floor coverings such as coir or sisal in mid tones.
• Mix traditional wooden or painted furniture in rustic styles with elegant accessories featuring colors or prints that link to the natural world.

Muslim and non-Muslim artists alike drew inspiration from different flowers and plants. Plants were depicted in its natural form or in complicated and heavily stylised designs. Even till today, traditional Muslim clothes for women are often florally-themed. So if you’re celebrating Eid in a concrete jungle, you can’t go wrong by populating your festive Eid space with plants, flowers, and nature-themed decor in the old-school spirit of Islamic appreciation for nature! Orange is more contemporary choice than strong reds, orange works best when used in moderation – it makes a bold statement on a single wall, chimney breast or stairwell. Confined to an alcove, as shown here, it provides a striking background for a display of accessories. Add to the dramatic effect by partnering with strong geometric or tribal patterns but balance with plain natural materials and textures . Keep walls and woodwork bright white and use orange sparingly as an accent colour.     All forms of Islamic art can somehow be traced back to Arabic origins, and since the Arabs were deeply interested in mathematics and astronomy, Islamic decoration often takes the form of complex repeat patterns based in geometric principles and rhythms. If you’re concerned with misappropriating Islamic culture, stick to a neutral form of decoration with mathematical shapes and delicate patterns. Rest assured, there’s lots of room there to decorate tastefully.        

Hari Raya Specials!

How to Paint Decorative Stripes on a Wall

[nextpage title="Intro" ] Don't you ever walk into some people's rooms and notice how nicely decorated their wall is? There are many ways to spruce up your living space without splurging a huge amount of money. Here is one of them, painting your own room striped! Try this guide at home with this simple to follow step-by-step tutorial on your stripe painting project. [/nextpage] [nextpage title="Step 1-3" ] Step 1: Tape is your friend Start by placing masking tape around the edges of ceiling, windows, doors, floor trim and other woodwork or trim you are not looking to paint. Recommended masking tape size would be 1" but other sizes also work depending on surface needed to stick on. Step 2: Prepare the walls Use a clean cloth with some water and a bit of washing chemical (dishwashing liquid, dettol, etc) to clean the wall(s) to be painted to remove dust dirt and grime. Ensure you clean off any soap residue with clean water thereafter. Step 3: Plan your job You need to fix the size and direction of stripes you intend to paint. Most people would prefer using vertical stripes (especially in condominiums and HDB flats) as the ceilings are not that high. Vertical stripes will help make the room appear taller and make ceilings appear higher. Conversely, if your unit has a high wall area (especially places with loft) using horizontal stripes can make the space more interesting. As a rule of thumb, do not go beyond 3 different stripes as this will make the place look confusing and busy. Colour choice depends a lot on your existing furnishings and colour scheme on adjacent ceilings and floorings. Stripes offset fabric furnitures very well as it gives the pastel feeling for example. Measure and calculate the total coverage area to determine how many stripes for which there will be room. Map your room's dimension on a paper and simulate the stripes to visualise better. It is high recommended you keep your stripes' dimensions of equal size. [/nextpage] [nextpage title="Step 4 - 6" ] Step 4: Measure You will need some measuring equipment in this step:

1. Measuring Tape
2. Spirit Level
3. Pencil

Mark the top and bottom boundary of each stripe with your pencil lightly. Make a light pencil mark between them along a straight level. Be precise and careful about this process as an mistake or crooked lines will be obvious and difficult to remedy. Get a friend or helper to help you with this. Professional painters and painting services are also available if you want it hassle free. Step 5: Taping again Use masking tape along the pencil line outside the area to be painted to demarcate the paint zone. Ensure that the sides of the tape are flushed with the wall by pressing and smoothening out the tape firmly. Otherwise, you might find jagged lines during the painting process Step 6: Cut In Place a sharp straight edge on top of the masking tape so that the edges of both the straight edge and tape line up. A good straight edge may be a metal ruler or set square. With an angled brush, paint lines against the border of the straight edge. This is to seal the tape onto the wall and create clean margins. [/nextpage] [nextpage title="Step 7-8 End" ] Step 7: Paint You will need to use a paint roller if the stripe is thick, or a brush if thin. Paint colours between the taped-off areas using the W technique. Roll on a W pattern, and then fill it in without lifting the roller. Do this section by section until that area is completed. Step 8: Second coat for the finish Let the paint dry abit (approximately 30 minutes) before applying a second coat. After the stripes have almost dried off (approximately 50 minutes in hot and dry conditions and 1.5 hours in cooler and wet conditions) remove the tape. If you wait until it is fully dry, you could end up peeling off paint with the tape so avoid that. And there you go! Striped walls for your pleasure. [/nextpage]

Paint Colour and Your Inner Self

[nextpage title="Paint Colour and Your Inner Self" ]

  What does paint colour and your inner self have in relation? What does it tell about you? At home, you probably might see a recurring theme, or a colour that happens more often then others. It could be a sky of blue, or a grass of green. The glow of sunset or the neutrality of white. Paint colour is an expression of your personality. So what is yours? Click through the pages to find out.   [/nextpage] [nextpage title="You Like Soft and Warm Shades" ]

You Like Soft and Warm Shades

  Warm colours are represented by sunshine and roaring fires, yellow and orange. Softer warm colours are peach and pink. These colours tend to give the feeling of cheerfulness and hospitality. As such, it tends to spill over to people who gravitate to such colours. People who use warm tones tend to be friendly and nurturing. They welcome visitors with open arms and love having people over. Setting your eyes on these colours makes you feel happy and fuzzy inside. The colours leap at you and make rooms painted in these shades feel more intimate.

Warm colours tend to also possess a luminous quality that energizes and stimulates conversation and appetite. However, some people do feel that warm colours can be cloying. Some people feel warm colours are too "heaty" or "hot" and feel restless in them. To counter balance, mix in cool blue gray or green furnishings. Lighter shades of your favourite colours can also help.

    [/nextpage]

[nextpage title="Soft and Cool Hues Resonates With You" ]

Soft and Cool Hues Resonates With You

 

Soft and cool hues are colours such as blue, indigo and green shades. These colours are very tied in with nature and therefore resonate with our reactions accordingly. As such, people tend to associate lavenders, pale to medium blues and greens with the flowers, skies, bodies of water or wide-open field. They tend to bring out cathartic, tranquil and soothing feelings. Due to their low intensity compared to warm and bright colours, these shades are easier on the eye and presents a good option for people who spend a lot of time working in bright or harsh conditions.

If you are a cool-eyed person and love this range of colours, you tend to think of your home as a sanctuary. It is an oasis of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of the world. It could also hint at your more introverted and introspective nature. Thinkers and people who are very comfortable with themselves will veer towards these colours. To ensure your room do not become too "chilly" and cold, use earthy and light shades of warm colours to balance it out. Good colours can be hints of yellow, orange or brown in the form of your furniture and furnishing.[/nextpage]

[nextpage title="Jewel Tone Lovers" ]

Jewel Tone Lovers

Jewel tones are colours that reflects the lustre and shades of precious stones. We are talking about ruby, emerald, amethyst, sapphire, topaz. These are classy and elegant colours. It turns heads and makes people's gaze linger that few moments more. These colours tend to be about glitz and glamour and will not be out of place in a Hollywood red carpet event at all. It shouts confidence, creativity and infers an outgoing nature for people who are attracted to these colours. If you are one of these people, then you can be said to be the type who want to feel inspired by your environments and thrive on the stimulation provided. Jewel colours also help minimize flaws with their saturated colour. They make a plain room with little architectural interest feel glamorous. It also creates intimacy and play up the coziness in a small room.

For example, painting a room with dark shades of blue or brown makes it confining and moody. However, using sapphire would create a dynamic and enveloping effect. This is due to its brightness and warm feel. Yet with its deep shade of red, it does not come as overly bright or warm. To achieve a holistic feel with jewel colours, utilise neutral or colours with similar intensity as counterpoints. To ensure you do not overdo the colour start with places you don't spend a lot of time in. Good places will be hallway, powder rooms and dining room.[/nextpage]

[nextpage title="Loving Neutrals" ]

Love the Neutrals

Paint colour and your inner self

Neutral colour is an all time classic. They represent an immutable feeling, a sense of permanence. They correspond with rocks along coastlines and monuments of granite. If you love this type of shades, then you can be said to be a practical and even-keeled minimalist. You tend to not repaint your room frequently and keep it that way. An interesting tip would also be that earthy tones such as these would allow you to be more creative in your accessories and furnishings. Therefore, if you happen to be a colour oriented person, use of neutrals can really help you to be creative in your objects.

However, for people who are not into myriads of colours, you can still spruce up your neutral abode with some clever use of tonal shades and textures. For example, use of striped carpet on plain flooring. Or earthy feature walls to break up the monotony of stretches of neutrals. Other methods include combining smooth and nubby fabrics with glass, metal, wood and mirrored surfaces. Avoid letting your neutral environment from feeling sterile and boring and you will maintain the perfect balance. For people who are not sure what type of colours they might like, check our colour chart page to get a feel of the different types of colours available. [/nextpage]

Colours and How They Heal Us

It is said light and colours are ancient remedies. So lets talk about colours and how they heal us.

"Colours are the properties of an object that produces different sensations to an eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light."

That is the official scientific definition given. You might have read on the meaning of colours from us before and found it interesting. But it also a fact that colours elicit different emotions and feelings from people. A branch of this understanding of colours lead to the study of using light and colour for the healing of mind, body and spirit. This brings us to the idea of Chromotherapy, or colour therapy.

Different colours have various effects on the mind and body. Research shows organic and physical reactions in direct relations to colours. In modern day context, colours are also know to stimulate emotions and feelings. Here are some examples:

Red - Vitality and Passion

Orange - Optimism and Expansion

Green - Healing and Growth

Yellow - Joy and Creativity

Colour's Healing Effects

Chromotherapy uses colour in conjunction with emotional and mental response to heal the body. Here is how its done:

1. Red is used to stimulate and increase the action of arterial blood. "Red drugs", such as Capsicum, cloves, musk, red cedar and balsam of Peru possess blood circulation stimulating effects and increases oxygen absorption in the blood. Interestingly, glasses and paints in the shades of red help to uplift and excite patients. There are cases of people recovering from paralytic state just by use of red coloured baths and red light therapy.
2. "Yellow drugs" are emetics. That is they cause purgatives effects such as vomiting and laxation. Examples of such drugs are Indian hemp, May apple, Blood root and Senna. The colour itself helps patients in recovering from colds, chronic bronchial irritations and illness related to respiratory issues. Usually sunlight enhanced through yellow glass and yellow objects or walls are used to aid in this. Drinking water stored in yellow wine bottles have been known to help treat severe constipation too.
3. In the cool range of colours such as blue and violet, we have effects that help to bring down body heat and illness associated with it. Aconite, ergot, belladonna and ergot are used to counter the effects of diarrhea, diuresis and delirium. A hybrid of yellow and blue drug, green tea, possesses both effects of antioxidant and astringent. Blue light colour therapy has helped heal scaitica and complex case of lung hemorrhage. Blue and white used in conjunction helps with nervousness, rheumatism and invalidism.

Best Colour for Different Body Parts

Here is a quick overview of what colours are best for what portion of your body.

1. Lower Limb Disorders - Warm colours such as orange and orange red
2. Neck and Thorax - Cobalt blue for its cooling and heat properties
3. Digestive Disorder - Red and yellow colours to stimulate digestive juices. Blue and Violet to excite the saliva glands.
4. Brain and Nerves - Cooling and soothing colours such as blue, violet and indigo.

Caution

Do everything in moderation however, and understand how colours may not be suitable in certain situations. When a person is:

• Irritable/Over-Excited - Do not use warm colours such as red, yellow or orange tones
• Suffering from high fever, inflammation, palpitations and neuralgia - Do not use warm colours
• Suffering from gout, paralysis, rheumatism or cold - Do not use cool colours such as blue, indigo and violet
• Depressed - Avoid using too much cool colours.

Hope this article was interesting and let you in a bit more on how colours can heal. If you are looking for a range of colours you can use for painting your room, you can check out this colour chart.

To learn more about colours and personalities, do check our article here.

Follow us in our facebook and find out more about our painting products, services and colourful ideas!

Colours and how they heal us

Have you ever wondered about the meaning behind colours and its' relationship with paints? When people think about working with paints, they invariably work with colours too. Colour have always had visual impact on people. They resonate with different people and always were part of a decision making process when it comes to anything that required visual affirmations. So what is the significance of colours? How do they affect you and what is the meaning behind those shades of green, purple, blue? Exactly what are the meaning of colours then?

Studies have shown that colour affects moods, feelings and psychology of people. Even in the past, colours have been used as a form of healing methodology. They do this via the form of Chromotherapy (also known as colour therapy and colorology). This was evident in Egyptian and Chinese historical records.

Here, we have what modern researchers generally found to be accurate in the general description of colours. While not always true, it seems to be quite in line with what most people feel:

BLACK

Authority and Power. Regarded as the most all encompassing colour, black is absolute and coveys the idea of a ruler. Conversely, it is also associated with death and mourning and in some cultures, bad luck. It is popularly used in fashion as a slimming factor though.

WHITE

White traditionally associates with purity or innocence. It also represents itself as transparency and integrity. Organisations who want to portray a pure and trustworthy outlook tend to use this colour. Doctors and nurses typically wear this colour to represent their sterile, clean and hygienic out look. After all, dirt on white would be very obvious. Hospitals also paint their rooms completely white to offset the same feeling. Fashion and trend wise, white is considered a summer colour. Also, as it reflects all colours and as such conveys neutrality, it is popular in fashion and decorating.

RED

The colour of passion and love, red comes across as a emotion evoking colour. It is bright and warm and gives the "flushed" feeling. As such, it stimulates faster heartbeat and breathing. Used as an accentuating and sensual colour, red objects, products and decors have to be done flawlessly because it attracts people's attention and give rise to scrutiny. Too much of red will also incite impulsiveness and anger due to its excitement inducing property.

BLUE

Calm, peace, tranquility. These are what comes to people's mind when they see blue or talk about it. Many men's preferred colour, it lowers pulse rate and body temperature. Studies have shown a high level of productivity in general when working in a blue room. An example would be sportsmen and body builders performing better when the walls and floors of their sporting location are blue. However, blue can also be seen as cold and depressing at times and tend to give of a melancholic vibe under certain circumstances.

GREEN

An easy on the eye colour, green is a pleasing, calming and refreshing colour. It symbolises nature and tends to relax the eye. Research have also shown that green improves vision, reading and comprehension. It is also most representative of health and vitality.

YELLOW

Yellow is a happy optimistic colour and improves attention and stimulates creativity. It grabs people's attentions and tend to improve a person's focus level. Interestingly, it is suggested that yellow also increases metabolism so exercising in a yellow dominated area is an effective idea! On the flip side, yellow tends to be harshest on the eye due to the amount of light it reflects and in certain cases. Yellow rooms also tend to cause people to lose their temper and babies to cry more often.

If you are interested to read more about Chromotherapy the art of colour healing, follow us here.

For those who are interested in what types of shades of colours you can use to paint your room, check out our painting colour cards.

 

Perfect Paint Job: 10 Tips & Tricks

Painting a house can be fun and tiresome at the same time. But how do we get the perfect paint job done? With time a premium in Singapore, Paint Wares present to you some interesting tips and tricks for you to make the paint job much easier. Moreover, you can now boast to people who visit your house what a great painter you are now. Perfect Paint Job: 10 Tips & Tricks :

1. Avoid lap marks by rolling the full height of the wall or up to the height of the area you want to paint and keeping a wet edge
2. Combine several cans of paint in a large bucket for a consistent colour throughout the room
3. Dry the paint, before cutting the tape loose for a perfect edge
4. Paint the trim before the ceiling and walls
5. Prime and texture wall patches so as to prevent a blotchy finish
6. Ensure the surface of painting is clean and dirt free to allow the paint to form a strong bond
7. Roll your paint along the edges for consistent texture
8. Use drop clothes to prevent accidental spillages.
9. Feather out paint areas if you cannot keep the edge wet
10. To achieve an ultra-smooth finish, sand trim between the coats

Tip 1: Avoid lap marks by rolling the full height of the wall or up the to height of the area you want to paint and keeping a wet edge

[caption id="attachment_1563" align="alignnone" width="376"] Rolling the height of the area you want to paint (In this case, we are not rolling the full height but only half height)[/caption] Uneven layers of paint buildup can cause ugly stripes. We term these as lap marks. How this happens is if you roll over paints that's already partly dry. The way to avoid this is to maintain a "wet edge". This way each stroke of your roller over laps the previous strokes before the paint can begin to dry. The trick to maintaining a wet edge is to start near a corner and run the roller up and down the full height of the wall or to the height of the area you want to paint. Between each stroke, shift the stroke to increase coverage. Even out thick spots or runs by moving backward where necessary. Avoid letting the roller become nearly dry. Keep it half loaded by dipping into the paint often. Also, make sure you keep the open side of the roller frame facing the area that's already painted. By doing this, you put less pressure on the open side of the roller and have a lesser chance of leaving paint ridges.

Tip 2: Combine several cans of paint in a large bucket for a consistent colour throughout the room

[caption id="attachment_1569" align="alignnone" width="360"] Pour all the paints of the same colour into a central bucket.[/caption] Paint colours may vary slightly from one can to another due to the slight inconsistency in the mix of the base and colourants. As such, if you are in the middle of painting a wall and you need to open a new can to complete that section, you might notice a slight variance in the colour of the paint. The best way to resolve this is to mix all the paints together in one can and to use it centrally. Further to this, it will be best to estimate the amount of paint you will need and mix it in a 5-gallon bucket. (This process is called "boxing"). Here is a guide you can use to estimate how much paint you require for a room. When a coverage is difficult to estimate, it makes sense to add more rather then less. Keep the excess by pouring it back into the cans for future use. If the job is a large one, use the bucket and roller screen rather then a roller tray. This will speed up the loading of your roller. Dip the roller into the paint bucket, then roll it along the screen until it stops dripping

Tip 3: Dry the paint, before cutting the tape loose for a perfect edge

[caption id="attachment_1571" align="alignnone" width="335"] Cut the tape when paint is dry[/caption] Do not just pull of the tape off the trim once the paint is dry. Paint forms a film between the wall and the tape, and removing the tape will tear off pieces of dried paint off the wall. The steps to do it would be:

1. Cut the tape loose
2. Wait for the paint to completely dry for at least 24 hours.
3. Use a sharp pen knife or box cutter knife to cut through the film. Make sure that you start in an inconspicuous area to make sure the paint is hard enough to slice cleanly. If the paint is gummy, there will be a mess.
4. Pull the tape up at a 45-degree angle as you cut the paint.

Tip 4: Paint the trim before the ceiling and walls

[caption id="attachment_1575" align="alignnone" width="232"] Painting the trim Perfect Paint Job: 10 Tips & Tricks[/caption] Experienced painters have a certain order when it comes to painting a room. First place to start with would be the trim, then the ceiling, then the walls. Reason being it is faster and easier to tape off the trim than to tape off the wall. Concentrate on getting a smooth finish on the wood rather then being neat. Even if the trim paints get onto the walls, you can always cover it later when painting the walls. Again, wait for 24 hours at least to dry off the paint completely before taping it off. Using a masking tape here would be the easiest and most common way. Thereafter, start painting the ceiling and lastly, the walls.

Tip 5: Prime and texture wall patches so as to prevent a blotchy finish

[caption id="attachment_1577" align="alignnone" width="364"] A primed wall beside a non primed wall[/caption] If you look at your freshly painted walls closely, you will realise that it often look blotchy. The colour is uniform, but there is a difference in the sheen. The difference is especially obvious over the holes and cracks you patched with a putty or drywall compound. The porous fillers absorb the paint, dulling the surface (a problem called "flashing"). When the light hits these dull spots, they exacerbate the problem. Smooth patches will also stand out in contrast to the slightly bumpy texture of the rest of the wall. The solution is simple; coat one layer of primer to eliminate the flashing and texture difference. Primer will seal the patch and prevent the paint from sinking in and looking dull. To match texture, primer the area with a roller, feathering out the edges. Choose a nap (the roll of fibre fitted into the roller) thickness to match the surrounding wall texture. (a 3/8 inch nap roller for smooth walls; 1/2 inch one for textured).

Tip 6: Ensure the surface of painting is clean and dirt free to allow the paint to form a strong bond

[caption id="attachment_1573" align="alignnone" width="372"] Giving the wall a good cleaning[/caption] Painting over dirty and oily surfaces will cause the paint to easily chip or peel off. This is especially true in grimy and places which are in high contact with water and dirty. To prepare the surface for cleaning, do use a deglosser or heavy-duty cleaner intended for prepaint cleaning. They are perfect for cleaning painted, varnished or enameled surfaces and in turn improves the adhesion of the new paint. They can be used also to clean greasy or oily areas like kitchen and bathroom walls and removing hand marks around light switches and door knobs. Start by using the cleaner to wipe in a circular motion using a lint-free cloth or abrasive pad. Work from bottom upwards to the top. Once the surface is clean, spot any pock marks and holes, fill it up with putties and fillers. Then using a sand paper, smooth them before painting. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and eye protection to avoid exposing your hands and eyes to the harsh conditions.

Tip 7: Roll your paint along the edges for consistent texture

[caption id="attachment_1578" align="alignnone" width="277"] Rolling paint along the edge of a wall.[/caption] Brush painted areas such as corners and areas next to trim have a noticeable difference in texture when compared to surrounding paints. To eliminate this issue, first brush on the paint and immediately roll it out before the paint dries. Use a 2 inch roller with a nap (the roll of fiber fitted into the roller) that is the same thickness as the roller used for the rest of the wall. Roll as close as you can without touching the opposite wall or dripping paint on the trim. Complete the brushing on the paint and rolling it out in one area before moving onto the next section.

Tip 8: Use drop clothes to prevent accidental spillages.

[caption id="attachment_1574" align="alignnone" width="358"] A typical plastic drop cloth[/caption] As careful as you can be, spills and spatters will still happen. Rather then watching your furniture and carpets being stained and having to clean them up is a huge waste of money and time. However, you can prevent this by using drop clothes. There are 2 types of drop clothes, canvas and plastic drop clothes. Plastic drop cloth is perfect for one off projects while canvas ones are good for long term or big projects or for people who do projects on a consistent basis. Which drop clothes you use would depend on which projects you are doing. However, no matter which drop cloth you use, a large spill would require your immediate attention. Canvas ones would still have seepage if its large enough. While plastic ones would not have seepage, a large enough spillage would still cause spillage past the area of coverage.

Tip 9: Feather out paint areas if you cannot keep the edge wet

[caption id="attachment_1585" align="alignnone" width="365"] Example of feathered edges[/caption] Large areas like ceilings, stairwells and long columns and walls require more then single strokes to cover. As such, you are bound to have overlapping marks in the process of covering them. To minimise the overlaps, you will need to feather out the paint along the edges that you cant keep wet. Having a thinner feathered coats of paints will avoid the build up that causes the lap marks. Roll the nearly dry roller in different directions along the dry edge to feather the paint. Upon completing the entire length of the wall or ceiling, move to the next section and paint over the feathered edges. For the second layer of paint, move in the opposite direction. This creates a crisscrossing method of applying the paint reduces the lap marks significantly. Perfect Paint Job: 10 Tips & Tricks

Tip 10: To achieve an ultra-smooth finish, sand trim between the coats

A single paint coat typically does not hide underlying colour and sheen on the trim. If you do not sand between the coats, the finish may have a grainy texture. Therefore, you will have to sand the trim before apply each coat of paint to create a smooth texture. Using a fine-grit sanding sponge, you can create even pressure on the crevices. However, if you use sanding paper, it will suffice as well if you are meticulous enough. Apply the first coat of paint and let it dry for 24 hours. Then lightly sand it again for a completely smooth surface. Apply the second coat of paint thereafter. After each sanding, vacuum the trim and wipe it down with a clean cloth to remove the dust. And this concludes our beginners guide to painting. While it might seem a lot to digest initially, practise makes perfect. Keep a look out for more tips, tricks and interesting articles related to painting and home improvement in the upcoming days! Perfect Paint Job: 10 Tips & Tricks  

How to Choose the Right Paint Brush

A high quality right paint brush can benefit all painters, home-owners and professionals, by providing a smooth clean finish with less brush strokes. They work great for oil or latex paints, as well as stains and shellacs. These paint brushes can be used for both interior or exterior projects. With the different sizes and the different angles, you will be able to achieve favourable results by using the right paint brush for the project you are attempting. A high quality like paint brush benefits all painters by providing a beautiful finish with little effort. There are different types of paint brushes: 1. WALL BRUSH: A flat Wall Paint Brush has a thicker, shorter beaver tail handle, with longer bristles. It is used to apply paint to large areas. Be sure to choose the right size brush for the area to be covered with paint.   2. FLAT SASH BRUSH: A Flat Sash Paint Brush has a narrow, long, thin handle with trimmed bristles. The thin handle on a sash paint brush makes it easy to turn and control. Some painters use a flat sash brush for painting trim work.   3. SPECIALTY BRUSHES: A Specialty Paint Brush comes in many different sizes and shapes. These brushes can be used in many countless ways, and for many different applications. They're used for hobbies & craft projects, or for all your wallpaper projects, such as applying wallpaper adhesive to decorative wallpaper borders. MATCH THE RIGHT PAINT BRUSH TO YOUR PROJECT:  

1. 1" to 1 1/2" Angle or flat paint brush is used for narrow spaces, tight corners, very detailed areas, wallpaper repair, hobbies & crafts.
2. 2" to 2 1/2" Flat Paint Brush is used for painting baseboards, cabinets, cupboards, furniture, stairs, railings, shutters, gutters, hobby & craft projects, and many wallpaper projects.
3. 3" to 4" Flat paint brush is used for painting exterior trim, exterior siding, masonry, decks, fences, walls, ceilings, and doors. This is also a good size for dusting woodwork after sanding, and before painting.

A good painter always goes around the project room and sands any scratches, dents, etc., to ensure a smooth surface before beginning to paint as well as patching any holes resulting from hanged pictures no longer there or any other dents, or wall imperfections that need to be addressed long before one picks up the paint brush to paint.