Painting and decorating might seem like a walk in the park to the average non-professional, but certain things distinguish the work of a professional from the regular person. It doesn’t hurt to try out your hands on the walls of your room and get all creative, but at the end, you most definitely will need the touch of perfection which is embedded behind some professional tips.
This piece is a combination of commonly asked questions and beneficial decorating bits of advice that can help you get the best results out of your painting & decorating in London.
- Getting the best out of your hallway decorationDecorating in London involves a lot of creativity, especially when it involves the hallway. You have to play with colours and take every level to create something unique. This can particularly be fun to do since you have a good opportunity to make the best you can out of the bold colours in your hands. When handling very tricky walls with many twists and turns, be courageous enough to play with shades and create captivating designs on an area that needs to draw attention and allow the plain parts of the wall to flow with the neutral colour.
When working with rather complicating hallways without wanting to make the difference conspicuous, try to create a visual balance by playing with different tones of a particular colour. Decorators use paler tones of a colour to make the wall look further than it originally is while they use darker tones to make them appear closer. Knowing how well to use this visual effect will help you create a balance that will trick people into thinking that the walls are on the same level. This is also helpful when trying to make smaller hallways appear more spacious.
- Using an Accent/Feature wallAn accent wall can also be called a feature wall. This is the wall of a room that carries a colour or wallpaper different from the one used on the other three walls of the room. Features are usually created using an accent wall. To get an amazing visual effect, use a very dramatic colour on the accent wall to spark up the room.
However, before choosing your dramatic colour, do well to work with the colour wheel so you can know the colours that can and cannot be combined. If you want something different, you can use the opposite colours on the colour wheel. You can have access to the colour wheels online or those at the home decorating or home improvement retail outlets.
While decorating in London, it’s important you take into consideration the colour of the furniture and the themes before choosing your feature colour.
What are the kinds of paint finishes and what do they mean?
There are five kinds of paint finishes, and each of them denotes a level of sheen or gloss in paint or how well paint reflects light. They are usually used to describe how shiny a type of paint can be.
As, knowing how well to use these different types of paint will help you get better results. These paint types are:
- FinishThis is to be used on bathroom and kitchen walls and cabinets, kitchen railings, bannisters, furniture, trims, window sills and door jambs. They are resistant to stain and easy to wash; they are also very durable. However, when the gloss is higher, the imperfections on the surface will be more conspicuous.
- Semi-glossIt is mostly used in hallways, playrooms, children rooms, woodworks, trims, doors, and the kitchen and bathroom walls. They are more resistant to stain and are easier to clean compared to flat paints. They work better than flat paint when used for areas with high traffic.
- Satin or silkThey range from overlapping eggshell to semi-gloss. Their characteristics are similar to those of semi-gloss and eggshell and can be used in areas where these two can.
- EggshellThis kind can suitably replace a flat paint when used to paint the walls of a hall, playroom and bathroom. It can also be a good substitute of semi-gloss and can be used to paint a trim if a less shiny appearance is desired. It is more stain-resistant than flat, and its appearance is more lustrous.
- FlatThis paint can generally be used on walls and ceilings; it is a great option for covering surface imperfections. It is not stain-resistant, and it cannot be easily cleaned. It is best used for areas with low traffic to achieve a uniform non-shiny appearance.
How can you get the best out of painting a skirting board?
There are three steps involved in painting a skirting board; they are:
- PreparationIt is important to prepare the surface of the skirting board before painting it. If your skirting board has a bare wooden surface, you will need to get it treated by first applying a knotting solution and wood primer. If the board is already painted or varnished, you will need to carefully clean and erode the painted surface by using paper (both wet and dry) with a detergent (a milder one).
Also, before you commence with the painting proper, cover some part of the floor surrounding the skirting board, you are about to paint with masking tape.
- Choosing the right paintThe best types of paint to use for the decorative coat of your wood or metal surface skirting board are satin, gloss and eggshell.
- PaintingTo paint the skirting board appropriately, you will need a 2-inch brush. We advise you to start painting the board from the top with the edge of the brush with long sweeping movements. Dip the paintbrush into the paint and apply it to the board. Let these movements be short and vertical. After these, use the flat side of the brush to make some long sweeping movements again down the length of the board.
Make your work easy by dividing the board into small workable sections. While painting the next section, make sure you start from the further side and stretch the paint into the already painted section. This will help you make your finished work look even.
When you are done painting, take out the masking tape before allowing it to dry to avoid peeling of the painted part of the board.
What is the best way to paint a ceiling?
To paint a ceiling perfectly, you will need to first start by painting the coving (if any). This will help make your finishing after painting the ceiling neat.
For a coving, you will need to use a wide oval brush because its bristles are well shaped to help you reach the curve of the coving better. This will help you achieve a consistent and neater finish.
To make your work appear even while painting the top of the coving, overlap the edges so that the edge of the ceiling can also be painted. This will help the ceiling and coving blend very well.
I have water stains, how can I cover it?
This is a common problem encountered in interior painting in London. If you want to cover the water stains present on a wall or ceiling, first check for where the leak is and get it fixed. Never use an emulsion to cover it.
The mark will bleed through the emulsion (since it is a water-based paint). Use an oil-based gloss or undercoat first to cover it (or you can mix them if you have them both in the same colour), or you can cover the stain with a proprietary satin covering paint or spray. You can easily obtain that from a local store.
What is the best way of removing old wallpaper?
So many people make the mistake of trusting a steam stripper to help them remove their old boring wallpaper. Well, trusting a steam stripper to help you remove your wallpaper is like setting yourself up for the worst task ever!
To make the work easy, we advise you use a sponge, some warm soapy water and the super-effective 4-inch razor scraper with a long handle.
Irritated with the smell of fresh paint?
If you are one of those who get turned off by the smell of fresh paint, get an onion and cut it in half and put it in the room. This will purge the room of the smell.
You can also use vanilla essence (one teaspoonful) to take off the smell. Just add it to the paint and stir; the smell will be off, but the colour will not be altered.
How can I avoid a messy roller tray?
As a painter in London, you will likely want to finish up your work neatly without having a lot of stains on your roller tray. This is pretty easy to achieve — use a cling-film to wrap up your roller tray before you start painting. When you are done, remove the cling-film and discard. Your tray will still be as clean as ever.
What is the best way to paint a wall?
To paint a wall, you will need to
- PrepareBefore you start painting your wall, make sure your surface is smooth, clean and dry. If there are any loose wallpapers, take them down and wash the wall with a mild detergent; rinse and allow drying.
- UndercoatThis step is based on the type of wall you are painting on. If you are applying the paint to vinyl wallpaper, start by creating a base for the paint. You can do this by applying a Multi-Surface Primer to it.
If the wall you are painting already has a strong colour, use Crown Basecoat so that the colour will not show through when the job is completed.
- Cut inThis step usually requires the use of a 2-inch brush. This brush is usually used for cutting in the edges. Use the brush with long sweeping movement to paint the edges of skirting boards, door frames, etc.
- RollThis is the finishing aspect of the job, and you will need a roller and tray for it. Wet the roller so that it will be able to pick up the paint. Divide the wall into sections and start painting from one corner across the wall. Paint with a W motion till you fill all the spaces.
How can I store my paint?
Buying paint in bulk can be very cost-effective but that is only if it is stored properly. Paints cannot be stored indefinitely though solvent-based paints have a longer lifespan than water-based paints.
You can store paints in an airtight container if it is in small quantity. For this method of storage, you must ensure you use a container that will only allow in the smallest amount of air. Make sure you label the jar with its name, type and code number for easy identification.
If you store the paint in its tin, make sure it is well closed and then turn it upside down for a few seconds. This will make the lid of the container sealed with the paint. This will also prevent the paint from forming a skin.
While storing in the tin, it is still important to minimise the amount of air that goes into the container. You can do this by cutting a foil in the shape and size of the lid and apply pressure on it till it touches the paint. This will get rid of the air that was present in the jar.
Our advice on having a good home decoration
There have been great improvements these days in home decoration. This has gotten many people interested in transforming the appearance of their homes and surroundings.
With the ever occurring change, Paint Works London usually advise clients who want to give their homes a new look to have it in mind that every painting and design that will be done on the walls of their homes will one day be updated. We also help them choose papers that are suitable for their location.
If our client’s target location for design is the children’s bedroom, we usually advise them against choosing a foil type or delicate silk paper. For the kitchen, we usually consider the emission of heat and steam; this makes vinyl a better option.
Before choosing the new design for your home, be sure you have given enough thought with it. Only go for the design you like because it will be very difficult for you to spend a good number of hours removing new wallpaper.
Do not forget to put in a lot of effort into the preparation as the quality of your finished work depends on the level of preparation you had.