DIY: Paint your house

If your home is looking a bit shabby and in need of a good old lick of paint then you might be considering a DIY paint job. If the thought of picking up a paintbrush fills you with dread however, do not despair. Just follow these simple tips and you will soon be happily painting your house from top to bottom!

Before you begin, move light furniture such as tables and chairs out of the way and cover up larger items like sofa beds with dust sheets if you simply can’t move them. If you are painting a ceiling, also remove curtains and other fixtures.

Make sure you have all the equipment you need before you start. You will need a small paintbrush, a large brush or roller, filler, sandpaper, dust sheets, something to scrape old paint off with and of course plenty of paint!

Inspect the area for any cracks and fill in using a filler. Paint right into the corners with the small brush (this is known as ‘cutting’) and then, with your large brush or roller, apply one coat of paint and allow to dry fully before applying a second coat.

If you are painting wood, sand down first and apply a primer before painting. If you’re painting over a door that has the paintjob still fairly intact, you might not need to prime it. You should still sand it down and use an undercoat however. In between the first and second coat of paint, sand down the wood again and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

A good tip for the main stage of painting is to use a paintbrush as big as you feel able to use comfortably, so that the job gets done quicker and the paint is less likely to dry out around the edges.

Once you have given everything a lick of paint, your furniture might look tired and shabby in comparison. Visit Bensons for some fantastic bargains to put the finishing touches to your newly decorated home.