Paint is our absolute favorite way to transform the space without a ton of work or investment. But when it comes to small spaces we find that they tend to be the hardest to paint. So we are going to break it down for you and share all of the things you need to do before you get started, during the process and clean up!

First things first…pick a paint color.

Picking your paint color is the most important step of the process. Because, without a color you can’t really paint can you?!? We have a five step plan to picking the right color for each space.

Decide on a color family you want to paint the room. Having all pieces of the room available to look at is an important part because you want to see what shade looks good together. Plus it’s a lot easier to change a paint color vs a piece of furniture.
Go pick up paint swatches. This part can be overwhelming. But it really is important to pick up colors to bring home. We like to pick any where between 3-7 different shades of the color. Then we bring them home and look at them in the space we are going to paint. Please don’t pick your paint color out at the store…it will not look the same once you get home. ***Important tip – bring at least 3 of each color home. This way you can put them on different walls!
Place the swatches in your space. Bring them home and get them into the space you are going to paint. We like to lay the paint colors down together and see if we can immediately eliminate any. Most of the time I can, because as we said they never look the same in your home!
Number the paint swatches. Then tape the swatches on each wall of the room. We space them out so we can see the variations in color with different lighting.
Look at the paint in the morning, midday and at night because, you guessed it, each time of day can change what your paint looks like. We also like to look at the paint with the lights on and off. That’s because natural lighting vs your light bulbs give you a very different color look.

Prep the space

Paint prep can be time consuming, but you will be glad you took the time to do this part. A couple quick steps to get you a better end result.

Remove ALL electrical switch and outlet faceplates, air vents, air returns and accessories (such as toilet paper holders, towel bars and mirrors). You want to ensure you cover the entire surface.
Remove all nails and screws that may be hanging art or accessories on your wall. The holes will be easy to spot after you paint.
Fill any holes that you do not plan on using after you paint. We prefer Dry-Dex (better known as “the pink stuff”) that fills holes and is easy to sand once dry. It doesn’t take a lot, so be conservative with how much you use. Fun fact – the pink stuff turns white when it is dry and ready to sand…very little thinking involved here.
Wipe down the walls and vacuum. This will eliminate any debris or dust, and ensure that your tape (if needed) sticks well throughout the painting process.
Tape off your baseboards door/window casing and any permanent surfaces not being painted. If you use good painters tape, your cleanup will be minimum. And the more you clean, the better your tape will adhere to the surface. And once you’re done painting remove the tape immediately…yes, while the paint is still wet. This decreases the likeliness of paint sticking to the tape, requiring you to cut with a knife blade.
Painters tip – should any paint seep through the tape onto your flooring, simply take a knife blade and delicately scrape away. If it is still wet, a damp terry cloth will remove the paint without issue.

Choose the right paint supplies

Ok, so while new paint is the quickest and easiest way to immediately transform a space, it isn’t necessarily the cheapest. Choosing and investing in the right materials is essential…and for the most part, these are 1 time purchases or at the least very seldom. So do it right the first time around!

Paint. Your sheen is important, especially when dealing with a ceiling. When using any white shades we’ve become fans of painting the walls and ceiling the same color. This makes the space appear bigger – almost as if the ceiling does not exist. Suriously…it’s kind of trippy. Also really important is the quality of paint you buy. We’re huge fans of Sherwinn Williams. After the first experience, we’ll never not go with SW!
Drop cloths. You can never have enough. But ALWAYS be sure to shake them out after and prior to each paint project.
Roller. A good roller cover goes a long way. Don’t go the cheap route here.
Roller Cover. Also an essential product to spend a little more on. Whatever brand you choose, make sure to grab one with a 3/8 inch nap.
Brush. Begging to sound like broken records over here. But we’re advocates, and experienced, for spending a bit more on these products. We’ve unfortunately seen what cheap gets you…a lot more work in the end, that’s what.
HANDy Paint Cup. Sweet handy cups to carry along with you when you’re cutting the edges and along trim/ceilings. Like what we did there?
HANDy Paint Tray. This is a great item to have for future products. It has handles on both ends, which allows for easy carrying throughout your space. And it’s extremely solid and durable, while remaining light weight.
HANDy Paint Liner. Ok these are a game changer. With how often we paint, we simply cant imaging life without these trays. We use them then we toss them. And they come in packs of 3! At this point we’re stocked up knowing how many client and home projects we have coming up.
Tape. Another item we always have on hand. In fact these rolls can be found in many rooms of the house. And in our truck, Jeep and the trailer.
Patience. You can’t buy this, but without it you’re likely to fail. Just sayin…

Steps to paint

We’re not paint pros. But we’ve collectively painted approximately 225 spaces over the years, so we do know a thing or two. And while we too know that every pro and experienced painter has their process, we want to share ours.

Assuming you’ve prepped the space and have all of your supplies setup and ready to go, it’s time to get the flow. Music or a solid podcast do the trick for us – just depends on the vibe for the day. Don’t be afraid to turn the volume up a bit.
Stir your paint. We go 50 times clockwise, then 50 counterclockwise. It’s something Michael was taught growing up so it stuck.
Get your cup loaded up. Don’t go too crazy. Just pour enough to get started and go from there.
Start in one corner and begin cutting all of your edges and trim areas throughout the space. Work your way around until you have your first coat cut. We typically cut a space twice before we start rolling. 90% of our spaces require 2 coats so once we finish lap 2, we’re done with the brush. But those rooms with blue, green or red can require a bit more love…so don’t clean your brush too soon.
Load up your paint tray and get that roller soaked. Don’t be afraid too start slow. We find that the first couple passes take a bit longer. But once you get that roller soaked, it begins to keep more paint and you can cover more space with one fill.
When applying paint to the wall, do not just go with an “up and down strategy”. You want to work the paint in, so start with a “V” or “W” shape over a small area. Do that chosen shape a couple times and then work in the paint vertically. This allows the paint to spread and soak in seamlessly.
Two coats should do it. The 2nd should be applied thicker than the first, and will go on a lot smoother and cover more space. If you chose to go with one of those tricky colors just be prepared to spend more time and effort in getting that perfect surface.

PRO TIP – always put the lid back on your paint can and move it away from the vicinity in which paint work will be conducted. Trust us on this one.

Clean up

There’s not much to it with this step, so no need for a full breakdown. Remove all of your tape and scrape or wipe away any excess paint that may be left behind. Then remove, shake and fold your drop clothes, and clean out your tray/cup/brushes with warm water. No soap is really needed here, but extra time is necessary when cleaning your brush. We use our roller covers one time, then we toss. Some like to use them multiple times but we’ve found that once they are used and cleaned, the next times around don’t result in the best finish. Once all of your items are cleaned allow them time to air dry. As well as allow time for your surface to dry before you re-install any accessories, fixtures or art.

Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the hard work and your new beautiful space. We hope this helps you in all of your painting endeavors. As always, drop us a line or leave a comment with any questions. And send us pictures of your finished spaces!!! We want to see all the paint!

Enjoy!

-much love

Michael and Danielle

Thank you to Lowes for sponsoring this post!