Every DIY paint project begins the same way. You stand in your living room, stare at a wall the color of old oatmeal, and say, “How hard could it be?”
Very good news: not hard at all, especially if you start at MidSouth Lumber. Here’s how to turn that burst of ambition into a finished room, with only one trip to the store (okay, maybe two, but that’s tradition).
Before you grab your keys, take five minutes at home with a tape measure and a notepad. Measure the width of each wall and multiply by the ceiling height. Add the walls together, then subtract roughly 20 square feet for each standard door and 15 for each window. Most gallons of paint cover about 350 to 400 square feet, so you’ll have a good estimate of how much to buy. Plan on two coats, because the first coat’s main job is to make you nervous.
Also bring along:
•A photo of the room, so you can judge colors against your flooring, furniture and light
•A paint chip, fabric swatch or even a throw pillow if you’re trying to match something
•Notes on the surfaces: drywall, trim, previously painted, or bare
Yes, you may carry a throw pillow into the store. Our paint counter team has seen stranger.
Now it’s time to make your color choice which is where otherwise confident adults start whispering to paint chips. Take a breath. With the knowledgeable MidSouth Paint Team and the full Benjamin Moore palette at your fingertips, you have plenty of company in your decision.
Pick up a few swatches and tape them to the wall. Check them in the morning, at noon and in the evening, because paint changes personality with the light. That soft gray may look sophisticated at breakfast and like a damp sidewalk by supper. Our paint counter staff can help you narrow things down, mix your chosen Benjamin Moore color, and match a sample you bring in.
A quick word on finish:
•Flat or matte hides wall flaws and suits low-traffic spaces like bedrooms and ceilings.
•Eggshell or satin is the all-purpose choice for living rooms, hallways and family rooms. It wipes clean without looking like a gymnasium floor.
•Semi-gloss is the tough one for trim, doors, kitchens and baths.
Benjamin Moore paint is the star, but the supporting cast decides just how well the show goes. Before you leave the store, be sure you have these essentials:
Primer. Going from dark to light, covering stains, or painting bare drywall? Primer is your friend. It’s the unglamorous underwear of the paint world: nobody sees it, but everything works better with it.
Quality brushes and rollers. A good angled brush for cutting in along edges and a quality roller cover for the open wall will make the job go faster and look better. Choose the roller nap by wall texture: a shorter nap for smooth walls, a thicker one for textured surfaces.
Painter’s tape. Buy the good stuff designed for clean lines. The bargain roll that leaves a sticky ghost on your trim is not a bargain.
Drop cloths. Canvas ones stay put and absorb drips. Plastic ones are cheaper but slippery, which turns a paint job into a surprise ice-skating event.
Roller tray, liners and an extension pole. The pole saves your back and spares you from wobbling on a ladder, which your family will appreciate.
Patching supplies. Spackle, a putty knife and a sanding block let you fix nail holes and dings first. Paint will not hide a hole. It will only highlight it with a fresh, even coat of attention.
Cleanup gear. Rags, a bucket, a 5-in-1 tool and a few stir sticks. Don’t forget a can opener or paint key, unless you enjoy prying lids with a butter knife and a prayer.
The secret weapon MidSouth offers… a friendly, experienced team. Tell the folks at MidSouth Lumber what you’re painting, what shape the walls are in, and how experienced you are. Be honest. Nobody will judge you, and “I once painted a bathroom and it took a week” is a perfectly good starting point.
Better yet, come early. We open at 6:30am, Monday through Friday, which means you can pick up your paint before work, before the coffee wears off and before your enthusiasm has a chance to wander off.
Ask questions like:
•Do I need primer for this color change?
•What’s the best Benjamin Moore product for a kitchen or bath with moisture?
•How much extra should I buy so I don’t run short?
•Can I keep a little leftover paint for touch-ups?
Always buy enough paint to finish the whole room from the same batch of tinted paint. Mixing batches can lead to slight color differences, and running out at 9pm with one wall to go is a special kind of heartbreak.
Experienced painters will tell you the secret: the actual painting is the easy part. Prep is the job. Clear the room, cover the floor, remove outlet covers, patch and sand, wipe down dusty surfaces and tape your edges.
Then cut in around the ceiling, corners and trim, roll the walls in a “W” pattern and keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks. Let the first coat dry fully before the second.
When you’re done, step back, peel the tape slowly at a gentle angle and admire the clean lines. You’ll feel a swell of pride, and you’ll immediately start eyeing the next room. That’s normal. We call it “paint fever,” and the only known cure is another gallon.
Your walls are waiting, and so are we. Stop by MidSouth Lumber, bring your measurements and your questions (the throw pillow is optional), and walk out with everything you need to get the job done right.
Happy painting!
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