Whether you're about to paint a room for the first time or a seasoned pro, the quality of any paint job relies on what you do before opening your new can of paint from John Paul's Paint and Décor. Proper and thorough preparation ensures a smooth result that will look like it came straight out of a magazine!

Getting Your Space Ready

Many homeowners feel tempted to skip over these steps. They think they won't make a mess with a steady hand and careful motions. We encourage everyone, even professional painters and skilled DIY-ers, to lay down protective cloths and take the appropriate precautions to prevent disastrous spills and mishaps. Stop by our store to see what you need to protect your space!

Move Furniture

Don't risk ruining your favorite chair or a cherished piece of art with a paint spill! Grab a partner and move the furniture in the space you're painting. You don't have to move it far— you can even push it all to the center of the room if you have enough space. In addition to ensuring you won't get paint where you don't want it to be, moving your furniture out of the way will make it easier to reach the entire wall as you paint.

Vacuum or Sweep

If you're like us, you haven't seen the floor under the sofa in a while. Who knows what's hiding under there? While your furniture is out of the way, take a moment to vacuum or sweep your floors. Your future self will thank you.

Lay Down Drop Cloths

The last thing you want to spend your time doing is scrubbing dried paint off of your floors and out of your carpet. Cover your floors with drop cloths or plastic to stop potential messes in their tracks.

Getting Your Walls Ready

While it is possible to paint your walls without any preparation, sectioning off with painter's tape and applying primer will make painting more manageable and make your result look professional.

Use Painter's Tape

Even the most skilled painters make mistakes. Minimize the risk of painting the wrong area using painter's tape to section off the area you're working on. Use the tape along each edge and corner of the wall and around tricky areas, like window sills, door frames, and outlets, to achieve crisp, clean lines.

Apply Primer

Much like makeup, paint primer creates an even base for your wall paint to stick to. Primer is especially beneficial if you paint over a dark color, as it will limit the number of coats you need. Invest in a quality primer, like Benjamin Moore's Fresh Start, to paint like the pros!

Time for Paint and Décor

Spending extra time preparing your space and walls at the beginning of your project will save you time and energy in the long run. Once you've cleared your area, cleaned and covered your floors, applied painter's tape, and used primer, you can officially move on to paint and décor! Need some color inspiration? Use our color selector or visit us in-store to discover your dream shade. Happy painting!

We proudly serve the Bourbonnais, Illinois, area, including Kankakee, Bradley, and beyond.