How to Refresh Paint Color on Walls
- 1). Match the paint color and sheen. If you have some of the leftover paint, take it to a paint store and have them mix you enough to complete the job. If you don't have the original paint for comparison, pick up as many paint swatches as you want (they're free) at the paint store to find the one that matches the closest.
- 2). Prepare the room by clearing furniture away from the walls. Take down window coverings and art work and remove switch plates. Lay dropcloths down to protect the floor.
- 3). Prepare the walls. Clean them with mild detergent or vinegar and water if they are very grubby. Fill holes and dents with spackle, and sand the walls. Fill gaps and cracks between the wall and trim, or in corners, with paintable caulking and let it dry for at least four hours.
- 4). Tape the ceiling and trim with blue painter's tape, unless you have a very steady hand -- even if you do, tape off the baseboards to protect them from sprinkling paint while you roll.
- 5). Prime repairs -- if they are small, prime them with a coat of the paint at the same time you are cutting in the room. Prime repairs 1-inch wide or larger with latex primer. Caulking does not need to be primed.
- 6). Cut in the first wall with a 2- or 3-inch brush with a stripe of paint at least 2 inches wide. Cut in along the ceiling, baseboard, around trim and down the corner.
- 7). Roll the wall, starting at the top. Roll out a "W" shape and then roll back over it until the paint is evened out. Work in roughly 3-foot-square sections, without letting your roller get so dry that you're applying a lot of pressure to get paint on the wall. Use an extension pole to make the job go faster.
- 8). Remove the painter's tape when the paint has dried for at least an hour. As you're cleaning up, check the trim and floor for stray paint drips or spatters; it's much easier to clean it up with a damp rag while it's still fresh.
Source...