The Renovation

How to complete The Renovation

Repainting or renovating a room yourself, from moving the furniture to washing the rollers, teaches you what tradespeople actually charge for: preparation. One properly finished room does more for a home and your confidence than three half-started projects.

1. Pick the smallest room that bothers you; empty it, or pile everything in the center under plastic sheeting.
2. Do the prep, which is 60 percent of the job: wash the walls, fill holes with spackle, sand smooth, and tape edges and trim.
3. Prime patched or stained areas, then calculate paint from wall area; one liter covers roughly 10 square meters per coat.
4. Cut in corners and edges with a brush first, then roll the walls in W strokes, two coats, respecting the drying time on the can.
5. Pull the tape while the final coat is slightly wet and touch up with a small brush.
6. Clean tools, reinstall outlet covers, and move furniture back after 24 hours.

Tips

• Cheap paint needs three coats, mid-range needs two; the math favors mid-range.
• Never skip primer over patched spots or they will show through as dull patches.
• Buy 10 percent extra paint and keep it labeled for future touch-ups.

What counts as done

The room is prepped, painted or renovated, cleaned up, and back in use, with every stage done by your own hands.