Painter's tape is a key tool when painting your room two colors.
Using more than one paint color in a room can give it a definitive personality; however, choosing the color combination and then applying two separate shades can be time consuming. With planning and professional painting techniques, you can make your space look like it's straight out of a design magazine. Just take your time and work carefully for the best results.
Instructions
Getting Ready
1. Choose your color combination. Gather ideas from magazines, online, and from friends or family, and then look through a paint swatch book to choose potential colors. Head to your local paint store or home improvement center and purchase test cans of each color you're interested in. Paint swatches on the walls in the room, placing the color combinations you're considering next to each other to see how each possibility looks.
2. Purchase enough paint in the two colors of your choosing to cover the walls. To determine the amount of paint you need, measure the total length of the walls you'll be painting one color and then multiply this number by the height of the ceilings. If you're doing stripes, you can estimate the total amount of stripes and their width, multiplying this number by the ceiling height for an estimated square footage. Keep in mind that you'll likely have to do two coats, so you'll need enough paint to cover the square footage twice.
3. Remove any wall hangings, outlet and light switch covers from the walls and set them aside. Move any furniture to the center of the room and cover everything with a tarp.
4. Tape around door frames, molding and window frames with painter's tape. This includes crown moldings, chair rails and baseboards. Take your time with this step; applying the tape straight and without any creases or bubbles will ensure the crispest, cleanest lines.
5. Apply one coat of primer to all of the walls if there is already a color other than white or a light, neutral shade in place. Use a ceiling-edging tool to apply a clean line of primer around the perimeter of the room, and a roller to cover larger spaces. You can use the edging tool to go around windows and doors as well, and smaller paint brushes for areas where the roller won't work. Let the primer dry according to manufacturer directions.
6. Use painter's tape to create any designs if you're planning to paint stripes or other details with the two colors. As with taping off any trim, taking your time with this step, measuring each area to ensure everything is evenly spaced, will provide the best results. If you're painting one wall an accent color and the rest another shade, you can skip this.
Painting With Two Colors
7. Mix the first color of paint thoroughly and pour some in a small dish. Use a ceiling edging tool to apply a coat of color where necessary, creating a border of paint. Pour paint into a tray and go back in with a roller brush to cover large areas, and use paintbrushes for smaller ones. Wait for this coat to dry, and then apply a second coat for an even finish. A third coat may be required. Wait for all for this to dry before proceeding.
8. Mix the second color and apply one coat in the same manner you did the first. Wait for this to dry, and then apply additional coats as necessary. Wait at least 24 hours after the last coat of paint before proceeding.
9. Remove the painter's tape and rehang any artwork. Reinstall the outlet and light switch covers, and move your furniture back in place.
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