Painting my dad's room for a Christmas Surprise!! Please advise me!!?

Question

Ok, I'm 21 and I've done some painting but I've never done a whole room that the bottom half was light blue and the top was orange and yellow smeared all in the time the person would be at work!! He moved in and the ppl before him obviously thought they were Picaso or something! Anyway I have very little money but wanted to do something big for him and I want to paint his room as a surprise. I have about 10 hours to get it all done (it doesnt have to be dry by then) The top that is orange and yellow is really bright.. do i prime? Also my dad is into naturaul, earthy colors. He also loves hunting and greens. I was thinking a dark tan or a kind of kahki green. And thoughts? Also how many coats? And do I really have to buy the expensive paint because I was going to get the medium price one. ANY advice, on anything and any tips would all be helpful. How do to it faster, cleaner, and a great color would be great. And then I thought about 2 or 3 colors. LOL, please assist me!! God Bless!

By "his room" I mean bedroom. Sorry, we are just regular ppl in a small town in Iowa, and he hasn't gotten his room decorated yet (with picture frames and a matching bed spread with sheets and whatnot) He has a lot of antiques in the garage and stuff I thought I would bring up to spice stuff up. I'm going to try my best. I only have like 60 dollars to get this done in, so I'm going to work with a lot of what we got!

Answer 1

If you go with the medium or low grade of paint, prime first. Two thin coats would be better than one heavy coat. Use a brush and paint the corners and along the edges first, then go back and paint the walls. Use painters tape to cover any wood. Have two rags - one wet and one dry handy to wipe up any drips quickly. Set your paint cans on paper plates. when you first open the paint can use a hammer and a nail to punch holes in the inside rim - when you pour the paint it collects here and drips down the outside - to prevent drips and waste. (It is the are the lid snaps down into)

How many gallons you will need depends on the size of the room and the quality of the paint and how much is wasted. Better to have two gallons than to run out.

Go with a tan/cream/beige kinda color. It is easy to work with and masculine. The antiques should play nicely off this color and it is a nice earth-tone.

You have a kind heart. I know your Dad is proud of you and will be pleased with how the room turns out. God bless you, too! :)

Answer 2

How is the lighting in his room? If there is a lot of light, you can go with a darker color, but if there isn't much light (windows) then I would go with a lighter color. Light tan, gray (very popular color with designers this year) or green would be nice. You should prime so the paint will last longer, it will paint more evenly, and it will take less paint to cover the old paint. The medium priced paint should be fine since you are priming the walls first. Preparation time always takes me the longest...taping off moldings, removing switch plate covers, etc. Once that is done it shouldn't take long. Make sure you have all supplies before starting...Primer, paint, roller, brush, paint can opener, paint stirrer, drop clothes (cheap tarp from Walmart), painting tape, ladder, and old clothes! Good luck, I know that Dad will appreciate this gift!

Answer 3

First of all take a deep breath because if you don't you'll pass out before you get started! LOL
You could paint the walls a dark tan and add Khaki Green, a deep blue or russet color in small accents (pillows,picture frames,etc) Always use a water base primer before painting so that the paint adheres to the surface properly. Next make sure the paint you buy is also water based. They dry faster and clean up is easier for you. You can use a medium priced paint and choose the finish you think he would like (High gloss is too much at night when a light is turned on, Semi Gloss can be blaring as well) and I suggest a satin finish. Make sure you do two light coats of paint over one coat of primer. If you use a heavy coat it will not dry, look as if it is thin in places and you will have a mess on your hands.

Answer 4

Glidden has very reasonable prices & it is a good quality paint. I used it in my living room/dining room & I'm very happy with it. You can buy it at home depot for about $18 a gallon. I would get an eggshell sheen.

As for a color, check out "distant mountain." It's a medium khaki. Very natural & comforting. If you want something darker, check out "virginia vine."
http://www.glidden.com/colors/colors.jsp
deep green & gold accents (bedding, curtains, rug) would look beautiful with it.

As for priming - in my experience, it's only necessary if you're putting a very dark color over a very light color. Otherwise, the paint that's already on the wall will act as a primer for you.

Use a dropcloth, and keep a damp rag handy to immediately wipe off any accidental drips or smudges. Personally, I think taping off the trim is a waste of time. Instead I use a roller pad & angled brush with a short handle and take my time to paint with precision around those areas.

Answer 5

What else is in the room? Is this a bedroom, study? What type drapes, flooring, furniture? Need more info! Try to match colors to whatever is permanent in the room.
Since he likes greens, paint the bottom of walls hunter or grass green, and the top a light caramel tan.[ neither too dark ]. Then he can put artwork on top half.
If top is really bright, you will need to prime.
Count on at least two coats of color. I suggest satin finish.
Measure and write down room dimensions - take to store to have them calculate how much paint you need.

Answer 6

first of all it is wonderful that you are doing this for your dad im sure he will love it.

second of all i hate to burst your bubble but if you even want to do a half decent job there is no way that you will do it in 10 hours. i know you are on a tight budget but by the sounds of it , it has been awhile since the room was last painted so there is no way that you can do the walls without painting the ceiling the same time. if it is just a flat drywall ceiling then apply 2 coats of ceiling flat paint. if it is stucco then you can use the ceiling flat on it also, but if the stucco has never been painted then you have to apply a coat of alkyd flat ceiling paint. depending on how discoloured it is usually 1 coat will do. then you have to do your prep work. if any screwheads are popping they all have to be tightened and filled with 2 - 3 coats of joint compound. any cracks need to have drywall tape and 2 - 3 coats of joint compound. all areas to be painted will need to have a sanding and sand between coats of paint. if there are alot of repairs i would paint the walls with a primer tinted to as close to the finish colour then apply your finish coats. if not then just spot prime them. everyone thinks you have to prime all of the time but unless it is drywall or wood that has never been painted before priming is not needed except for the areas repaired. the number of coats of paint needed will be determined by your new colour and the quality of the paint. you will need atleast 6 - 8 hours between coats of paint. if you don't do that then you may have bubbles that usually shrink back when the paint is dry but sometimes they don't.
you may have to revise your game plan on the way you are going to do this. good luck i hope everything works out for you.

Answer 7

do a tan color
prime and do 2 coats
good luck