11 March 2021

Winter Projects - Lounge Room

Lounge room project

The lounge room becomes a sanctuary over the cooler months. With carefully selected colours and fresh finishes, you can create an atmosphere that raises comfort levels as the temperature dips.

Your shopping list

What to consider before you start

How much paint do I need?

Use our simple, online paint calculator to determine the amount of paint you need. Head to dulux.com.au/paint-calculator

Protect surfaces and furniture

Remove all furniture from the room. Lay down a proper drop sheet to protect your floors. Try not to use old sheets as paint will often soak through. Mask skirting boards, window trim and electrical switches with painter’s tape. If painting the ceiling, tape around light fittings and any vents.

Already painted surfaces in good condition

If the surface is already painted and in good condition with no stains or mould you shouldn’t need an undercoat. Check the instructions on the product label to determine if a light sand is required. Ensure the surface is clean, dry and free from dust, oils and grease before you start.

Unpainted surfaces in good condition

If you are painting bare, unpainted walls, furniture or ceiling, apply one coat of Dulux® 1Step® Prep over the entire surface. For bare plaster ensure to use Dulux PRECISION® Sealer Binder.

Cracks or holes

Patch any cracks and holes with a suitable filler or sealant, such as Selleys® Spakfilla®® . Lightly sand down the surface to a smooth level then dust off. Apply one coat of Dulux 1 Step Primer Sealer Undercoat over the repairs.

Mould

If your walls or ceiling have mould, you will need to remove the mould with Selleys® Rapid Mould Killer™ or 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Scrub with a scouring pad and bleach solution then leave solution on the surface for 15 minutes. Wash with clean water and wipe dry. To ensure mould does not recur, it is important to eliminate the cause of the mould growth. Several applications may be necessary to remove stubborn mould blooms. Once the mould has been removed and the surface is clean, dry and free from dust, oils and grease, you can paint without an undercoat.

Stains

Wash surfaces with Selleys Sugar Soap and if stains persist use a specialist stain blocker to prevent the stains migrating through your topcoat and appearing in your new paint job. The Dulux PRECISION range of specialty stain blockers will have a product to suit your stain problem.

Spraying

If undertaking a spray project, for ease of application use a Lazy Susan. This will help you spray the object evenly on all sides, without walking in circles or handling it. To help protect surfaces from overspray, use drop sheets, tape or newspaper. Also, ensure the surface is clean and dry, free from grease, rust and dirt. If priming bare steel and iron, or an undercoat is required, use a Dulux Duramax® Undercoat (Metal, Plastic or General Purpose Undercoat). Shake the can for at least one minute before use and regularly during use. After spraying, prevent blocking by flipping the can upside down and spraying until clear gas emerges. Also wipe the front of the nozzle clean.

Walls

1. Follow the preparation steps of this guide.

2. Start by cutting in around the edges of the wall with a brush – these are areas the roller cannot easily reach.

3. Load the roller in the tray with a reasonable amount of paint.

4. Start rolling the wall in an ‘M’ pattern. Start closest to the natural light source. Continue over the same section until the wall is evenly covered.

5. Using an unloaded roller begin in the top left corner of your wall and gently let the roller roll down to the baseboards in a straight line with no pressure. A lightness of touch will prevent new roller marks from forming. Repeat this action only this time, slightly overlap your last movement so your roller rubs away the line created by the previous stroke. Continue this across the area you have painted. This is called laying off.

6. Reload your roller and repeat until the wall is complete.

7. Allow the first coat to dry and repeat the total process again with a second coat.

Fireplace, Windows & Shutters

1. Follow the preparation steps of this guide.

2. Begin by taping around the fireplace, window or trim with painter’s masking tape.

3. For technique, start by cutting in at the top and bottom of the edges of the trim, then finish off the middle.

4. Apply paint to the trim using short, horizontal brush strokes. Repeat the motion for about a metre.

5. Smooth over the painted section with long brush strokes. Do not reload the brush when you do this. Don’t brush it too much – a few strokes should be enough to smooth the surface.

6. Repeat this process until complete. Allow to dry, then give the surface a light sand with 400 grit sandpaper and repeat for a second coat.

Note: With windows it is recommended to paint the inner window sections first then move to the outer trim. And remember, always keep windows open as they dry and ensure to move them constantly to prevent them from sticking together.

Ornaments

1. Follow the preparation instructions for spraying of this guide.

2. If using Dulux Duramax Metallic Rose Gold and Dulux Duramax Ito Gloss, apply in multiple light, mist coats.

3. For a realistic marble look use Dulux Duramax Marble Effect. First apply a coat of Dulux Duramax High Performance Enamel in your chosen colour. Then apply one coat of Dulux Duramax Marble Effect. Spray with quick hand movements from multiple directions, keeping 25cm or more distance from the surface. Every marble finish will be unique so don’t think too hard about the pattern while you are spraying.

4. Finally, once the surface has dried, spray the entire surface with Dulux Duramax Clear Coat Satin or Gloss.

5. Follow the after spraying instructions on page 2 of this guide.

6. Now, admire your transformation! Great job!

Need help?

For any further help on your project, call our friendly Help & Advice Team. Australia: 13 25 25, New Zealand: 0800 800 424. Or you can contact our live chat team online at dulux.com.au