Painting and decorating your toddler's bedroom or playroom can be an exciting experience for both you and your child. This helps create a space that is your child's own. Your family can work together to make a sleeping or play space that your toddler will be happy with. Although the process is little different from painting any other interior space, painting a toddler's room does require a few considerations. You should be able to complete this project in a weekend.
Step 1
Take your toddler to the paint store or home improvement warehouse to select paint samples. Allow your toddler to express his preferences so you can choose paint samples he likes. You can edit his choices when you get home.
Step 2
Choose a washable interior paint, advises Sherrie Le Masurier, contributor to the Organizing and Decorating Kids' Rooms website. As your toddler grows, she will likely explore drawing and coloring on the walls--a washable paint can make it easier to remove your child's marks. Le Masurier recommends choosing chalkboard or whiteboard paint for the lower half of the walls. These paints create a surface that is meant to be colored on.
Step 3
Cover the carpet or other flooring with a plastic floor covering, advises Harry Sawyers, contributor the This Old House website. Make sure the covering stretches to all edges. Tape the covering down at the edges with painter's tape.
Step 4
Remove outlet and light switch coverings with a screwdriver. Cut remnants of plastic floor covering and tape them over the outlets and switches with painter's tape.
Step 5
Attach 120-grit sandpaper to a pole sander. Sand all wall surfaces lightly, wearing a dust mask to protect your nose, throat and lungs, advises Sawyers. After you complete the sanding, wipe the walls down with a damp sponge to remove dust.
Step 6
Paint along corners and edges with a beveled paintbrush, advises the TLC Home website. Start at the corners and paint horizontal strokes about 6 to 8 inches long, then paint from the ceiling to the floor along the corner to smooth the horizontal strokes. Paint along the ceiling and floor, making sure to paint in straight lines to create a crisp edge.
Step 7
Fill a paint tray with interior paint. Load a paint roller with paint by rolling it through the paint and along the grooves on the paint tray, advises Sawyers. Paint should not drip from the roller when you lift it from the tray. Roll the paint along the walls until they are completely covered. Let the paint dry and check for any missed spots. Use a roller or paintbrush to cover missed spots.
Step 8
Remove the plastic coverings from the outlets, switches and floor when the paint is completely dry. Replace the outlet and switch coverings.
Tips and Warnings
- Let your toddler paint a small area of one wall if he is old enough to handle a paintbrush. Make sure he wears old clothes so he will not get paint on good clothes. Letting your child help will give him a sense of accomplishment, and help him appreciate his new room.
- Keep the room well ventilated while preparing and painting it. Paint fumes can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and can cause dizziness and other health risks.
Things You'll Need
- Paint samples
- Plastic floor covering
- Painter's tape
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Pole sander
- 120-grit sandpaper
- Dust mask
- Damp sponge
- Interior paint
- Paintbrushes
- Paint rollers
- Paint trays
