reading room reading room

STEPS

1. Sand & Cover

The room, an addition made from oak panels, had been painted more times than I could count, so prep was essential! Using a pole sander, I lightly sanded every wall to ensure the surface was smooth and ready for paint!

I wiped the walls with a damp cloth and then a tack cloth to remove the dust.

Finally, I prepped the room for the spray painter by covering the floors with paper and tapping off the trim, space heaters, and doorways with a plastic tarp and tape.

2. Spray It, Don’t Say It

Although the prep takes a long time, using a paint sprayer allowed me to reach the grooves of the wood paneling easily. Spraying the entire room in Warm Eucalyptus 8004-28F, the 2026 Color of the Year, took about 15 minutes. Let dry and recoat after 2-4 hours.

Follow the cleaning instructions on the paint sprayer to ensure it lasts for your next project.

3. I’ve never met a door I didn’t paint!

I decided to use a coordinating color on the room's doors and trim. The doors were removed from the hinges and lightly sanded before getting two coats of Degas Blue 8004-35B, a chameleon color that sometimes looks white, sometimes blue, but always beautiful.

The trim was painted by hand using the Valspar® Wall and Trim Short Angle 2-inch Paint Brush. Make sure to remove the painter's tape while the trim paint is still on in order to get crisp lines and a clean pull!

4. Style & Enjoy

Once the paint was dry, I moved the vintage mid-century modern furniture, custom art, and over 300 cookbooks back into the space. The room was adorned with bold lighting, a red rug for a pop of color, and a glass coffee table that serves as a home for even more books.

The space looks incredible, and everyone, including the cat, loves their new home.