How to Paint Walls in an Apartment Quickly for the Weekend

With the help of OBI experts, we provide simple tips on how to paint walls in an apartment in just 2 days.

Choosing Materials

First — Tools

The essential minimum for wall painting:

• Painting board — to remove excess paint;
  
• Telescopic handle for easy ceiling and wall painting;
  
• Brush — needed for corners, baseboards, and radiators.
  

Design: Artpartner

Successful purchases:
Paint tray LUX 19 x 21 cm, OBI
Paint bucket, wear-resistant and solvent-resistant, with a cleaning device for the paint roller
Paint roller LUX with telescopic handle 25 cm, OBI
Roller made of vestana suitable for painting surfaces with minimal texture
Paint brush for radiators LUX 50 mm, OBI
Brush made of bristle with a wooden handle. Suitable for solvent-based lacquers

And then — paint

Today, there are many options for paint on the market. The first thing to decide is type. Water-emulsion, latex, alkyd, or oil-based? The most eco-friendly option is water-based paint.

Also consider the surface you will be painting. For example, floor moldings are better painted with enamel paint, and radiators with special paint that withstands high temperatures.

Design: 'Alexander Fedorova Studio'

If you want colored walls, you need to color the paint. In OBI hypermarkets, this service is completely free, regardless of how intense the color.

Successful purchases:
Waterproof paint TEC, white, OBI
For painting walls and ceilings, suitable for rooms with high humidity. Forms a deep matt, breathable (living) coating
Paint Tikkurila Perfecta base A 9 l, OBI
Water-thin paint for walls and ceilings in dry rooms. Ideal protection against stains, dirt, and dust
Paint Dulux Easy BW, white 10 l, OBI
Easily applied to any wallpaper types, including non-paintable wallpapers. Has excellent coverage. The coating withstands wet cleaning with soft cleaning agents

Preparing Walls for Painting

We do this in several stages. First — wipe the wall with a damp cloth. Second — remove old coating with special cleaning solution. After that, fill in all defects — cracks, old nail holes. Finally, coat the wall with primer.

The surface prepared for painting must be clean and dry.

Design: Milla Kolpakova

Successful purchases:
Deep penetration primer Ceresit, OBI
Has high penetrating ability, increases surface strength, binds residual dust, improves adhesion of materials to the base and prevents air bubble formation in the leveling layer
Polishing pad Lux Classic, OBI
The pad is made of hard glass-forming synthetic material, resistant to wear and deformation
Knauf-Fugen gypsum-based putty, OBI
Dry joint compound based on gypsum with polymer additives for interior work

Protecting Areas That Should Not Be Painted

Surfaces that should not be painted need to be sealed. Also remove all switches, outlets, and lamps or cover outlets with special protection. Don't forget to lay a polyethylene protective sheet on the floor and secure it well so it doesn't slip during painting.

Design: Boho Studio

Successful purchases:
Painting tape Unibob on paper base, OBI
The tape has good moisture resistance, is compatible with various paint types, and can be removed without traces within 24 hours
Wall protection OBI
Ensures preservation of decorative coating around switches or outlets
Protective film LUX, OBI
Polyethylene film of high density, suitable for protection from paint, moisture, and dirt

Painting Walls with Primer

Do not skip this step, as primer increases surface strength and reduces paint absorption — making it easier to apply the paint to the wall. Additionally, it increases material adhesion.

Experts from construction company 'Good' say that surface characteristics also matter. For example, walls with gypsum plaster, gypsum panels, and linen fiber panels should be pre-primed with a flat brush or spreader, otherwise they will absorb paint too much.

Design: Elena Ivanova

Painting Walls

Start with corners

This is important — begin painting from the corners by the window. A brush works best.

Design: Julia Schmidt and Alexandra Taranova

Then — walls and ceiling

Start with the ceiling and then move to the walls. Large surfaces are easier to paint with a roller with a telescopic handle.

Following the Painting Direction

Move along, then across, and then again along. This sequence will help distribute paint evenly over the entire surface.

Design: Anna Dobrovol'skaya

Successful purchases:
Paint roller LUX, OBI
Ergonomically curved handle allows painting hard-to-reach areas,
the roller can be used for corner painting
Electric paint sprayer ELITECH, OBI
Nozzle forms a constant and uniform spray for high-quality paint application to surfaces
Paint brushes LUX, OBI
Set of 3 painting brushes for applying paint

On the cover: design project by Elizaveta Pyshneva and Julia Tyurinova.