Painting Your RV Walls
03-26-2018
Author: in RV Repairs / Maintenance / Upgrades
You love your home-on-wheels, but like with any residence you may eventually get bored with the color or décor. Unless your motorhome or trailer was completely customized—or someone has renovated it along the way—your RV looks the same as many others of the same make, model, and year. Sometimes, you just want something different. You want your home to be unique to you.
One DIY project that is guaranteed to produce a huge change in the appearance of the interior of your RV is painting the walls. Some of the supplies you might need include:
By using a neutral color, you're more likely to complement your existing décor. If you want a pop of color, though, consider just painting an accent wall. Either way, consider the following steps.
Before you get started with potentially messy products like spackle and paint, move or remove anything you can. If you have furniture that you can temporarily relocate, do so. Take off outlet and light-switch covers and consider removing any trim.
With wallpapered interiors, the walls are usually made of lauan plywood with the paper adhered directly to it. These are generally not removable. Any wallpaper borders used, however, usually are. Since the texture of the border and the rest of the wall is typically different, it's a good idea to remove them.
Repair as Needed
Examine the surface of the walls you're going to paint for inconsistencies. If there're any nail or screw holes that you want to get rid of—or sections of wallpaper or even wall missing—use a joint compound or spackle to fill them in. These can be sanded to become even with the wall before painting. If you find areas where the wallpaper is loose, use a wallpaper paste to glue them down. Make sure to let any spackle or wallpaper paste dry thoroughly before moving to the next step.
Begin the process by cleaning the walls. This removes dust, grease, and any mold or mildew that might be on them that would keep the paint from properly sticking. There are many solutions adequate for this step, but the simplest is probably a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Follow this by wiping them down with clean water and let them dry for several hours or even overnight.
Lightly Sand the Walls
This step is necessary for a few reasons. With wallpapered walls, it allows you to smooth down any bumps or edges of the wallpaper that are sticking out to create an even surface. With vinyl or wood walls, sanding produces a texture that enables the primer and paint to more easily adhere.
Use a medium or fine-grit paper and a light touch to avoid sanding too deep. Work in circles to address every inch of the wall and create an even surface. Then, wipe down the walls with a damp rag to remove any sanding dust.
Mask the Area
Use masking tape or blue painter's tape to protect the areas around the walls from getting drips or paint streaks on them. Carefully place strips of tape along the cabinets, window frames, ceiling and surrounding walls (as needed). Remember that any paint that bleeds through the tape is easily removed by using a little paint thinner or even water and a clean rag after the paint is dry and the tape removed.
Then, place tarps and drop cloths on any furniture that you can't (or choose not to) remove, as well as the floor.
Prime the Walls
Open windows and use your vents to keep air circulating and ensure you have proper ventilation when you're using chemicals. Begin with a primer to even out the texture and provide a base to which the wall paint will adhere. Oil-based primers work the best—especially when painting over wallpaper—as water-based primers tend to separate the wallpaper from the wall. Glidden’s Low-VOC Gripper Primer and Kilz both make good products.
Apply two coats of primer to ensure the paint will stick. Let it dry 24-hours before adding the paint.
Apply the Paint
After checking a few paint strips against your existing décor and color-scheme—unless you plan to redo everything—choose paint in a color you like. Keep in mind that glossy or semi-glossy latex finishes are much easier to clean than matte paint.
Use a screwdriver to open the paint can and make sure to thoroughly stir the paint before using it. Use a brush to paint the corners and the narrow nooks and crannies of the space, and then use the brush or a roller to apply the paint in long strokes to the walls. Although, with a dark color, you may not need more than one coat, with a light color you'll want at least two coats to completely cover the wallpaper design.
Wait a few hours before removing the masking or painter's tape. Don't wait for the paint to fully dry, though, to avoid removing large sections of the wall paint with the tape.
In Conclusion
To further personalize your RV—and depending on the layout of your space—you could add a stenciled or manufactured wallpaper border. However you paint your RV's interior, this easy DIY project is bound to make a big difference in its appearance. Keep in mind that bright colors on the walls may make it more difficult to sell if you decide to go bigger, smaller, or newer. Neutral shades shouldn't decrease the resell value and may even increase it, especially if the original treatment has become dated, dingy, or faded. Good luck!
One DIY project that is guaranteed to produce a huge change in the appearance of the interior of your RV is painting the walls. Some of the supplies you might need include:
- Drop cloths or tarps
- Spackle or join compound (perhaps)
- Medium or fine grit sandpaper
- White vinegar
- Masking tape or painter's tape
- 2 to 3-inch paint brush
- 5-inch paint brush or paint roller and pan
- Primer
- Paint in desired color
By using a neutral color, you're more likely to complement your existing décor. If you want a pop of color, though, consider just painting an accent wall. Either way, consider the following steps.
Related Read: Refresh Your RV’s Decor for $20 or Less
Remove What You CanBefore you get started with potentially messy products like spackle and paint, move or remove anything you can. If you have furniture that you can temporarily relocate, do so. Take off outlet and light-switch covers and consider removing any trim.
With wallpapered interiors, the walls are usually made of lauan plywood with the paper adhered directly to it. These are generally not removable. Any wallpaper borders used, however, usually are. Since the texture of the border and the rest of the wall is typically different, it's a good idea to remove them.
Repair as Needed
Examine the surface of the walls you're going to paint for inconsistencies. If there're any nail or screw holes that you want to get rid of—or sections of wallpaper or even wall missing—use a joint compound or spackle to fill them in. These can be sanded to become even with the wall before painting. If you find areas where the wallpaper is loose, use a wallpaper paste to glue them down. Make sure to let any spackle or wallpaper paste dry thoroughly before moving to the next step.
Related Read: 5 Ideas To Make Your RV Cozy
Clean the SurfacesBegin the process by cleaning the walls. This removes dust, grease, and any mold or mildew that might be on them that would keep the paint from properly sticking. There are many solutions adequate for this step, but the simplest is probably a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Follow this by wiping them down with clean water and let them dry for several hours or even overnight.
Lightly Sand the Walls
This step is necessary for a few reasons. With wallpapered walls, it allows you to smooth down any bumps or edges of the wallpaper that are sticking out to create an even surface. With vinyl or wood walls, sanding produces a texture that enables the primer and paint to more easily adhere.
Use a medium or fine-grit paper and a light touch to avoid sanding too deep. Work in circles to address every inch of the wall and create an even surface. Then, wipe down the walls with a damp rag to remove any sanding dust.
Mask the Area
Use masking tape or blue painter's tape to protect the areas around the walls from getting drips or paint streaks on them. Carefully place strips of tape along the cabinets, window frames, ceiling and surrounding walls (as needed). Remember that any paint that bleeds through the tape is easily removed by using a little paint thinner or even water and a clean rag after the paint is dry and the tape removed.
Then, place tarps and drop cloths on any furniture that you can't (or choose not to) remove, as well as the floor.
Prime the Walls
Open windows and use your vents to keep air circulating and ensure you have proper ventilation when you're using chemicals. Begin with a primer to even out the texture and provide a base to which the wall paint will adhere. Oil-based primers work the best—especially when painting over wallpaper—as water-based primers tend to separate the wallpaper from the wall. Glidden’s Low-VOC Gripper Primer and Kilz both make good products.
Apply two coats of primer to ensure the paint will stick. Let it dry 24-hours before adding the paint.
Apply the Paint
After checking a few paint strips against your existing décor and color-scheme—unless you plan to redo everything—choose paint in a color you like. Keep in mind that glossy or semi-glossy latex finishes are much easier to clean than matte paint.
Use a screwdriver to open the paint can and make sure to thoroughly stir the paint before using it. Use a brush to paint the corners and the narrow nooks and crannies of the space, and then use the brush or a roller to apply the paint in long strokes to the walls. Although, with a dark color, you may not need more than one coat, with a light color you'll want at least two coats to completely cover the wallpaper design.
Wait a few hours before removing the masking or painter's tape. Don't wait for the paint to fully dry, though, to avoid removing large sections of the wall paint with the tape.
In Conclusion
To further personalize your RV—and depending on the layout of your space—you could add a stenciled or manufactured wallpaper border. However you paint your RV's interior, this easy DIY project is bound to make a big difference in its appearance. Keep in mind that bright colors on the walls may make it more difficult to sell if you decide to go bigger, smaller, or newer. Neutral shades shouldn't decrease the resell value and may even increase it, especially if the original treatment has become dated, dingy, or faded. Good luck!
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Author: Carrie Todd
