Step-by-step guide to painting alcoves

Clear the Area

Remove all furniture and decorative items from the alcove. If items can't be moved, cover them thoroughly with protective sheets.

Protect the Floor

Lay down a Harris Seriously Good Cotton Dust Sheet to safeguard your flooring from splashes and drips.

Masking

Apply Harris Essentials Masking Tape along skirting boards, ceiling lines, and any adjacent walls you want to protect. Take extra care in corners where precision matters most.

Repair Surfaces

Inspect walls for imperfections. Fill any holes or cracks with quality filler, allowing it to dry completely before sanding smooth for a flawless base.

Clean the Walls

Using a Harris Seriously Good Microfibre Cloth and sugar soap solution, thoroughly clean all surfaces to remove dust, grease, and grime that could affect paint adhesion.

Choose the Right Paint

Select a high-quality emulsion appropriate for your wall type and desired finish. Matt emulsions work well for hiding imperfections, whilst silk finishes are easier to clean.

Apply the Base Coat

Using a roller such as the Harris Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Medium Pile Roller Set 4in, work methodically from top to bottom. For larger alcove walls, the Harris Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Medium Pile Roller Set 9in speeds up application whilst maintaining quality.

Allow to Dry

Patience pays off – let your base coat dry completely according to manufacturer instructions before proceeding.

Plan Your Design

Sketch out your pattern or use a spirit level to mark guidelines for straight lines, especially important for two-tone walls.

Apply Masking Tape

Use Harris Seriously Good Masking Tape to outline your design. This professional-grade tape ensures sharp edges without paint bleed.

Press Down Tape Edges

Run a Harris Seriously Good Continental Filing Knife along tape edges, creating a perfect seal that prevents paint from seeping underneath.

For Detailed Work

The Harris Ultimate Blade Brush navigates corners and edges with precision, whilst the Harris Seriously Good Walls & Ceilings Angled Paint Brush 1in is perfect for cutting in around intricate details.

For Larger Surfaces

In spacious alcoves, the Harris Seriously Good Walls & Ceilings Medium Pile Roller Set 9in provides efficient coverage. For standard-sized alcoves, the Harris Ultimate 4-inch Walls & Ceilings Roller Set offers better manoeuvrability.

For Shelving and Woodwork

When painting built-in shelves or wooden features, switch to specialised woodwork brushes. The Harris Seriously Good Woodwork Gloss Paint Brush 3-Pack provides various sizes for different elements, whilst the Harris Essentials Mini Roller Set 4in speeds up shelf painting.

Apply Paint

Work in thin, even coats rather than trying to achieve full coverage in one go. This prevents drips and ensures a smooth, professional finish. Allow each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next.

Prepare the Surface

Ensure walls are smooth and properly sized before wallpapering.

Apply Paste

Use the Harris Seriously Good Paste Brush 5in or Harris Essentials Paste Brush 5in for even paste application.

Smooth and Trim

The Harris Essentials Wallpaper Smoother eliminates bubbles, whilst the Harris Seriously Good Paperhanging Knife ensures clean cuts around edges.

Perfect the Details

Use the Harris Seriously Good Paperhanging Sponge to remove excess paste and ensure professional results.

Remove Tape

Carefully peel away masking tape whilst the final coat is slightly tacky to avoid pulling off dried paint.

Touch-ups

Use appropriate small brushes for any minor corrections needed in corners or along edges.

Second Coat

Most colours benefit from a second coat for true depth and even coverage. Apply using the same careful technique as before.

Cleaning Brushes

Remove excess paint with paper towels, then rinse brushes used under warm running water with the brush bristles facing downward.

Drying Brushes

Blot excess water with a Harris Seriously Good Microfibre Cloth, then spin the brush between your palms to speed drying.

Cleaning Rollers

Follow the same process, standing rollers upright to dry and maintain their shape.

Explore our range of high-quality brushes, rollers, and accessories perfect for your home alcove transformation.

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Products

Tiers

By Task

Guaranteed No Bristle Loss

By room

By DIYer

Deck the walls this Christmas

Tips & advice

How to Guides

Material Guides

FAQs

Products

Tiers

By Task

Guaranteed No Bristle Loss

By room

By DIYer

Deck the walls this Christmas

Tips & advice

How to Guides

Material Guides

FAQs

Products

Tiers

By Task

Guaranteed No Bristle Loss

By room

By DIYer

Deck the walls this Christmas

Tips & advice

How to Guides

Material Guides

FAQs

How to paint alcoves and book nooks

Step-by-step guide to painting alcoves

Clear the Area

Protect the Floor

Masking

Repair Surfaces

Clean the Walls

Choose the Right Paint

Apply the Base Coat

Allow to Dry

Plan Your Design

Apply Masking Tape

Press Down Tape Edges

For Detailed Work

For Larger Surfaces

For Shelving and Woodwork

Apply Paint

Prepare the Surface

Apply Paste

Smooth and Trim

Perfect the Details

Remove Tape

Touch-ups

Second Coat

Cleaning Brushes

Drying Brushes

Cleaning Rollers

Featured Products

Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Paint Brush 3 Pack

Ultimate Woodwork Gloss Paint Brush 1.5in

Seriously Good Walls & Ceilings Angled Paint Brush 2in

Seriously Good Paperhanging Kit

Explore our range of high-quality brushes, rollers, and accessories perfect for your home alcove transformation.

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