How to Paint an Interior Column

Spread drop cloths around the base of your interior column and set a stool on top of the drop cloths near the column.

Combine four parts water with one part trisodium phosphate, also called TSP, in a bucket and soak a sponge in the mixture for a few minutes.

Pull the sponge out of the bucket and squeeze it to remove some of the excess water/TSP mixture but do not wring the sponge out.

Clean the interior column thoroughly with the mixture using the sponge until you remove all dirt, grease and smudges. Rinse out the bucket and fill it with plain water. Wring out the sponge thoroughly and wipe down the column to rinse it. Allow the interior column to air dry.

Abrade the interior column with medium-grit sandpaper, removing any flaking or peeling paint. Sand until the column is roughed and able to bond with new paint.

Tape the top and bottom of the interior column with painter's tape to protect the ceiling and floor.

Apply the first coat of paint to the column with a paintbrush, going from the top of the column to the bottom. Work around the column in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, applying paint from the ceiling to the floor. Allow the first coat to dry for about three hours.

Apply a second coat of paint to the interior column, again painting from top to bottom, going in one direction around the column. This will prevent streaks from appearing. Let the second coat dry to finish the job.