While canvas is a relatively thick material, it cannot block out heavy spills. Because of this, be careful not to spill a lot of paint. Use a small amount of paint at a time, and be mindful of where your bucket or tray is at all times. Canvas drop cloths are hefty enough that you do not need to use tape. You can simply bunch them up along the walls to keep them in place. However, using masking tape ensures your drop cloth will stay put and protect your floors. You can purchase canvas drop cloths at most home supply stores in the painting aisle.

The size of your sheets will depend on the size of your floor, but generally speaking, you can cut it into about 5 ft (1. 5 m) long sections so it is easy to work with. Purchase rosin paper at most craft stores and home supply stores. You can also use ram board or cardboard flooring if you’re going to be painting for a couple of weeks and really want your floors to be protected well. [3] X Expert Source Patrick CoyePainting Specialist Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.

Plastic drop cloths work better to cover furniture when you are painting, rather than using as a drop cloth. However, they are a popular choice because they are easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and easy to throw away. Since plastic is not an absorbent material, spilled paint will not dry and can run across the drop cloth. If you step in the paint, you can easily track it across your floor. However, even if you spill a gallon of paint, it won’t bleed through plastic drop cloths. Plus, it also prevents dust from getting through which makes cleanup easier. [5] X Expert Source Patrick CoyePainting Specialist Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.

While this is not required, it will help protect your floors from any additional damage.

If you’d like, you can stick half or 1/4 of the piece of tape to your baseboards. This helps prevent any paint from landing on your baseboards or carpet edges.

If you are using pieces of rosin paper, place 1 piece at the edge of your wall, and lay the additional pieces next to the first section so they overlap by at least 0. 5 in (1. 3 cm). If you have furniture in your room, you can simply lay your covering around it. You can fold the edges on top of the rest of the covering and use an additional covering if you need.

Alternatively, you can fold the extra plastic or paper on top of the layers spread across your floor. Then, tape down the edges so you don’t trip!

Do this after your covering is properly aligned, so your sizing is correct.