How To Paint A Room From Start To Finish

Painting a room can bring the area new life. It's almost like seeing the first flower bloom after a hard winter. Paint color can make a bold statement, change the ambiance or set a perfect backdrop when you know how to paint a room. Even with the best paint ideas, painting a room can be a challenge. Follow these steps to make sure you do it right the first time.

Step 1: Get Ready to Paint by Removing or Covering Furniture, Fixtures and Hardware

Start by clearing as much as possible from the work area. If you can't remove all the furniture, try to group it together in the middle of the room or in a location away from the work area. If you won't be patching or cleaning the painting surface, go ahead and remove the light switch and outlet faceplates. Otherwise, leave them in place for now.

Consider what type of drop cloth to use. Plastic covers are inexpensive, but they can be slippery and they rip easily. If you use this type of drop cloth, take extra precautions to make sure it works as it should. For better protection, use canvas drop clothes. If you need to use more than one cloth, overlap the second cloth or create a seal by taping the two pieces together.

Step 2: Prepare Walls for Painting

This part of preparation can easily take up a full day of your painting project, especially for larger areas or multiple rooms. Always perform work on the ceiling first and then work on the walls.

• Patch any dents, scratches or holes in the wall or ceiling. Paint may cover over small blemishes; however, most paint types won't hide larger problems. If you don't take the time to fix damage now and you decide that you want to later on, you may wind up repainting the entire surface. If you patch all the issues, regardless of size, you'll be happier with the overall appearance.


• Scrape any high spots in the surface. Use a putty knife or scraper to remove any old runs or drips. Don't dig the scraper's edge too hard into the wall, or you may need to patch the wall again.


• Sand the walls with a pole sander and 120-grit sandpaper. Work the sander from the surface's top to the bottom while moving the board left and right. Keep an eye on the sandpaper and replace it if it wears down or is no longer working correctly because of impacted paint or dust.


• Use a shop vacuum to remove as much dust from the floor and wall as you can. Then, clean the walls with a sponge and a mild detergent. This will remove dust, dirt and grease.

Step 3: Determine Whether You Need to Use a Paint Primer

Once the walls are ready for painting, decide whether you need a paint primer. Most professional painters recommend using a primer if you have done any repair work. The primer will fill in any pores in the filler you used and create a smooth surface. You should also use a primer if you plan to cover a darker paint color with a lighter paint color.

If you do use a primer, you will need to sand the walls again so the paint will adhere better. Then, follow the cleaning process from above to wipe away the dust or debris so the paint will look its best.

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Step 4: Tape Areas Where You Don't Want to Paint

You may feel like you need to tape every piece of trim in your home. That isn't necessarily the case. Too often, a painter will let the tape act as a security blanket only to find out that paint seeped under the tape's edge. Put tape in areas where you want extra protection, but follow the next step to paint the room correctly. If you have not removed the faceplates for your light switches and outlets, do so now.

Step 5: Cut in the Paint

No matter what paint brand you use, your final appearance will often be the result of how well you painted the room. To avoid a window-framed look, use a 2.5-inch angle brush and work in horizontal strokes followed by vertical strokes. Only load the brush 1/3 of the way to top with paint to maintain a crisp line. If you get too much paint on the brush, tap it off rather than wiping the sides. You'll want to trim a section that is two to three inches wide.

Step 6: Paint the Walls

While you can use a variety of paint supplies and painting techniques to cover the walls, you may find using a roller is the easiest option. Fill the tray until the paint reaches the section with ridges, and then dip the roller into the paint. Roll it back and forth across the grate to remove excess paint and to cover the brush with an even distribution of paint.

Place the roller on the wall and use an upstroke to begin the painting process. Roll out a large M or W and then begin overlapping the letter with strokes. Roll slowly so you don't create centripetal force, which will splatter paint as you roll. Work on one section at a time and overlap each section to blend the areas together.

Step 7: Clean Up the Paint

Keep a damp cloth with you while you paint and use it to wipe up any mistake you make. If you want to reuse any of the paint supplies, wash them to remove any paint. If you let the paint dry on the supplies, you will not be able to reuse them. Remove any tape you used before the paint dries completely. Some interior designers recommend that you pull the tape off one to two hours after you finish painting. If you wait too long, the tape may pull off sections of your fresh paint.

When you learn how to paint a room, you'll be able to use that skill repeatedly. Redecorate other areas of your home or help a friend paint a living room. Find more about the best paint brands to help you with your decision.