How To Paint A Room

Painting is one of the best do-it-yourself (DIY) jobs for home improvement that anyone can do.

All it takes to bring some new life into your interior walls is a little time, patience, and following a few simple painting rules.

Before you start painting your desired wall, you will need to get your hands on a few painting items to make the job easier and look more professional. Follow this in-depth guide on how to paint a room, and you will even surprise yourself with how fast and neat the finished room will look.

Table of Contents

How To Paint A Room 1

Imaged Sourced – Hunter Valley Painting

Tools and Materials Needed to Paint a Room

  • Wall cleaner

  • Painter’s tape

  • Paint roller and extension pole

  • Paint and paint tray

  • Paintbrushes

  • Sandpaper

  • Drop cloth

  • Putty knife

  • Step ladder

Step By Step Guide On How To Paint A Room

Step 1: Choose a Paint Color and Finish


The options are endless when selecting the right
paint colour for the room, especially when you have to counsel with your partner first before choosing. You’ll also have to decide on how much paint you’ll need and the right colour. From warm to bold or a cool shade, it’s also important to take into consideration the different types of finish

Gloss finish ­- Glossy paint reflects the light in any room. It looks great in rooms with wooden furnishings, and it’s easily washable

Semi-gloss finish – If you’re looking for durable paint that will reflect enough light and look great in rooms choose semi-gloss. It can get cleaned frequently, like the kitchen and bathroom

Matte finish – A matte finish works well on uneven walls with small imperfections because it doesn’t reflect the light.

Satin finish – A satin finish is smooth with only a bit of shine and is best used in high-traffic areas. Kids’ play areas, hallways, living rooms and bedrooms are great examples of places to use the satin finish.

Interior Home Painting

Step 2: Cover floors and furnishings


One of the worst things about painting a room is that it’s a messy job. Painting a new room can easily destroy your favourite furnishings if the proper coverings are not in place before opening the paint tin.

One of the best ways to protect your floors, door and window frames, and furnishings from paint droplets and splatters is to use fabric drop cloths to cover everything. Using plastic drop cloths is not advisable as they can be slippery and easily moved when stood on.

Step 3: Prep the Trim and Walls


When painting a wall, it’s necessary to
clean them with wall cleaner to remove any dirt, cobwebs, and grease before doing any patching or painting.

To understand if your wall has any bumps or indents, shine a torch on them for an inspection and fill in any small holes or cracks with a patching compound. Remove any nails or peeling paint, then finally sand all the patches with sandpaper for a smooth finish.

Cover any plug sockets or switch plates with masking tape or remove them, and prime the walls and ceilings.

Step 4: Tint the Primer


Professional painters always prime the walls and ceilings first. A primer is used as the first layer coverage to prevent paint bleeds. It also improves adhesion, reducing the chance of paint peeling and blisters forming.

Step 5: Start Off By Painting the Ceiling


A good painter will paint the ceiling first and the walls last so that any paint drips or paint splatters from the ceiling can
be rolled over.

  • Pour the paint into the paint tray, just enough so that you can carry it standing on the step ladder and use an angled paint brush to paint the edges of your ceiling.

  • Dampen the roller before using it with water or paint thinner and dip it into the paint tray. Remove the excess paint so that it doesn’t drip everywhere.

  • Paint the whole ceiling from one end to the other using the extension pole, rolling in the same direction.

  • Once the ceiling is completely painted, have a look to see if it needs a second coat, and if it does, roll in the opposite direction to the first coat.

Step 6: Paint the Trim Before the Walls


Just
like the ceiling, you should paint the wall parameters (known as the trim) using an angled brush.

Once you have painted the trim, let it dry, then use painter’s tape on the trim and continue to paint all of the walls. If you are having the trim the same colour as the walls, you can skip the taping step.

couple using painters tape

Step 7: Apply Tape Along the Edges of the Trim


Before you start painting the walls, you should apply painter’s tape around the edges of the trim so that you don’t get any paint on it. Plus, it will avoid contrasting brush and roller marks, leaving you with a perfect line between the ceiling and wall.

Step 8: Cut In the Edges of the Wall with a Paintbrush


Use your paintbrush to cut in around the edges of the taped wood trim (around 2-inch thickness) before using the paint roller on the walls. 

Cutting in blends better with the wall paint, leaving you with a professional finish at the end.

Step 9: Roll Paint the Walls


Pour the paint into the tray and gently roll the roller backwards and forth in the well so that the roller is well covered in paint. Avoid using too much paint at this stage. Work your way from the base of the wall to the ceiling, rolling as many times as possible without reloading the roller to ensure it’s completely coated in paint.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Step 10: Remove Tape and Tidy up


Once the wall is fully painted, score along the tape edge using the putty knife and peel the tape from the trim. Clean the brush and roller with hot soapy water, remove all of the cloth, and open the windows to let the fresh paint smell out.

FAQs

Should I wash the walls before painting?


Yes, washing the walls is necessary prior to painting so that the paint adheres to it and it will look better when finished.

Can I paint over old paint?


If the old paint is similar to the new one (latex paint, for example), you can proceed to paint straight over it.

What happens if you don’t prime your walls first before painting?


If you don’t apply a prime coating first, you run the risk of it peeling off, and your wall will not look as professional without it.

Do you paint from top to bottom or side to side?


It’s best to paint from the ceiling down after you’ve cut in the edges to avoid any mistakes.

Interior House Painting, Kitchen

Key Takeaways

Final Thoughts

Painting your home should be fun and give you a sense of accomplishment after you have finished it. Just remember to take your time with it and follow the steps to get a professional look!

If you need a professional painter to do it for you or seek further advice, please contact us via our online booking form or call us now on 0478 798 854

Share
Author picture

Gavin Kane

Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting who are experienced Newcastle Painters. Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Gavin Kane
Gavin Kane

Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting.

Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Share

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.