How to Paint a Room

Beginner · 1 day

Painting is the highest-impact, lowest-cost upgrade in any room, and it is genuinely beginner-friendly — the results come down to preparation and patience more than skill. The pros earn their finish in the prep: filling holes, cleaning walls, and cutting in clean lines. Rush those and no amount of expensive paint will save the result.

What you'll need

• Interior paint (use the calculator to size gallons for your room and coats)
• Primer, if covering bare drywall, patches, or a drastic color change
• 2.5 in angled sash brush for cutting in
• Roller frame, 3/8 in nap covers, and an extension pole
• Paint tray and liners, plus a 5-gallon bucket and grid for larger rooms
• Painter's tape, drop cloths, spackle, a putty knife, and fine sanding sponge

Steps

1. 1

   Clear and protect the room

   Move furniture to the center and cover it, then lay drop cloths along the walls. Remove outlet and switch covers rather than taping around them.

2. 2

   Patch and sand

   Fill nail holes and dings with spackle, let it dry, and sand smooth. Wipe walls down to remove dust and grease so paint bonds properly.

3. 3

   Tape the edges

   Run painter's tape along trim, ceilings, and baseboards. Press the edge down firmly with a putty knife to stop paint from bleeding underneath.

4. 4

   Prime if needed

   Prime bare drywall, patched spots, or stains. A tinted primer also helps when going from a dark color to a light one, cutting the number of finish coats.

5. 5

   Cut in the edges

   With the angled brush, paint a 2–3 in band along the ceiling, corners, and trim — the spots a roller can't reach cleanly. Work one wall at a time.

6. 6

   Roll the walls

   While the cut-in edges are still wet, roll the field in overlapping 'W' patterns to spread paint, then finish with light vertical passes. Keeping a wet edge prevents lap marks.

7. 7

   Second coat and reveal

   Let the first coat dry per the can (usually 2–4 hours), then apply the second. Pull the tape while the final coat is still slightly wet for the crispest line.

Pro tips

• Subtract roughly 21 sq ft per door and 15 per window when estimating — the calculator does this for you.
• Box your paint: mix all cans of the same color into one bucket so the shade is identical wall to wall.
• Pull painter's tape at a 45-degree angle while the paint is still slightly tacky to avoid peeling dried film.
• Two thin coats always beat one thick coat — they level better and hide the wall more evenly.

FAQ

Ready to estimate materials? Use the Paint Calculator →