You do not have to hire professional painters for your painting project to get professional results!  Consider this your ultimate guide to the room painting process.

If you are ready to get to work, that probably means that you have honed in on your vision of the room and have the perfect paint color in mind.  If so, it is time to get prepared to do some painting!

Choose Your Primer and Paint

Selecting your primer and paint is one of the most challenging aspects of any painting project.  I have tried to help simplify that process for you in two separate posts about primers and paint finishes.  I highly recommend spending a few minutes reading both posts, Why and How to Prime Walls and Which One to Use!  and Paint Finishes: All You Need to Know to Choose One.

Primers

I will not go into too much detail on primers in this post, but I do want to make a few points about using them.  In combination with patching, sanding, and cleaning the surfaces you plan to paint, primer helps to create a smooth surface, provides better adhesion for the paint, and provides overall better results.  I suggest using at least one coat of primer on any interior walls and ceiling before painting.  If your new paint is a dark color, I recommend using a tinted primer.  This will reduce the number of coats of paint you have to apply.

Paints

Similarly to the primers, I will not speak much about choosing paint in this post, but I will give you a couple of tips.  I recommend focusing on latex paints when making your selection because clean-up is much easier.   Also, make sure you purchase enough paint for the entire room.  As a general rule, one gallon of paint should cover about 400 square feet.  That said, the number of coats you will have to apply varies by project.  You should plan to apply at least two coats of paint.

I also recommend using high-quality paint.  Inexpensive paint tends to be less durable and fades more quickly.  You also typically have to apply more of the cheaper paint to achieve adequate coverage, therefore defeating the purpose of paying less!

Tools Required

The key to any successful project is using the right tools.  Painting projects are no exception.

• Extension Pole
• Paint Roller
• Roller Cover (for new drywall, use a 1/4″ nap, otherwise use a 3/8″ or 1/2″ nap)
• Paint Tray
• Paint Tray Liners
• 2 – 3″ Angled Paint Brush
• Paint Pail
• Paint Pail Liners
• Painter’s Tape
• Putty or Joint Knife
• Joint Compound or Spackle
• Plastic Drop Cloth
• 220-Grit Sandpaper (or Sanding Sponge)
• Sanding Pole
• Primer
• Wall Paint
• Trim Paint

Prep Work

I have learned over time that proper preparation for any project will make it a thousand times easier and less frustrating than being ill-prepared.  If you take the time to prepare adequately, the actual work will take less time.  Next I will share with you exactly how to prep a room for painting.

Prepare the Room

The first step in preparation is to remove as much furniture as possible from the room you plan to paint.  The fewer obstacles you have to contend with the better.  If you are not able to remove the furniture, make sure to cover it with plastic.  Overhead painting creates a lot more splatter than you would think and you don’t necessarily see it until it is too late. Also, make sure to cover the flooring using fabric or plastic drop cloths.

Remove everything from the walls and ceiling including all artwork, light fixtures, and outlet and switch covers.  Make sure to turn the power off before attempting to remove any fixtures!  Safety first!

Make sure you have good ventilation in the room you are painting by opening windows, using fans, etc.  The goal is to provide cross-ventilation.  I recommend maintaining good ventilation for a couple of days after painting.  As you will be bringing outside air into the home, I do not recommend painting when outdoor air temperatures or humidity are high. This will prevent the paint from curing properly and can cause bubbling in the paint.  The manufacturer’s instructions should tell you more about required conditions for painting with their paint.

Prepare the Walls and Ceiling

The better the condition of your walls and ceiling before primer and paint, the better the final results will be.  Before priming the ceiling or walls, make sure to patch any holes or uneven areas using spackle or joint compound.  I prefer to use joint compound because it sands more easily creating better results.  The drawback of using joint compound is that it typically takes up to 24 hours to dry, whereas the spackle dries in about 30 minutes.

Once the spackle or joint compound has dried, use a fine-grit sanding sponge to lightly sand the touched-up or patched areas.  The goal is a smooth surface that blends seamlessly with the wall.  If you choose to use joint compound, be sure to smooth out the compound using your joint knife or putty knife, avoiding any bubbles.  I always recommend shining a shop light or two from the side at the wall.  You will be amazed at how much better you can see the imperfections.

If you are repainting a room and have trim, use painter’s tape to tape off the trim.  I recommend running a putty knife along the tape to ensure consistent adhesion with the trim.  This will help prevent seepage of the paint under the tape.  If you are painting a space that has new trim, take the time to caulk between the trim and the walls before applying painter’s tape.  Make sure to use paintable caulk and wait until it is dry to apply tape and/or paint.

Clean the Ceiling and Walls

Before applying primer, you must remove the dust from the surfaces you plan to paint. Dust on the walls causes the paint to roll up and results in a rough surface. If you are working with new drywall, I recommend using a microfiber cloth for the corners and edges and a microfiber mop for the walls.  You can also use a shop vac, but if you do so, use the brush attachment, so you don’t cause dents in the joint compound.

If you are painting over already painted walls, you can use a damp cloth to wipe down the walls.  Non-shedding microfiber cloths are great for this application.

Prepare the Primer and Paint

Make sure to thoroughly stir the primer and paint before using it.  If you will be using more than one gallon of paint, make sure to mix the gallons together in a 5-gallon bucket to ensure consistent color.  Sometimes the color between individual gallons can be slightly different.

As you prepare your primer for the roller, try to only add as much primer to the tray as you think you will use.  Also, make sure to change out your tray and paint pail liners periodically.  Paint will dry along the edges of the liners and will inevitably end up on the roller and brush and then the wall.

Prepare the Roller and Brush

If you don’t use the roller cover I recommend above, roll your roller cover across a piece of painter’s tape a few times to remove any material that would otherwise end up on your wall. Assuming you are using latex (water-based) paint, slightly dampen your roller and brush using a spray bottle prior to use.

Prime the Ceiling and Walls

Priming and painting in the correct order will save you a lot of time and frustration.   I recommend priming and painting in the following order: ceiling, walls, then trim.   Before you begin, make sure to review the manufacturer’s instructions for the primer you have chosen to ensure there aren’t any specific instructions you need to follow.

Cutting In Around Edges and Trim with Primer

The first step when applying primer to the ceiling and walls is to “cut in” the area using your 2 or 3-inch paint brush.  I like to use the handy paint pail linked above.  It has a great handle and a little magnet inside for your paint brush when you aren’t using it.

When priming the ceiling, use your 2 or 3-inch angled paint brush to paint along all the horizontal edges of the ceiling (where the walls meet the ceiling).  You are essentially painting a picture frame around the area you are priming.  You want to maintain a wet edge when cutting in, meaning that the paint stays wet until you paint the surface with your roller, so you can blend the two easily.

You will follow the same process when you cut in the walls, except that in addition to all the horizontal edges, you will also paint along both sides of the vertical corners (where the walls meet) and where any trim meets the wall (window trim, door casing, and baseboard).

The goal for your painting along all the edges is smooth and even brush strokes with good coverage.  You don’t want to use too little or too much paint.  You want a smooth transition from the brush paint to the roller paint.

It is a good idea to make sure you have adequate lighting in the room that allows you to see your work, so you can make any corrections while it is still wet.

Apply Primer Using the Roller

The next step is to apply the primer using the roller.  As you are rolling your roller in the tray, make sure to roll it across the ridges of the tray.  This helps ensure total coverage of the roller and that you do not have excess paint on the roller.

When rolling the primer on the walls, you want to start at the top and work your way down in a W or V motion, making sure to overlap the paint. The goal for rolling is good coverage on the entire wall or ceiling and as few roller marks as possible.  I have found that too much paint and pressing too hard on the roller cause the roller marks.

Reference the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time, as they can vary.  Once the first coat of primer has dried, you can evaluate whether or not you need to apply a second coat. For new drywall, if you are using a high-quality primer, one coat should be sufficient.  If you do feel you need a second coat of primer, you will do the cutting in and the application of primer with the roller for a second time.

Sanding Walls Before Painting

Once the primer is fully dry, it is important that you sand the walls before painting.  Sand the walls using a 220-grit sanding sponge.  This will help to ensure easy and smooth coverage of the paint.

Clean the Ceiling and Walls

You will want to remove any dust from the walls before applying any paint. I recommend using the microfiber mop again for this step.

Paint the Ceiling and Walls

Cutting In Around Edges and Trim with Paint

You will employ the same method with paint that you used with the primer in terms of painting the edges.  When painting the ceiling, you will use your 2 or 3-inch angled brush to paint the ceiling along the horizontal edges where the walls meet the ceiling. Make sure to maintain that wet edge with your paint so you can easily blend the paint you apply with the roller.

Again, you will follow the same process when you cut in the walls, except that in addition to all the horizontal edges, you will also paint along both sides of the vertical corners (where the walls meet) and where any trim meets the wall (window trim, door casing, and baseboard).

Remember not to use too much or too little paint on your brush.  The goal is smooth brush strokes with good coverage.

Apply Paint Using the Roller

The next step is to apply the paint using the roller.  You will follow the same application process as you did with the primer, starting at the top and working your way down the wall in a W or V motion, making sure to overlap the paint.

Avoid roller marks by not applying too much paint and by not applying too much pressure against the wall or ceiling with the roller.

You will most likely need to apply a second coat of paint.  You may even need to apply a third coat, depending on the color and the paint. For any additional coat, you will use the same method that you used for the first coat of paint.

Paint the Trim

Once you have finished painting the ceiling and the walls, it is time to paint the trim. Before you begin priming or painting the trim, apply paint to the wall around the doors, windows, and baseboards to prevent getting trim paint on the walls. Make sure to wait until the paint is fully dry before applying any tape.  If you apply the tape while the paint is still wet, it will pull the paint off the wall.

If you did not purchase pre-primed trim, I highly suggest priming the trim before painting it.  You will use the same 2 or 3-inch angled paint brush to apply the primer and paint to the trim.  You will likely need to apply two coats of paint to the trim.

If you do apply primer to the trim, I recommend sanding it before painting to smooth the surface.

Trim paint can get thick on the brush pretty quickly.  To avoid this, I recommend rinsing out your paint brush every 30 minutes or so.  The thicker the paint on your brush, the more apparent the brush strokes will be.

Summary

In this post, I explained how to properly paint a room in just a few steps.  I listed the tools needed to paint a room, explained the prep work involved in painting a room, and explained how to prime and paint a room.   If this is your first time painting, you should now have all the information you need to successfully prep, prime, and paint a room.  The next time will be even easier!