How to Paint a Room
Anyone can roll paint on a wall — but doing it cleanly is mostly about the prep work. Tape well, cut in carefully, and the rolling is the easy part.
What You'll Need
- Paint roller + 9" cover
- Angled sash brush
- Painter's tape
- Drop cloths
- Putty knife and spackle
- Primer and paint
- 5-gallon bucket with grid
Step-by-Step
- Clear and protect the roomMove furniture out or to the center of the room, and cover everything with drop cloths. Take outlet covers off.
- Patch and sandFill nail holes and gouges with spackle, then sand flush once dry. Wipe walls down with a damp cloth.
- Tape the trimRun painter's tape along baseboards, window casings, and the ceiling line. Press the edge down with a putty knife for a clean seal.
- Prime stains and patchesSpot-prime any repaired spots or stains. Skip this only if the surface and color are already similar.
- Cut in the edgesUse an angled brush to paint a 2" stripe along the ceiling, corners, and trim. Work one wall at a time.
- Roll the wallsLoad the roller in a bucket grid, roll in a large W or M pattern across a 3-foot section, then fill in without lifting the roller.
- Apply the second coatWait the recoat time on the can (usually 2–4 hours), then repeat. Two thin coats always look better than one thick one.
- Pull tape while paint is still tackyRemove tape at a 45° angle for the crispest line. If paint has fully dried, score along the edge with a blade first.
Pro tipCut in and roll one wall at a time. Edges that dry before the rolled area is finished will leave visible lap marks.
If you don't think you can do it, let our experts help.