How to paint a room
Paint a room in this order: get permission if you rent, clear and cover the floor, wash and patch the walls, tape the trim, then cut in along edges with a brush before rolling the open wall in overlapping sections. Two thin coats beat one thick one. Buy a little more paint than the can's coverage says, and let each coat dry fully.
Why it matters: Paint is the cheapest way to make a place feel like yours.
Steps
- If you rent, get written permission and agree the color and whether you must repaint when you leave.
- Measure the walls and check the coverage on the can to work out how much to buy.
- Move furniture to the middle, cover it and the floor with drop cloths.
- Wash greasy spots, fill holes, sand, and wipe the walls clean.
- Tape along trim and ceiling edges, pressing the tape down firmly.
- Cut in a band a few inches wide along edges and corners with an angled brush.
- Roll the open wall in overlapping sections while the cut-in edge is still wet.
- Let it dry fully, then apply a second coat and pull the tape while the last coat is slightly soft.
Common mistakes
- Skipping wall cleaning, so paint peels on kitchen grease.
- Overloading the roller, which drips and leaves thick ridges.
- Painting a rental without written permission.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to paint a room
What to say
Paint a room in this order: get permission if you rent, clear and cover the floor, wash and patch the walls, tape the trim, then cut in along edges with a brush before rolling the open wall in overlapping sections. Two thin coats beat one thick one. Buy a little more paint than the can's coverage says, and let each coat dry fully.
What to show
- If you rent, get written permission and agree the color and whether you must repaint when you leave.
- Measure the walls and check the coverage on the can to work out how much to buy.
- Move furniture to the middle, cover it and the floor with drop cloths.
- Wash greasy spots, fill holes, sand, and wipe the walls clean.
- Tape along trim and ceiling edges, pressing the tape down firmly.
- Cut in a band a few inches wide along edges and corners with an angled brush.
- Roll the open wall in overlapping sections while the cut-in edge is still wet.
- Let it dry fully, then apply a second coat and pull the tape while the last coat is slightly soft.
Check question
What comes before rolling the walls?
Answer: Cutting in the edges with a brush. Cutting in first lets the roller blend into a wet edge.
Your checklist
Saved only in this browser.
Quick quiz
Three questions. Your score is saved only in this browser.
Related skills
Sources
This skill is general practice and draws on no single published source.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .