How to Paint a Room
Paint Techniques

Learn the paint techniques of the professionals. Get great results. How to paint walls properly...

Read on for more...

The most common paint techniques you are likely to need in your home are for how to paint walls...

Painting a wall may seem pretty simple - but it's still quite easy to make a mess of it!

How to Paint a Room Quickly and Easily...

• Previously painted walls are quite easy to tackle, and may simply need to be cleaned, and sanded, then painted.
• You can paint over wallpaper (I have frequently - as it's an awful lot quicker than removing wallpaper, scraping, sanding!)...

  For the best results:

  • Make sure the wallpaper is stuck down well before you start
  • Lightly sand shiny finishes on wallpaper, and/or use an appropriate multi-surface primer as an undercoat
  • Don't worry too much if the wallpaper seems to crinkle when wet - it will likely flatten down again as it dries
• Bare plaster should be allowed to dy sufficiently before painting.

  Then choose a specialist 'new plaster emulsion' to:

  • Allow any remaining moisture to safely escape
  • Give a durable and smooth finish
• Walls made of materials such as:
  • wood
  • stone
  • brick
  • cement
  masonry or brick

  ...should be treated as specialist surfaces, and specialist primers and paints used...

  Click here for more about paint types

• Emulsion paint is the most popular choice for interior walls, and matt is the most common finish...

  There's no reason, though, why you shouldn't consider:

  • Eggshell
  • Satin
  • Silk finishes

  Click here for more about paint finishes

• Also consider:
  • One coat finishes - to save you time
  • Decorative finishes - for a different effect

Paint Techniques

How to Paint a Room with Paint Brushes

• Choose a quality brush - cheap brushes may shed bristles, which could ruin your finish!

  You can always rinse out a quality (expensive) brush to use time and time again, which normally doesn't work so well with cheap brushes!

  In my experience, you do tend to get what you pay for!

• Choose a brush that is large enough to cover walls quickly - but small enough to be comfortable, and not too tiny to use!
• Choose a smaller brush for edges and corners.
• Don't overload with paint (I do have a tendency to do this!) - this can get very messy, and may even damage the brush!

  Wipe any excess carefully on the side of the tin.

• Hold your brush in a way that's comfortable for you! Holding your brush like a pen is a good way to start, if you aren't sure!
• Brush in medium to large sweeps, up and down, or left to right.
• Matt paint is less likely to show brush strokes.

  For satin or gloss oil paints, take care, as brush strokes may show - try brushing smoothly, in a vertical direction.

How to Paint a Room - Using Paint Rollers

• For larger areas, a paint roller is a good choice, to get the paint on quickly, smoothly and easily.
• You will need a roller and tray.









• Rollers come in different finishes:
  • Longer pile - gives a more textured finish
  • Smooth and short piles - suitable for satin and gloss paints - and a smoother finish
• Look out for:
  • Extendable roller handles - for painting ceilings or stairwells (very useful - but some strong tape and a broom-handle can work nearly as well!)
  • Tiny rollers - for painting behind radiators and tight corners

Paint Techniques for Rollers

• Fill the reservoir part of your tray with paint
• Dip your roller lightly in the paint
• Then roll gently back and forward on the ribbed part of the tray, to distribute the paint evenly around the roller
• Use long strokes, in all directions, on the wall.

  (For oil-based paint - apply in one direction only, for a neat finish)

• Take care of splatter. - be prepared and protect your floor and your furnishings with newspaper, or a decorating sheet.

  Your face, hair and clothes might get very splattered too! Mine always do! Even so, I do like a roller to make a fast job of it - with a smooth finish too!

• Use together with a small brush to finish edges and corners.

How to Paint a Room - Paint Techniques for Paint Pads

• A paint pad is, literally, a pad, with a handle, which is loaded up with paint, and then 'wiped' across the wall, to apply paint.
• I've never really got on with this, myself, but they are quite popular for large surfaces.
• The pad comes with a special tray, with a roller fitted into it...
  • Pull the pad across the roller, to load it up evenly.
  • Gently sweep the pad across the wall - keeping it flat against the wall, all the while.
  • Apply emulsion paint in a criss-cross direction/pattern.
  • Apply oil-based paint in vertical strokes

Paint Techniques - How to Paint a Room

Once you've mastered your brush, roller or paint pad techniques, you can get on with actually painting your room...

You should paint ceilings before walls, so that you don't drip down onto walls.

How to Paint a Room - How to Paint Walls

• Paint edges first, with a small brush









• Start in a top corner
• Work from right to left (if you are left handed, reverse this!)
• Work on an area of about 2ft square at a time (60cm square)
• For the best finish:
  • Paint emulsion paint in horizontal strips
  • Paint gloss paint in vertical strips









• Complete your room, one wall at a time
• You don't need to complete your room all in one session, but never stop half way through a wall - or a slight change in color, or 'tide-mark' may really stand out.
• Unless you are using a special one-coat paint, two or more coats will usually be needed.
• Dark paints over light colors, (or vice versa) may need 3 or more coats!
• Take note of the drying time for your chosen paint, and make sure you wait the allotted time before recoating (otherwise you can really make a mess of the paint you've already put on - impatience doesn't pay - yes, I do speak from experience!!!)...

  This may be as little as 3 or 4 hours for emulsion paints, and much longer for satins and glosses.

Painting your room is easy, effective, and needn't take too long to make a big change and impact in your home...

I hope this guide to how to paint a room will help you with some paint techniques, to get a neat and professional finish...

More about decorating with color

More about choosing the right paint for your project

Find out about how to paint a ceiling

Find out about paint techniques for woodwork - plus varnishes, waxes and stains

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