10 Basic Tips for Painting a Room Like a Pro

You are sick and tired of staring at the same old boring color in a particular room of your home.

And now you’re finally ready to give it an exciting new look with a fresh coat of paint.

After much deliberation and sampling, you’ve finally selected the new colors. You are ready to begin painting.

So…now what?

I’ve put together the following list of 10 basic tips for painting a room that will help you get started on your next DIY painting project.

Painting is definitely a home improvement project that almost anyone can do on their own without having to break the bank. All it takes is a just few hours of your time, patience, and the right equipment.

Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out my previous painting articles on how to pick the right paint sheen in addition to why it might be helpful to use a primer before painting.

1. Plan your time

The actual physical act of painting won’t necessarily be the most time consuming part of your painting project. It’s the paint drying that will likely take longer.

That’s why it’s important to plan out your calendar accordingly before you begin painting. If you were to leave a wall half painted and re-start it again the next day, you might not get a uniform color and matching texture.

Plan your breaks when an area is fully finished to achieve the best end results.

2. Purchase enough painting supplies before starting

Nothing is worse than running out of basic essentials in the middle of a painting project and needing to stop work in the middle of it to re-supply.

Instead, be sure to stock up on everything you need before you begin painting to save yourself a lot of time, energy, and headaches.

Below is a checklist of basic painting supplies you might require before starting:

• Caulk and caulking gun
• Cleaning rags
• Disposable gloves
• Drop cloths
• Edger tool
• Eye protection
• 5-gallon buckets
• 5-in-1 painter’s tool (can be used to pry open lids of paint cans as well as multitude of other uses)
• Ladder
• Mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes used in oil-based paints)
• Paint (1 gallon typically covers about 400 square feet)
• Paint brushes
• Paint thinner
• Paint trays and liners
• Painter coveralls (or old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty)
• Painter’s tape
• Paper towels
• Primer
• Putty knife
• Roller covers and frames
• Roller extension pole
• Sandpaper
• Spackle and hole filler
• Sponges
• Surface cleaner
• Trash bags

3. Choose the right painting supplies and invest in the highest quality you can afford

Visit the paint department of your local big box home improvement retail store, and you’ll likely encounter a wide variety of paint brushes and rollers at a range of different price points. The phrase “You get what you pay for” definitely applies here.

Higher quality equipment will ensure smoother, even results with less mishaps. Sure, you can purchase the cheapest roller cover and save a few bucks.

But when that cheap roller cover keeps on detaching from the roller frame while you’re in the middle of painting a wall, you’ll definitely wish you had originally purchased a better model.

Avoid frustrating equipment mishaps like this by purchasing the right gear for the job.

Below is a in-depth guide to purchasing the right types of roller covers and paint brushes.

Three Types of Paint Roller Covers

White Woven Roller Cover

• Ideal for all types of paint sheens
• Smoothest finish
• Holds a low paint capacity
• Lowest shedding

Microfiber Roller Cover

• Ideal for semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and flat finishes
• Smooth finish
• Holds the highest paint capacity
• Minimal shedding

Knit Roller Cover 

• Ideal for satin, eggshell, and flat finishes
• Slightly raised finish
• High capacity
• Some shedding

5 Types of Paint Roller Cover Nap Sizes

The surface being painted will determine the correct nap size (or thickness) of your paint roller cover. Generally, the rougher the surface texture, the larger the roller cover nap size you will need.

1/4″ Roller Cover Nap
Ideal for smooth metal and wood surfaces using semi-gloss and high gloss paint

3/8″ Roller Cover Nap
Ideal for smooth to semi-smooth ceilings and walls using semi-gloss, satin, or eggshell paint

1/2″ Roller Cover Nap
Ideal for semi-smooth to semi-rough ceilings and walls using semi-gloss, satin, or eggshell paint

3/4″ Roller Cover Nap
Ideal for rough surfaces including decks and stucco using matte and flat paint

1-1/4″ Roller Cover Nap
Ideal for very rough brick and block surfaces using matte and flat paint

Three Types of Paint Brushes

Flat Paint Brush
Ideal for painting large surfaces

Angled Paint Brush
Ideal for “cutting in” and painting trim

Thin Angle Paint Brush
Ideal for detailed painting

Four Types of Paint Brush Bristle Types

Nylon/Polyester blended paint brushes
Hybrid nylon/polyester paint brushes are a popular choice due to their versatility and durability and work well with all types of latex paints.

Additionally, with regular care they should last for years, making them a good value. Nylon provides durability while polyester helps retain the shape providing you with a consistent, high quality finish.

Natural-bristle paint brushes
Natural-bristle paint brushes use animal hairs and are best for oil-based paints, as well as varnishes, polyurethane, or any other oil-based finish.

These types of natural brushes often have soft split or fuzzy tips that help to apply paint and stain more smoothly.

Polyester paint brushes
Full polyester brushes are best used with latex paints. They are stiffer and retain their shape better, helping you apply paint more smoothly and consistently with each stroke.

Nylon paint brushes
Nylon brushes are typically used by professional painters for interior applications and help your paint flow smoothly off the brush. They’re typically more sensitive to heat and humidity though, and can get damaged if left in higher temperatures.

Three Types of Paint Brush Sizes

2″ or less
Ideal for windows or other trim

2-1/2″ to 3-1/2″
Ideal for doors and cabinets, as well as general purpose painting

4″+
Ideal for large, flat areas such as walls or siding

4. Wear painting coveralls or old clothes (don’t forget eye protection and a ballcap)

There’s no doubt that painting is a messy business. Even professional painters can spill and spatter paint sometimes, and inevitably you will get paint on yourself.

Wearing old clothes you’ll probably throw away at the end of the project or painting coveralls is recommended.

Protective glasses or goggles are essential when painting a ceiling (more about how to paint a ceiling later) to prevent paint from dripping down into your eyes.

It’s also a good idea to cover your head, hair, and part of your face from paint drips by wearing a baseball cap.

5. If using more than one gallon of paint, combine it all into a large (5-gallon or more) bucket

This will ensure a consistent color for your entire paint supply, as sometimes slight variations in tint might occur among multiple gallons of the same paint color.

6. Remove all furniture from the room being painted and use a drop cloth on the floor

If you cannot move out all the furniture from the room due to space limitations, you can still push the furniture to the center of the room and cover it with a canvas or plastic drop cloth to prevent paint spatters.

Be sure to cover the entire floor with your drop cloth, and apply painters tape to the room corners, moldings, door frames, and window casings. Also, press down on the edges of the tape with a putty knife to help form a tight seal that prevents paint seepage.

You’ll also need to remove all outlet and light switch covers and tape around the openings as well.

7. Use the “cutting in” and roller painting method

“Cutting in” for painting means using a paint brush to paint along the molding and corners of a wall from top to bottom in 3- to 4-foot segments.

Using a roller, you can roll paint in 3-foot x 3-foot W-shape patterns that cover the main section of the wall. This method will help to avoid roller marks when the paint dries.

After the first coat of paint dries, you can repeat the process to apply a second coat.

Here’s a helpful video that demonstrates this tried and true painting technique:

When painting trimwork, you can remove the painters tape and let the walls dry before taping the wall areas near the trim. Then, start painting the trim areas closest to the ceiling first.

Follow this by painting areas surrounding the door and window frames, then finish by painting areas near the baseboards.

8. Properly ventilate areas being painted

Use a portable fan or open windows to improve air flow and help speed up the paint drying process.

Painting during a damp or humid day will lengthen the time needed for the paint to dry.

9. Painting a ceiling as well? Follow these helpful ceiling painting tips

• If you are painting an entire room including the ceiling, start with the ceiling first.
• Remove all dust and grime from the ceiling surface to ensure proper paint adhesion.
• Any cracks or holes in the ceiling surface should be filled with spackle or caulk before painting as well.
• Remove all ceiling fixtures before painting, but be sure to first turn off the power to them at the breaker box before dismantling.
• If you are only painting the ceiling and not the walls, you will need to use 2-inch painters tape around the ceiling edges where they meet the wall to prevent paint roller marks getting on the wall. (This step can be skipped if you are also painting the walls).
• Use a specific ceiling paint instead of wall paint.
• Use a paint roller and paint in grid-like sections of 3 square feet to 5 square feet each, keeping your edges wet and allowing you to visually see your progress to ensure an even coat.
• For smooth ceilings, a low nap roller cover (less than 1/2″) is ideal. For a textured ceiling, use a roller with 1/2″ or 3/4″ nap.
• Start rolling in a corner and roll in overlapping rows.
• Reload paint onto the roller with ceiling paint from your paint tray regularly and roll the paint on slowly.
• Avoid rolling paint directly over your head (be sure to wear eye protection to avoid getting paint in your eyes).
• Vary your direction of rolling slightly to prevent showing roller overlap marks.
• Allow the first coat of ceiling paint to fully dry before applying a second coat (if needed).
• Apply the second coat in one direction this time, working quickly until the entire ceiling surface is coated.

Watch this video from The Idaho Painter for a great demonstration on how to paint a ceiling:

10. Clean up properly when finished painting

When finished applying all your paint coats, it’s important to remove all painters tape and carefully collect all drop cloths (watch out for wet paint spills).

For latex- and water-based paints, you can easily clean your paint brushes with soap and water, while oil-based paints will require cleaning with mineral spirits.

If you want to save your roller covers, they can be cleaned under running water with the curved edge of a 5-in-1 painters tool.

Conclusion

While at first it might seem intimidating, painting a room is a relatively simply DIY home improvement project almost anyone can do without having to hire a professional.

Remember to give yourself enough time, recruit a few friends and family to help you out, use the right equipment, and have enough supplies on hand before you start.

Follow these useful painting tips and you will greatly improve the overall look and value of your home.