How to Paint Hallways and Stairs in 5 Easy Steps

1. Choose Your Paint

The first step is selecting what kind of paint you want to use. Your hallway and stairs are likely to get scuffed, scraped or muddied up as people pop in and out, so it’s best to invest in something durable and tough. For stairs, we recommend a good wood paint, and for hallways, we’d suggest something wipeable. This is especially handy for households with pets and children, so you can keep your home looking clean and fresh!

2. Clear and Prepare Your Space

Firstly, your hallway and stairs are both high traffic areas, so it’s best to choose a day that most people are out of the house. If you’re painting your stairs, bring down everything you might need from upstairs. Remove any furniture, mirrors, wall art, etc. to give yourself a clear space to work with. This will protect your belongings and give you more space to manoeuvre.

Clean your walls and any other surfaces you’re painting with a sugar soap solution. You need a clean slate to work with to ensure the best possible finish for your paint.

Next, you’ll need to put masking tape around edges, corners and any areas you want to keep paint-free. This will make it easier to get a clean line on your paint. If you’re worried about spilling paint on the floor, put down some dust sheets to protect it.

3. Cutting In

The first step is a seemingly arduous but very important process, especially in a hallway where you have lots of doors and alcoves. With all your masking tape in place, it’s time to go round with a small brush and outline all your edges, corners and any other little nooks and crannies that are too small for a roller. This allows you a nice, neat finish without getting paint anywhere you don’t want it!

4. Grab Your Roller

Now it’s time to fill in the larger gaps. If you’re painting stairs, remember to start at the top and work down, or you’ll be stuck upstairs until the paint dries!

Using a roller and a tray, paint the rest of your surface! If you don’t have large areas to cover, or you don’t have much wall space in between hallway doors, we recommend using a smaller roller for increased accuracy. If you require more than one coat, wait the suggested drying time before adding another layer.

5. The Finishing Touches

Don’t pull off your masking tape until your paint has fully dried, as it can remove paint if you’re not careful! We recommend waiting about 24 hours and then removing the masking tape by pulling gently at a 45-degree angle.

Now you can start painting your skirting boards, door frames and any other glosswork. Give the surface a quick wipe with a damp cloth to remove any dust from painting. Next, you’ll want to apply your masking tape to your newly painted walls to protect them (make sure they’re fully dry first!). Then you can use a smaller brush to gloss these areas, giving a perfect finish to your space.

Once everything is fully dry, all that’s left to do is bring your furniture and decor back in so you can enjoy your freshly painted hallway or stairs!