DIY

How To Paint A Wall

Couple painting a wall pale green

When it comes to revamping your interiors, we’re big believers that it’s the small things that make a big difference. Whether your walls have seen better days, or you simply fancy a change, knowing how to paint a room is an essential DIY skill and a simple way to refresh your home. Although a straightforward task, we have put together a few easy steps you can follow to ensure a smooth process from start to finish.

Full of useful tips and tricks, find out how to paint a wall with this handy guide. If you’re looking to breathe new life into your space, it’s the simplest way to make your interiors your own! 

What You’ll Need:

Materials: 

Tools: 

Need help with choosing the right tools? If you want to know how to paint a wall with a roller, check out our decorating equipment guide to get you started.

How to Paint a Room

Step 1: Preparation

First things first, clear out as much furniture as you can from the room, including curtains and any wall fixings. Protect flooring and any remaining furniture with dust sheets.

Step 2: Get the Walls Ready 

Dust builds up over the years, so you’ll need to make sure that your walls and ceilings are clean, dust-free and completely dry before you start painting. 

Sponge them down with clean water and leave to dry. If you want to know how to get paint off a wall, a scraper is a decorating essential for removing any old, flaky paintwork. 

Next, repair any holes and cracks. Simply apply the filler, leave for an hour and sand to a smooth finish. Finally, protect switches, sockets and skirting with masking tape for crisp, professional lines. 

Top tip: Find out how to repair walls and ceilings here and if you need to remove old wallpaper, follow this guide.

Step 3: Cutting In 

Once the prep is done, it’s time for the best part – the painting! Before you get underway, cutting in is essential for a crisp, neat finish. Much like painting a picture, you’ve got to create the outline first!

Begin at the edges of the wall – it’s often easiest to start at the top. Hold a 50mm brush at 90 degrees to the ceiling and paint a straight line, cutting into the corner between the walls and ceiling. 

Turn the brush parallel to the ceiling, go over the first stroke and keep the bristles close to, but not touching, the ceiling. 

Repeat this process along the bottom and top of the wall.

Step 4: Get Painting 

Time for the fun part! You’ll need paint, a roller, tray, brushes, and a little elbow grease. When it comes to the best way to paint a room, the bigger the roller is, the faster the job.

With your paint tray filled, roll up evenly and slowly through the paint. To check that you’ve got even coverage, give it a roll. If the roller spins, it means that you’ve got an even coating of paint which will go onto the wall evenly. 

If you want to know how to paint a room for a professional finish, work diagonally in a “W” shape on the wall for the best coverage. When you’re happy that you’ve got everything covered, take your roller and go up and down the wall in a vertical line. There’s no need to apply pressure here, just let the roller glide down. 

Top tip: For the most consistent and professional appearance, try to paint the entire wall in one go.

Step 5: Finishing Touches 

Depending on the type of paint used, you may need two or three coats. If you’re not sure how many coats of paint you need, check the instructions on the tin and they’ll tell you. Only apply the next coat once the previous one is completely dry. 

Once your freshly painted walls have dried, remove any masking tape around fittings and get ready to enjoy your new interior. 

Giving tired paintwork a refresh is one of the easiest ways to make a space feel fresh, clean and new. It really is the small things that have the biggest impact – as Angel says, “what a difference a day makes”! 

Top tip: If you want to know how to paint a ceiling, simply follow the same method! Don’t forget to cut in around light fittings too for a professional-looking finish. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much paint do I need? 

Before you start, you need to choose your paint and work out how much of it you’ll need. If you want to stay on top of the trends, take a look at our 10 Green Paint Ideas guide. Alternatively, our Bedroom Paint Colour Scheme Ideas, Paint Colours to Make Your Small Hallway Look Bigger, or Kid’s Bedroom Paint Ideas guides are also sure to provide inspiration. 

If you’re unsure about what type of paint you need, our paint and emulsion buying guides are here to help. To find out how much paint you’ll need, simply use our handy paint calculator tool. 

How long does it take to paint a room? 

While we can’t tell you exactly how long it will take from the first coats of paint being applied to when they dry, you will probably need to allow a day or two for your room to be completely ready. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time – you’ll find these on your paint tin. 

And that’s how to paint a room! Don’t forget to share your transformations with us @Homebase_UK on Instagram and discover more of our tips on painting a room and decorating ideas here. 



Homebase

Homebase

Writer and expert