what do you need to paint a room

The Must-Have Supplies You Need to Paint a Room

• 1. Painter’s Tape: For Crisp Clean Lines ...
• 2. Drop Cloths: Protect against drips and spills ...
• 3. Painter’s Tray: So you can load your roller evenly ...
• 4. Plastic Tray Liner: Makes Switching Colors and Cleanup a Breeze ...
• 5. Paint Brush: For cutting in and painting trim ...
• 6. Paint Roller Frame: Does the heavy lifting ...
• 7. Roller Covers: The key to a smooth application ...

Full Answer

What is the quickest way to paint a room?

Spraying

• Select the spray tip that’s best suited for the paint you are using and the surface to be sprayed. ...
• Start at the top of the room and work your way down. Work in sections, only as far as you can comfortably reach. ...
• Cut in around windows and doors first, and then spray the remaining flat areas using overlapping strokes. ...

How to paint a room quickly and easily?

How to Paint a Room Quickly

• Gather All Your Supplies at Once. Start by getting all of the supplies that you’re going to need—including your paint, roller cages and covers, roller bucket, a 2” to 2.5” ...
• Prep the Room First, Not As You Go. ...
• Now Prep the Walls. ...
• Skip the Tape. ...
• Consider Skipping the Primer, Too. ...
• Start With The Ceiling. ...
• Roll, Then Cut In. ...
• Minimize the Time Between Coats. ...

What are the steps in painting a room?

Steps for Painting a Room Step 1 – Prep. You can’t just pick out a color and start slapping paint on the walls. You need to prep your room and your walls first. You’ll want to wipe down the walls and baseboards. I just use a damp rag for the baseboards and a dusting mitt or Swiffer cloth for the walls. Scrub off any thing sticky on the ...

How often should you paint a room?

When To Repaint Your Walls

• – Living Room: This room is used quite often, so how often you need to paint will depend on the style of paint you use.
• – Dining Room: Again, this room depends on how often you use it and how durable the paint is. ...
• – Kitchen: Your kitchen is a room that’s in constant use. ...

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How to paint a room with a drop cloth?

Drop cloth. When you’re painting a room, move everything out that you can; push the rest to the middle of the room and cover it with a drop cloth. A good canvas cloth will absorb drips and won’t bleed through its seams, and you can wash and reuse it.

What makes a good paintbrush?

A good paintbrush seems like a tool for pros, but less-experienced painters have the most to gain: A good brush makes your work look better with less effort , is more forgiving of mistakes, and applies more paint per stroke, so you’ll go faster.

What is the best roller tray for paint?

More info. A good roller tray. A metal roller tray is much easier to use than a flimsy plastic option—it’s better able to hold the paint level, easier to secure atop a ladder, and more likely to survive drops or crushes. Add some plastic tray liners to make cleanup even easier.

What percentage of paint is covered with rollers?

Covering the walls and ceiling, rollers put on about 90 percent of the paint on interior rooms. Woven roller covers—which don’t cost much more than the cheapest foam ones—offer less shedding, more even coverage, and easier cleanup after each use.

What to look for in a roller frame?

There are two main things to look for in a roller frame: a threaded bottom end (so it can accept an extension pole) and internal bearings (so it doesn’t get stuck). This Wooster frame has both, and it’s nearly as affordable as no-name options.

Why use painter's tape?

Good tape keeps wall paint off the trim or ceiling, stops paint from oozing (or “bleeding”) beneath the adhesive, and comes off clean when you’re done.

How much does a paintbrush cost?

Paintbrush. 1 pick, $15. A good paintbrush seems like a tool for pros, but less-experienced painters have the most to gain: A good brush makes your work look better with less effort, is more forgiving of mistakes, and applies more paint per stroke, so you’ll go faster. If you get only one paintbrush.

Preparing Walls for Painting

The first step to painting success is proper preparation. Check out these steps and some helpful tips in our Prep for Paint article.

Buying Paint

One gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of wall or ceiling. Multiply the length by the height of each wall to get its square footage and total these numbers. For the trim, multiply the length (in feet) by 0.5 for the width.

Planning

Painting an entire room might take a couple of days to complete, making it a great project for a long weekend. To make sure your work pays off, learn about properly preparing walls for painting. Gather all the supplies before you begin and ensure that you have plenty of ventilation while working.

Rolling on Ceiling or Walls

Follow these steps to learn how to paint walls with a roller like a pro.

Wall Painting Cleanup

When you're finished painting, follow these steps to clean up and then your room will be ready to enjoy!

Where can I find paint can openers?

All of these supplies can be found at a local hardware or paint store . Stir sticks and paint can openers are often given as a “gift” when a can of paint is purchased. If the salesperson doesn’t automatically throw it in your bag, ask if you can have them ~if, in fact, you need them! I tend to use the same ones over and over again, but if one is misplaced, it’s nice to have back-ups on hand.

Can you use painter's tape on a window?

We used just a bit of painter’s tape for this room. A few pieces were needed to cover the metal brackets of the shade in the window. However, if you are painting something more intricate (like this door ), it comes in very handy!

Can I pour paint into a cottage cheese container?

Rather than try to lug a whole can of paint up and down the ladder to cut in at the ceiling, I pour a small amount of paint into a cottage cheese container. It’s so much easier to handle!

Can you use old towels on flooring?

This may seem strange, but I prefer to use old towels rather than drop clothes. Either will work fine, however. The point of them is to cover the flooring material to protect it from paint spatters and spills.

What is the best way to clean paint before painting?

Before painting and patching, it’s a good idea to wash all the walls and trim with a heavy-duty cleaner such as TSP. Removing dirt and grease will let the paint stick better.

How to get a feel for paint colors?

Head to your home center or paint store and have them mix three or four color samples for you. Test your color samples on different parts of the room to get a feel for the paint colors. Keep in mind different lighting in the room will change the color drastically.

Why paint the ceiling at this point?

Painting the ceiling at this point will avoid paint splatters on your walls and trim.

How to get paint to roll back on a wall?

Fill the roller tray a little over half-full with paint — too much paint in the tray may spill over. Load the roller with paint from the paint tray and roll paint on the wall from the baseboard to the ceiling. Roll straight back down without reloading the roller to ensure the wall is covered. Again, load the roller with paint ...

What to use to protect floor from paint splatters?

Tape down masking paper or rosin paper to the floor and carpet along the baseboards to protect them from paint splatters and spills.

How to roll paint on the same direction?

Roll the paint on in the same direction, one roller width at a time, overlapping the previous row. If a second coat is needed, roll the paint in the opposite direction you painted the first coat. Step 5.

What questions to ask yourself before picking up a paintbrush?

The first question to ask yourself even before you pick up a paintbrush is: How do I choose a paint color?

What to use to roll paint on walls?

A paint tray is a must if you're using a roller. Your best bet is to buy a sturdy metal paint tray and then use disposable plastic inserts for different paint colors. Dip your roller in the paint well, then roll it back and forth on the ribbed slanted surface to distribute and remove the excess paint before rolling it on your walls.

How to paint a window that you don't want painted?

If there are only small areas you don't want to paint, like window molding, you can use a metal or plastic edger instead of taping. Hold it against the area you don't want painted and apply your paint along the outside edge. Clean the edger with a rag before moving it along to make sure you don't accidentally drag paint where you don't want it.

What is the best brush for painting a wall?

While rollers are great for covering large wall spaces, brushes are ideal for smaller areas and for edging. Natural-bristle brushes are used for applying oil-based paints, while polyester brushes are best for latex paints. Choose an angled brush to make it easy to paint straight lines along areas of trim. Flat-headed brushes are best for filling in larger, even spaces.

What is the best material to use for painting floors?

Drop cloths are critical to preserve floors and furniture when painting. Canvas cloths are the most expensive, but they'll last long and absorb paint when it spills. Plastic drop cloths are lightweight and reusable, but if paint spills on them it'll pool, unlike canvas cloths. Photo: shutterstock.com. Advertisement.

How to remove paint from a surface that you don't want to paint?

Wait till the paint is completely dry before removing, but don't leave it longer than needed. If latex paint begins to pull away with the tape as you remove it, use a utility knife to make a small cut where the tape meets the paint.

What kind of paint brushes are best for edging?

While rollers are great for covering large wall spaces, brushes are ideal for smaller areas and for edging. Natural-bristle brushes are used for applying oil-based paints, while polyester brushes are best for latex paints. Choose an angled brush to make it easy to paint straight lines along areas of trim.

How to Prepare for Painting

Properly painting a room starts with prep work. Here’s how to prepare a room for interior house painting.

Spread Drop Cloths

Cover the floors with drop cloths to protect them from paint drips and splatters. Relocate smaller pieces of furniture and cover larger ones with drop cloths.

Prime Your Walls

Apply primer before painting the walls. A primer is essential if you want to go from dark walls to light or white walls. Many brands offer paint and primer in one.

Sand the Primer

After the primer dries, lightly sand away bumps and ridges using very fine grit sandpaper folded into quarters.

Paint the Walls

Paint walls one at a time. You'll achieve a smoother, more seamless look by blending the wet paint you’ve brushed on with wet paint you’re rolling. This is one of the best painting techniques for walls and is called “working to a wet edge."