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A Beginners Guide to Painting A Room

Learn How to Paint A Room

Discover which wall paint is right for you and learn all the details you need before you start the job.

Topics Covered in this Guide

Tools for Painting Walls

Types of Wall Paint

How To Paint A Room Step by Step

Step 1: Calculate how much paint you need

Step 2: Prepare your room or wall for painting

Step 3: How to Paint your Wall

Tools Needed for Painting Walls

Before you start painting your room, make sure you have all the right tools for the job. This handy checklist contains everything you’ll need to achieve a professional finish:

• Paint brush

• Paint Bucket

• Roller

• Roller tray

• Sandpaper

• Masking tape

• Goggles

• Dust Sheets

Types of Wall Paint

What is Matt Paint?

As the name would suggest, matt paint gives a smooth, velvety, matte finish without any shine or sheen at all. This water-based paint is light absorbing rather than reflecting, making it great for hiding cracks, bumps and other surface imperfections. Because of its flat appearance, it’s tricky to clean so avoid using it in high traffic areas - keep it for ceilings and walls in quieter spaces.

What is Eggshell Paint?

Sitting somewhere between matt and satin finishes, eggshell paint has a subtle sheen that really does look like the surface of an egg. Because it reflects more light than matt paint, it has a gentle lustre that brings out its colour and will add a soft glow to a living room or bedroom. It’s also easier to maintain than matt paint.

Other Types of Paints

What is Furniture paint?

Furniture paint is great if you want to transform a tired piece of furniture fast. It’s formulated to give good coverage with just one coat and because it’s water-based it has virtually no smell. You don’t need to sand or prime the surface you want to paint before using it, as it works well over existing paint and varnish, so it’s perfect for speedy but satisfying upcycling projects.

What is Spray paint?

Ideal for awkward surfaces and angles, spray paint can be used for both interior and exterior projects. A 360 degree any-angle nozzle will let you cover tricky corners so you can spruce up a radiator or a wicker basket and enjoy complete coverage and a perfect finish.

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How to Paint a Room Step-by-Step

Step 1: Calculate How Much Paint You Need

Once you’ve picked the perfect colour and finish for your room or wall, it’s time to work out how much paint you need to buy.

Start by calculating the square meterage of the wall or room you want to paint by measuring the total length of all the walls and multiplying that by the room height.

Measure your doors and windows and subtract that from your overall square meterage.

Our experts recommend two coats of wall paint for ideal coverage, so multiply your square meterage by two.

Finally, work out how many tins of paint you will need. You can expect 1 litre of emulsion paint to cover about 12 square metres of wall. Paint usually comes in 2.5 or 5 litre tins.

Step 2: Prepare your Room or Wall for Painting

Ok, so you’ve picked your paint colour and finish, worked out how many tins you need to cover your walls and have all the tools for the job. What next?

First, take everything you can out of the room - that’s furniture which is easy to move and any ornaments and pictures.

Next, cover the floor and any furniture which is too big or heavy to remove with dust sheets. Take the curtains or blinds down too.

Fill in any cracks or holes in the wall using a filler and allow plenty of time for it to dry and set completely. Wipe clean and sand down any excess and remember to remove any loose dust.

Clean the walls thoroughly with sugar soap to remove any traces of grease and grime and make sure your paint goes on beautifully.

Use our Frog Tape to tape off skirting boards, window sills and frames and around doors. It reacts with emulsion paint to form a micro-barrier that seals the tape edges, so you get a clean, sharp line when you paint around the edges of your walls.

Apply your primer or undercoat. This provides a base for your topcoat of paint which gives a better finish and makes it more durable when it has dried. If you are painting an old surface that has been painted before, choose an undercoat. If you are painting a new surface or materials that will have to withstand harsh conditions, go for a primer.

Step 3: How to Paint your Wall

How to Paint Your Wall with a Brush

It’s finally time to paint! Give your tin a shake, then open it and give it a stir. Pour some into a paint kettle, filling it half way, and dip your brush a third of the way in, taking care not to oversaturate it (you don’t want drips).

Start by cutting in with your paint brush. This just means painting around the edges of the room and any ‘fiddly bits’ such as skirting boards or light switches first. Always use a step ladder to reach any high sections and don’t overextend.

How to Paint Your Wall with a Roller

Paint rollers are best for covering a large open section of wall quickly and professionally. Pour your paint into a paint tray, dip the roller in and roll it firmly up and down the tray. Don’t overload it.

Use a ‘W’ motion as you move the roller slowly and evenly to achieve the best coverage. As you roll, blend the wet edges to avoid leaving a ridge of paint.

When it comes to awkward areas like behind radiators, opt for an extended roller with a narrow sleeve. For ceilings, attach a long handle extension to the roller.

Allow enough time for the paint to dry completely between each coat, then remove the Frog Tape, take off the dust sheets and bring your furniture and ornaments back in. Sit back and admire a job well done (and don’t forget to clean your brushes!)

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