15 guides
Room painting guides
Plain-English guides to painting a room yourself. No paint brand pays us, and we don't use affiliate links.
Planning
Colors, finishes, quantity and primer.
- Choose a paint color
Test it on the wall, in your light.
- Pick the right finish
Sheen affects looks and cleaning.
- How much paint do you need?
Measure, subtract, multiply by coats.
- When you need primer
Not every time, but often.
Prep
Walls, protection, lead and tools.
- Prep your walls
Prep is most of the work.
- Protect floors and furniture
Drop cloths save hours of cleanup.
- Lead paint in older homes
Built before 1978? Test first.
- Choose brushes and rollers
Good tools, better finish.
Painting
Walls, trim, cabinets and ceilings.
- Cut in and roll
Edges first, then fill in.
- Paint trim and doors
Slow, thin and smooth.
- Painting cabinets
Patience pays.
- Paint a ceiling
Ceiling first, then walls.
Finishing
Cleanup, storage and fresh air.
- Clean up and dispose of paint
Never pour paint down a drain.
- Store paint for touch-ups
Label it now.
- Ventilation and fumes
Fresh air while you paint.