Paint an Interior Wall

Painting a room is one of the easiest, and least expensive ways to freshen up or completely change the look of a room. Interior painting can be a simple and cost-effective do-it-yourself project, however proper preparation of your paint surfaces is important. Priming is crucial if you want a professional finish, since painting without priming can lead to an uneven appearance as well as cracking and peeling. When it comes time to paint, following some simple strategies will help to ensure that your wall looks as polished as possible.

Steps

Setting Up Your Paint Surfaces and Materials

1. Protect your floor and furniture. Before you start painting, you will need to cover your floor with a tarp and then move and/or cover any furniture or other valuables in the room. You can move your furniture to the center of the room and place a tarp or canvas cloth under the wall that you will be painting.
   • Place your painting materials on the tarp and keep them there at all times. Do not put brushes, paint buckets, or paint trays on your bare floors or on other bare surfaces.
2. Apply painter’s tape to the edges. Painting in a straight line can be difficult, so if this is your first time painting, then you will probably need to apply painter’s tape to the edges of your walls and any molding or fixtures. Apply the painter’s tape so that it is even with the edges of the walls, molding, and fixtures.
   • Keep in mind that you do not need to press hard on the tape when you apply it. Using a bit of gentle pressure will be enough to keep it in place.
3. Mix your primer and paint. Before you use your primer or paint, take a moment to mix them well with a mixing stick. This will help to ensure that the pigments in the primer and paint are evenly distributed.
   • You may also consider tinting your primer by adding a small amount of your paint to your primer and mixing them together well. This may help to ensure that the color looks how it should. This may be especially helpful for darker or brighter colors.
4. Prep your walls. A smooth even surface will make it easier to achieve professional quality results, so take the time to check your wall for imperfections and fix them up before you get started. For example, you can.
   • Fix-a-Hole-in-a-Wall using patching compound for plaster walls and joint compound for drywall surfaces Apply the compound with a putty knife and allow it to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.
   • Sand patched and/or rough surfaces smooth using 120-grit sandpaper. Vacuum or wipe away dust when you are done.

Priming the Wall

1. Pour primer into the paint tray. Do not overfill the tray to the point that the angled part of the tray with ridges is covered with primer. You will only need an inch or two or primer in the tray.
   • You can use a garbage bag to line the tray so that you do not need to use multiple trays.
   • Be sure to pour the primer into your tray over the tarp or you may drip primer onto your floors.
2. Line the outer edges of your walls with primer. Dip your paintbrush in the primer bucket and then begin painting a straight line along the outer edge of one side of your wall. Paint along the edges in small sections and go slowly.
   • Try to make the line as straight and even as possible. You may need to go over the line a couple of times to ensure that the primer is even.
   • Using your paintbrush, try to cover about three to four inches of the outer edge of the wall with primer. This will make it easier to cover the rest of the wall with primer.
   • You will need a stepladder to reach the edges along the top parts of your wall. Make sure that the step ladder is sturdy and consider asking someone to spot you.
3. Coat the roller in primer. Place the paint roller into the primer and roll the roller back and forth a few times. The roller should be coated evenly with a thick layer of primer, but not dripping primer when you pick it up.
   • Consider using a roller with an extension rather than a step ladder for this part. A roller with an extension is safer and it will also make your job a bit easier.
4. Apply primer in a large “W” shape. When you are ready to begin covering the wall with primer, take your roller and apply primer in a large “W” shape. Then, begin using smooth up and down motions to filling the area around the “W.” Keep painting until the area is completely covered with primer.
   • Repeat the process on another section. Keep applying your primer in a “W” shape and filling in the areas around the “W” shapes until you have applied primer to the entire wall or room. Work on one portion of the wall at a time to ensure the best coverage.
   • Do not apply too much pressure when you apply the primer. Pressing hard on the roller may result in primer running down your wall and this can leave lines.
5. Allow the primer to dry for one day. Before you start to apply your paint, you will need to let the primer dry completely. Leaving it to dry for about one day is a safe amount of time. However, if the primer still seems wet after one day, give it another day.

Painting the Wall

1. Pour your paint into the tray. When you are ready to begin painting the walls, change your garbage bag in the tray or get a new tray. Then, pour about one to two inches of paint into your tray.
   • Use your paintbrush to wipe off any excess paint that runs down the sides and into the rim of the paint bucket.
2. Begin lining the edges of the wall. When you are ready to begin painting, dip your paintbrush into the paint. It should be well-coated in paint, but not dripping. When you are ready, start painting along the edges of your walls and fixtures. Try to create straight even lines.
   • Keep in mind that you may need to go over the paint a few times to ensure that it is even. Take your time and do one small area at a time.
   • Remember that you can always apply painter’s tape to the fixtures and edges if you are worried about not being able to paint in a straight line.
   • Continue to line the edges and fixtures until they are all covered in an even layer of paint.
3. Apply paint in a “W” shape. When you have finished painting around the edges and fixtures, you can start to fill in the center of your walls. Start by dipping your roller in the paint and covering it evenly as you did with the primer. Your roller should be covered in an even layer of paint, but it should not be dripping with paint.
   • When you are ready, press the roller against the wall and apply gentle pressure. Maintain this level of pressure and create a large “W” shape. Then, go over the “W” in an even up and down fashion until you have filled in the area.
   • Do not lift the roller until you finish covering the area.
   • Continue to create large “W” shapes and fill them in until you have covered the entire wall in an even layer of paint.
4. Allow the paint to dry. The paint will need at least one day to dry, so leave it be. Do not try to replace pictures, furniture, or other items until the paint is totally dry. You may also want to block entrance to the room to ensure that no small children or pets can come into the room and touch the walls.
   • If the room is not well ventilated, then placing a fan in the room and cracking a window will help to keep the air circulating and help the paint to dry faster.

Tips

• Always use the recommended number of coats and allow the recommended amount of drying time between coats.
• For best results when painting with colors, test the paint color on a small area of the wall during the day to see how the color will look before painting the entire room.
• Use one paint tray for each color, or buy disposable plastic paint tray liners and use a different one for each color.
• Latex primer is the best choice for interior surfaces, such as drywall. It dries faster than oil or shellac primers and it is also more durable.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic sheet or tarp
• Bucket
• Blue painter's tape (do not use masking tape)
• Patching or joint compound, if needed to repair cracks or holds
• 120 grit sandpaper
• Primer
• Paint
• Paint tray
• Paint roller
• 1 to 2 inch (2.54 cm to 5.08 cm) angled paintbrush
• Ladder

Related Articles

• Choose Interior Paint Colors

Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by RussOlinatz

See also

• Find a Stud
• Install Baseboards
• Paint the Interior of a House
• Clean Crayon off Painted Walls
• Paint a Garage Door
• Stain Brick
• Paint Hardiplank
• Paint a Room
• Paint Your Basement Floor
• Paint Veneer

Read more ...

What links here

• Create Clean Paint Edges on Interior Walls
• Paint Walls Near a Ceiling
• Reuse Paint Rollers