How to paint a room
To paint a room, clear and cover the floor, fill and sand every hole, wash the walls so paint sticks, and tape the trim and ceiling line. Then paint the ceiling first, cut in along edges and corners with a brush, and roll the walls in overlapping sections while the edge is still wet. Two thin coats beat one thick one. A gallon usually covers about 350 to 400 square feet per coat.
About 60 minutes to learnEveryday skill
Mark it once you can do it without this page open.
How to do it
- Measure the walls, multiply width by height, and buy enough paint for two coats plus a little extra.
- Push furniture into the center of the room, drape it and the floor in drop cloths, and take off outlet and switch plates.
- Fill holes, sand them smooth, and wipe the walls with a damp cloth to remove dust and grease.
- Tape along the trim and ceiling line, pressing the tape edge down firmly.
- Paint the ceiling first, then cut in a two-inch band with a brush along the walls' edges and corners.
- Load the roller evenly, roll a large W on the wall, then fill it in without lifting, working in sections that meet while wet.
- Let the first coat dry as the can says, then apply the second the same way.
- Pull the tape while the last coat is still slightly soft, and clean brushes and rollers straight away.
Common mistakes
- Painting over dust, grease or unfilled holes.
- Overloading the roller so paint drips and leaves thick ridges.
- Letting a painted section dry before rolling the next, which leaves visible lap marks.
- Sanding old paint in a home built before 1978 without testing it for lead.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to paint a room
What to say
To paint a room, clear and cover the floor, fill and sand every hole, wash the walls so paint sticks, and tape the trim and ceiling line. Then paint the ceiling first, cut in along edges and corners with a brush, and roll the walls in overlapping sections while the edge is still wet. Two thin coats beat one thick one. A gallon usually covers about 350 to 400 square feet per coat.
What to show, in order
- Measure the walls, multiply width by height, and buy enough paint for two coats plus a little extra.
- Push furniture into the center of the room, drape it and the floor in drop cloths, and take off outlet and switch plates.
- Fill holes, sand them smooth, and wipe the walls with a damp cloth to remove dust and grease.
- Tape along the trim and ceiling line, pressing the tape edge down firmly.
- Paint the ceiling first, then cut in a two-inch band with a brush along the walls' edges and corners.
- Load the roller evenly, roll a large W on the wall, then fill it in without lifting, working in sections that meet while wet.
- Let the first coat dry as the can says, then apply the second the same way.
- Pull the tape while the last coat is still slightly soft, and clean brushes and rollers straight away.
The check question
Ask: What gets painted first?
Related skills
- How to patch a hole in drywall
- Eye, ear and dust protection basics
- How to recaulk a tub or shower
- Every skill in Home Fixes
Words on this page
Sources
- National lead-safe renovation guidance for homeowners, current edition. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .