How to Paint a room

Step 1. Gather your tools for the job.

You will need the following tools:

1. Paint brush and the roller: Choose a brush with a size scaled to your hand and strength. Brush strokes should be from top to bottom if you are right-handed or from right to left if you are left-handed. This is the same for painting wooden surfaces.
2. Paint tray: They come in various sizes, choose the one appropriate to your brush and roller.
3. Roller sleeve
4. Spackle paste or any type of paste to fill the holes, cracks, or minor surface defects on the wall.
5. 5 in 1 painters tool or putty knife
6. Mud pan
7. Pot hook
8. Sponges
9. Fans
10. Yellow tape
11. Duster brush or rag

Step 2. Ensure the room is well ventilated.

Step 3: Prepare the surface

Before you begin to paint, you should ensure that the wall surface is well-prepared: strip old paper or lining paper from the walls; allow the the plaster to dry first (it should not be greasy, crumbly, or flaky), and fill the cracks or holes on the walls. This also includes covering any dark marks from stains, ink, and even dark paint with a stain-blocking primer.

Note: Wooden surfaces will have to be rub down and wiped with a tack rag. Preparatory activities helps ensure the finished job is done neatly. It also encourage an economical use of paint later on.

See the video below for instructions on prepping.

In this video, Chicago area muralist and painting contractor, Ray Akers, of Green Apple Painting shows how to prep a room for paint.

Step 4: Apply about three coats

Apply an undercoat. If the surface is unpainted this undercoat will be a primer. Allow the undercoat to dry first. Then apply one or two top coats to finish. The number of coats will depend on the finish you want. Again allow each coat of paint to dry before you apply the next. To get the paint to dry quickly you can thin the paint.

Start first by painting the corners (including where the ceiling meets), around doors and windows, and around any trimmings or details with a 2″ or 3″ paintbrush. Now you can paint with the roller. See the video below for instructions on developing your technique like a pro.

In this video, Chicago area muralist and painting contractor, Ray Akers, of Green Apple Painting shows how to paint a room.

There are several faux glaze techniques for painting a room. These techniques create unique effects in a room. Most of these techniques require patience, practice, and sometimes hard work.

The video below is an example of some of these techniques.