How To: Paint a Room

Preparing to Paint
Paint preparation starts with clearing the room. Take down window treatments and remove as much furniture as possible. Move the rest to the center of the room and cover with a tarp. Take down artwork, mirrors, or other wall decorations. Turn off power to the room and—safely—disconnect light fixtures or bag them as they hang disconnected. Remove faceplates on electrical outlets and light switches.

Look for holes and dents to plug with spackling compound. Check to see if there is any discoloration on the walls or ceiling. If there is, consider painting with a stain blocker so the stain does not show through the new paint.

Vacuum the floor, walls, and ceiling. Wash the walls and ceiling with just a bit of diluted soapy water to remove any build-up, especially if painting the kitchen or bathroom. With a damp, lint-free cloth, wipe down the space to remove any soap residue and allow the ceiling and walls to dry.

Cover the floor with a tarp or drop cloth. Consider using painter’s tape to attach the cloth to the baseboard to prevent it from moving. Run a line of tape on the edge of the woodwork where it meets the wall. Particularly messy painters might consider using newspaper and painter’s tape to “package” the windows and doors to minimize the need for spill cleanup. 

Paint Tools and Equipment
Before painting, assemble everything that may be needed. Typically, for a latex- or water-based interior paint, that includes a roller, a roller pan, an extension pole for the roller, a narrow (two- to four-inch) angled brush for “cutting in” or doing tight abutting areas between wall and ceiling or trimwork, a wider brush for areas narrower than the roller, cans of paint, and a stir stick.

Have a roll of paper towels, old newspapers, a bag to dispose of used towels, a screwdriver or paint key to remove the paint can lid, a stepladder, a stepstool, and a damp lint-free rag.