Tools and Materials
Tools
- 5-in-1 Tool
- 5-Gallon Bucket
- Small Paint Bucket for Trim
- Drop Cloths — Plastic & Canvas
- Glass Jars or Metal Containers for Cleanup
- Plastic Putty Knife
- Ladder
- Paint Brushes
- Rags
- Roller Covers & Frame
- Roller Extension Pole
- Paint Grid
- Safety Glasses
- Sandpaper
- Screwdrivers
- Shop Vacuum
- Sponges
- Wire or Nylon Brush
- Cleaning Gloves
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
Preparing Walls for Painting
If you want to know how to repaint a room or paint one for the first time, the first step to success is proper preparation. Check out the steps of painting a room below and some helpful tips in our Prep for Paint article.
How to Open a Paint Can?
You'll want to open the paint can correctly the first time to ensure it closes properly for storage. The best way is with a paint can opener, using the flat end of the opener to separate the lid from the can. Work your way around the can until it easily opens. If you don't have a paint can opener, use a stiff putty knife or a flat-head screwdriver.
Buying Paint
One gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of wall or ceiling. Multiply the length by the height of each wall to get its square footage and then total these numbers. For the trim, multiply the length in feet by 0.5 to calculate the width.
If you’re unsure how much paint you’ll need, use our Paint Calculator for help.
When your project requires more than 1 gallon of paint, mix all of your paint together in a 5-gallon bucket to ensure color consistency.
Choosing a Color Palette and Sheen
Choosing the right paint color and sheen is important to achieve the desired effect. The right color can set the foundation for the look of your room. Dark and moody colors create an intimate and cozy ambience. Light and bright colors give an open, cheerful and vibrant feel.
The sheen is also important and each one has its own benefits and considerations.
Flat
A flat sheen has a smooth matte finish. It's the hardest to clean, so it's best for low-traffic areas.
Satin
A satin finish works well in most rooms. It brings warmth and depth to a space and is easier to clean than flat.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss finishes have a noticeable shine. Semi-gloss will highlight imperfections. But it's easy to clean and great for kids' rooms, kitchens and baths.
Gloss
A gloss finish is best for baseboards, doors and trims. It's shiny, tough and durable and can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Gloss finishes also look great when you want to create a dramatic look in an entryway, dining room or butler's pantry.
For more tips and tricks, read these articles.
How to Choose the Right Paint Finish
8 Steps to Picking the Perfect Interior Paint Color
Planning
Painting an entire room might take a couple of days to complete, making it a great project for a long weekend. To make sure your work pays off, learn about properly preparing for painting a painted wall. Gather all the supplies you’ll need before you begin and ensure that you have plenty of ventilation while working.
Should you paint trim or walls first? Paint the ceiling first, the walls second and the trim last. Have a ladder handy so you can work from the top down.
How to Paint Edges, or Cutting In
Follow these steps to practice the right wall painting method. Start by painting the edges, which is also known as “cutting in.”
Instructions
Rolling on Ceiling or Walls
Follow these steps to learn how to paint your ceilings or walls with a roller like a pro.
Instructions
Painting the Trim
Follow these steps to learn how to repaint trim.
Instructions
Wall Painting Cleanup
When you’re finished painting, follow these steps to clean up so you can enjoy your newly painted room.
You need to know which type of paint you have before you start your project. Watch our DIY Basics video: Do I Have Oil or Latex Paint?
For Latex-Based Paints:
For Oil-Based Paints:
How to Fix Painting Mistakes
How do I get paint out of carpet or my clothes? There's lint on the newly painted walls. How do you fix it? The new paint color is too bright. Can this be remedied?
Painting mistakes can happen to everyone, but it's important to know how to clean them up so that they don't set in. Read these articles to find out how to avoid painting mistakes and how to fix the problems that have already been made.
How to Remove Paint From Your Clothes
10 Painting Mistakes to Avoid
How to Fix DIY Painting Mistakes
How to Dispose of Paint
After you're done painting, it's important to store paint the right way to use for future touch-ups. But if you want to get rid of paint or you've got old cans that need to be disposed of, it needs to be done properly.
Latex Paint
Latex paint can be taken to a recycling center near you. But if you prefer to dispose of it at home, add equal parts cat litter to the latex paint in the can. For larger amounts, pour the paint into a lined box or garbage can. Then add the cat litter. Wait for the mixture to harden and throw it in the garbage with the lid removed.
Oil-Based Paint
Oil-based paint is considered hazardous waste. Contact your local officials to find the nearest drop-off center. Another option is to donate oil-based or latex paint to your local theater, community center, charity or place of worship. They're often working on projects or refreshing their space and could use the supplies.
To learn more, read How to Store and Dispose of Paint Properly.
Would you like to learn how to paint a ceiling, spray paint furniture or a paint a wooden front door? Learn how to do these projects and more with our paint how-tos and buying guides.
Average Cost to Paint a Room
The cost to paint a room can vary greatly depending on the type of paint, the size of the room and any additional tools or materials such as drop cloths, brushes, rollers and paint trays, if you don’t already own them. However, for most projects, you can expect to spend somewhere between $600 and $1,200. When factoring cost, be sure to calculate for extra paint to use for mistakes or future touchups.