How to Paint a Room Tools & Materials Tools * 5-in-1 Tool Buckets Small Paint Bucket for Trim Materials Hand Cleaner Mineral Spirits, Paint Thinner, or Lacquer Thinner (used with oil-based paint Paint Budget / Funding Range $450 - $1200 (this will depend on the room selection i.e. Living Room, Master Bedroom, Guest Room Preparing to Paint The first step-and the key step-is prep. You'll need to do this to get great results. We have the steps and some helpful tips in our How to Prep for Paint article. Buying Paint One gallon will cover about 400 square feet. Multiply the length times height to get the square footage for each wall and add them up. For the trim, multiply the length (in feet) by .5 for the width. If you're not sure about how much paint you'll need, see our Paint Calculator for help. When using more than one gallon of paint, mix them in a 5-gallon bucket to ensure color consistency. PlanningPainting an entire room might take a couple of days to complete. Plan ahead and make sure you have plenty of ventilation while working. Also, plan on working from the top down. Paint the ceiling first, then the walls, and finish with the trim. Cutting In Step 1 To paint the edges, or cut in, dip a brush about a third of the way into the paint and don't scrape it against the sides. Good to Know Use a small paint bucket when you're cutting in. A small bucket will be much lighter and easier to handle when you're going up and down the ladder. Step 2 Holding the brush as you would a pencil, paint with smooth strokes, feathering out the edges to prevent runs. Getting a little bit of paint on the trim won't matter since you're painting that later, but try not to be super messy. Step 3 On the ceiling, cut in first along the ceiling line. Then switch to the roller. For the walls, cut in one wall at time then switch to the roller. Painting can be a lot easier with two people. One person can cut while the other uses the roller. Rolling on Ceiling/Walls Step 1 If you're using a 5-gallon bucket, insert a roller grid. For pans, use a liner for easy cleanup. Step 2Load the roller with paint. To help the paint load, first dampen the roller cover with a wet rag. Dip just a little way into the paint and roll onto the grid or liner a few times to even it out. Resist the urge to submerge the roller - it'll make a mess. Step 3 Starting a few inches away from the edge, roll the paint on the ceiling/wall in a zig-zag pattern. Overlap your lines and go slow to avoid paint spatter. Don't press and squeeze the roller against the wall to get more paint out of it-just reload. Work in 4-foot sections. For walls, work at the top, then the bottom. Step 4 Once you get some paint on the walls you can go back along the edges. Turn the roller sideways to get really close to the ceiling and baseboards. Step 5 To remove buildup and runs, lightly roll over the painted area from the ceiling down to the floor. Apply very little pressure. Step 6 Paint one wall at a time. Apply two coats. Step 7 If you need to take a break, cover your bucket with a lid and cover pans with plastic wrap. Also use plastic or aluminum foil to cover your brushes and rollers. If you're not going to paint for a while, wrap the tools and store them in the fridge. Don't store in the freezer. Painting the Trim Step 1 After the walls are completely dry, apply painter's tape along the wall-trim edge. Press it down with a plastic putty knife.Step 2 Paint the trim with a brush. Step 3 Carefully remove the tape shortly after painting. Don't wait for the paint to dry completely. This will prevent peeling. A knife can help cut along spots where the tape is stuck. Some tapes have specific removal time recommendations so check the package. Cleanup Step 1 Use your brush to scrape paint from the pan back into the original paint can. Firmly press the lid back onto the can. Step 2 Run the brush under warm water and use a comb or nylon cleaning brush to help remove the paint from the bristles. Step 3 Rub some hand cleaner into the bristles and rinse again. Step 4 Reshape the brush and hang to dry. Step 5 For roller covers, use a 5-in-1 tool to remove the paint under running water.Step 6 Allow the roller to dry in an upright position, then store in a paper bag or cardboard box. Questions you might ask? E Q: How much paint will be used? B Q: Will a primer be used? B Q: Brush or Rollers will be used? 6 0: Should I use oil-based or latex paint? 6 Q: Are considering dark colors FYI: this will make a room feel smaller? 6 Q: We will leave leftover paint? 6 Q: Which room will be painted? B Q: Will this include the doors? Ask the sponsor / professor any other questions you may have for planning purposes