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How To Paint a Wall

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Dogear

You Will Need

  • Sandpaper
  • Damp rags
  • Painter's tape
  • Drop cloth
  • Primer
  • Paint roller
  • Replacement roller pad
  • Paint
  • 2 or 3" brush
  • Roller pan
  • Fan (optional)
  • Small painter's brush (optional)
  1. Step 1

    Smooth bumps & wipe

    If painting a new wall with no previous paint, use sandpaper to smooth any bumps. If there are any holes, spackle and sand them. Then wipe with a damp rag.

  2. Step 2

    Cover trim & floor

    Cover the trim with blue painter’s tape and cover the floor with a drop cloth.

  3. Step 3

    Apply primer

    Apply a thick coat of primer with a thickly padded roller. This will hide any surface imperfections and keep the paint from peeling. Allow the primer to fully dry.

  4. Tip

    Choose paint colors a shade lighter than what you really want—colors often dry darker than you expect—and test them on a small, discreet spot.

  5. Step 4

    Paint edges

    Tackle the edges first. Using a two- or three-inch brush, apply a band of paint along the edges of the ceiling, windows, doors, baseboards, and cabinets. This is called “cutting in.”

  6. Tip

    Small rooms take about one or two gallons for the first coat; the second coat takes about half as much.

  7. Step 5

    Use roller to paint

    Pour paint into a roller pan and use the roller to paint in an up and down motion. One technique: roll out a W shape in paint and then spread it evenly into a square.

  8. Tip

    Don’t paint from side to side—it can look streaky.

  9. Step 6

    Wait for 1st coat to dry

    Wait an hour or so for the first coat to dry.

  10. Tip

    Want to make it dry faster? Put some fans in the room.

  11. Step 7

    Apply 2nd coat

    Apply the second coat with a fresh roller pad with a lighter shag. Use less pressure the second time around—just make sure the paint is distributed evenly.

  12. Step 8

    Fill in spots

    Use a two-inch brush—or even a small painter’s brush from an art store—to fill in or even out any spots you missed or that are too bulky or streaky.

  13. Step 9

    Let dry & remove tape

    Once the second coat is dry (in about an hour) carefully remove the painter’s tape.

  14. Step 10

    Enjoy wall

    Enjoy your newly painted wall!

  15. Fact

    Fast-food restaurant walls are often painted yellow or orange because studies show those colors make people eat faster.

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