How To Paint a Wall

  • January 23, 2008
  • 39,649 Views

lodgerfilms from lodgerfilms (and 4 others)

Howcast Original
Please install Flash

Never picked up a paintbrush? Don’t worry. You can still paint a wall like a pro!

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)
How To Paint a Wall: Smooth bumps & wipe

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.

How To Paint a Wall: Cover trim & floor

Step 2: Cover trim & floor

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

How To Paint a Wall: Apply primer

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.

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.

How To Paint a Wall: Paint edges

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.”

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

How To Paint a Wall: Use roller to paint

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.

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

How To Paint a Wall: Wait for 1st coat to dry

Step 6: Wait for 1st coat to dry

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

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

How To Paint a Wall: Apply 2nd coat

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.

How To Paint a Wall: Fill in spots

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.

How To Paint a Wall: Let dry & remove tape

Step 9: Let dry & remove tape

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

How To Paint a Wall: Enjoy wall

Step 10: Enjoy wall

Enjoy your newly painted wall!

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

Something wrong?

Report This How-To

Cancel

Comments (9)

admanb

You should always move the roller in the direction of the metal 'arm' that holds the roller pad. Don't roll the way the video shows. This is because the pressure is applied most where that metal edge is, so more paint will be applied on that edge and rather than leaving big drips behind, it's better to smooth out those globs of paint with the roller pad trailing behind. It also helps to make a W pattern, then a sideways W pattern whenever rolling paint. This ensures a good initial coverage, then a smoothing out of the coverage on the 2nd run.

over 3 years ago by admanb

Reply
jenw

I need a how to get someone else to paint my walls for gratis video.

over 3 years ago by jenw

Reply
ARod313

I would like to get your video how to paint a wall

over 3 years ago by ARod313

Reply
mikescast

I have been contract painter for many years and this is the dumbest way to paint a wall I have ever seen. Get your advice somewhere else.

over 2 years ago by mikescast

Reply
peterpgc

i've been hearing a lot about the paint glider paint tray (http://www.paintglider.com). does anyone know if this is any good? the video shows to use a flat tray. i don't know how much of a difference it makes. has anyone used the paint glider paint tray?

over 2 years ago by peterpgc

Reply
cromelody

I know!! for me it gets pretty exciting when i have to chose the color, imagining that a taste i had once, will follow me the rest of my life allover the place :) i wrote something on this too: http://cromelody.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-paint-my-room.html

about 1 year ago by cromelody

Reply
Mike_Han

It's good but how come down don time stop point connect

about 1 year ago by Mike_Han

Reply
zhangtt

Hello, everybody, the good shoping place, the new season approaching, click in. Welcome to http://www.proxy4biz.com Air Jordan (1-24) shoes $35 UGG BOOT $50 Nike shox (R4, NZ, OZ, TL1, TL2, TL3) $35 Handbags ( Coach Lv fendi D&;G) $35 T-shirts (polo, ed hardy, lacoste) $16 Jean (True Religion, ed hardy, coogi)$34 Sunglasses ( Oakey, coach, Gucci, Armaini)$15 New era cap $16 Bikini (Ed hardy, polo) $18 FREE SHIPPING http://www.proxy4biz.com http://www.proxy4biz.com http://www.proxy4biz.com http://www.proxy4biz.com http://www.proxy4biz.com http://www.proxy4biz.com

3 months ago by zhangtt

Reply
laals93

Hello,everybody,the good shopping place,the new season approaching, click in. Let's facelift bar! ===== http://www.imadeshopping.com/ === Air jordan(1-24)shoes $30 ugg BOOT $50 Nike (R4,NZ,OZ,TL1,TL2,TL3) $33 Handbags(Coach lv fendi d&;g) $33 Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $16 Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30 Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,Armaini) $12 New era cap $9 Bikini (Ed hardy,polo) $18 FREE SHiPPING http://www.imadeshopping.com/ Cheapest Max Shoes,Discount Brand Purses,Wholesale A&;F Clothing

3 months ago by laals93

Reply

or to post a comment. Or, sign in using your Facebook to comment
and share your activity with your friends

Video is in Useful Videos (792 videos)

How To Arrange an Easter Egg Hunt Easy Steps

How To Arrange an Easter Egg Hunt

Now Playing (349 of 792): How To Paint a Wall

How To Attract Birds and Butterflies To Your Backyard Easy Steps

How To Attract Birds and Butterflies To Your Backyard

How To Turn a Pizza Box Into a Solar Oven Easy Steps

How To Turn a Pizza Box Into a Solar Oven

open/close
© 2012 Howcast Media, Inc