How to paint a room like a professional!

If you have been following along on our bathroom renovation you know that I have been quite the painter over the past week or so. I wouldn’t call myself a professional by any means, but I’d say I’m pretty darn close 😉

So today I wanted to share my step by step guide on how to paint a room so that you can get that professional finish you are looking for without the cost!

I’m definitely pro painting things myself over hiring others to do it. My husband did not feel the same way but I eventually talked him into it lol. Painting is such an inexpensive way to transform a whole room and I love that it is something anyone can do. Plus, if you are looking to save money on a project, painting is a great place to do it!

My pregnant body isn’t super stoked that I am doing all of this painting, mainly because my feet no longer accept me standing on them all day lol. But we are getting it done!

Just a side note, if you are pregnant you should always consult your doctor before doing projects like these to make sure it is safe. But I have provided a few tips below that are smart to follow, pregnant or not, that will help keep you safe while painting:

Using water based paint, also known as latex paint, minimizes toxic fumes
Always paint in a well ventilated area
Wear a face mask while painting so you aren’t breathing in the fumes
It is never a bad idea to wear gloves to protect your hands and for easy clean up

If you are taking on a painting project just beware that while it isn’t all that hard, it does require a LOT of time and patience! Waiting for the paint to dry is the hardest part, in my opinion. But I also lack patience, so there’s that lol.

Alright, who is ready to paint a room?!

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How to Paint a Room: A Step by Step Guide

First things first, you can’t paint without supplies! I have provided a list below of painting supplies that I have used and would recommend to get the job done.

Supplies you are going to need:

Paint – We used Benjamin Moore on our last project and will probably continue to do so for future projects because it is very high quality! Make sure to consider the room you are painting. They make special paints for bathrooms and kitchens, because they can withstand moisture much better than normal ones.
Primer – If you are painting new drywall or painting over a color that isn’t white, Primer is a must. Primer helps to cover any previous color and is a great stain blocker + helps your paint stick to the surface better. I used this one and it never disappoints!
Paint Tray – A lot of times you can get a great deal on a whole kit that comes with everything you need! This paint kit is a great deal and has great ratings!
Paint Tray Liner (optional) – These are great for quick clean up but not necessary!
Painter’s Cup (optional) – Optional once again but it sure does save a lot of time and effort when edging and painting small items. Just pour a little paint in this handy dandy cup and carry it around effortlessly with you, instead of having to use the tray or the can.
Paint Can Opener – These are usually given to you for free when you buy paint from a store, but we have used lots of other items to open a can, pocket knife, screw driver, you name it lol
Paint Stirring stick – These are also free when you buy some paint, they are usually by the paint counter so just don’t forget to grab them on your way to check out.
Brushes – I bought this set from Amazon and highly recommend them! It is always smart to get a mixture of straight edge and angled brushes for edging. This pack also comes in a variety of sizes which is helpful!
Rollers – The roller size depends on the size of your project, but I switched in-between a 4″ and a 9″ for our bathroom trim and walls.
Roller Covers – These will obviously depend on the size of your roller but I usually buy the covers that are suitable for smooth to semi-smooth surfaces and have a few extras on hand just in case! I usually don’t keep these after a project. They aren’t as great to use once they have been cleaned, but that is just personal preference.
Painter’s Tape – I say this VERY lightly because me and painters tape are not on good terms right now lol. I talk a little bit more on that below but it definitely can come in handy!
Saran Wrap (Optional) – If you plan on taking breaks during coats, I cannot recommend wrapping your brushes in saran wrap enough. Wrapping = No cleaning brushes and no dry crusty brushes!
Drop canvas or plastic sheeting – If you want to protect your floors, this is a necessity.
Wall Patch – If you have any holes to patch or fill, this stuff works great!

Let’s Start Painting!

If you follow the steps below you should be able to paint your room effortlessly!

STEP ONE: Move room contents into the middle of the room or out of the room.

Covering the items is not necessary unless you plan on painting above them or if you tend to be careless with paint and think they need the extra protection lol.

STEP TWO: Remove all items from the walls & windows.

STEP THREE: Prep the area. Tape any surrounding walls/trim and cover the ground to protect the flooring.

I use drop canvas or plastic sheeting to cover the floors. When we did our bathroom last week I was pretty anal about protecting the floors because we just spent a lot of money getting the pretty tile installed, so I taped down plastic sheeting on the edges and put a drop canvas on top of it! Probably not necessary but my floors were spotless when I took them off so it was worth the little bit of extra work I put in.

As I mentioned above, me and painters tape are currently in a fight. So the main point I want to make here is that if the wall you are going to be taping has recently been painted, like say in the last week or so, DO NOT USE TAPE. We used the scotch blue painters tape, which I had used before and didn’t have issues but this last time was not the same. I started with the ceiling and waited over 24 hours, which is what the tape says to do, and I taped off the ceiling. Well, it pulled all of the paint off of the ceiling. I was not a happy camper. The humidity could have something to do with this happening but unfortunetly it required a lot of touching up. You can’t tell that it happened looking at it now but if you can avoid it, definitely do so.

Anywhoo, if you are working with a wall that was already painted previously you shouldn’t have any problems.

Tape off any trim, window fixtures, and the ceiling, that is if they aren’t being painted.

The prep is by far the most tedious part and can be time consuming but it is necessary if you want your paint job to look professional. Just trust me on this one!

STEP FOUR: Make sure the walls you are painting are clean and that there are no rough spots.

Painting over dirt or rough spots is just a no go for obvious reasons. If you have any rough spots you can lightly sand them out.

STEP FIVE: Patch any holes. We use this 3M Patch and it always looks great when it is painted over!

STEP SIX: Prime your walls.

Primer is a great thing to start with if you are covering any previous paint color that isn’t white or if you are starting with new drywall/board and plaster.

Since our bathroom was a complete remodel, I had to paint over fresh board and plaster. This required two coats of primer because the first coat soaked into the board pretty well and wasn’t enough to cover the plaster all the way.

Apply one coat and if you can still see the color or any stains underneath, it is probably smart to do a second coat. This will save you from having to do more than one or two coats of paint. And trust me, primer is a lot cheaper than paint!

You don’t HAVE to use primer if you are painting over already painted walls, but I do recommend it for the best results!

STEP SEVEN: Get your paint ready!

Give your paint can a couple of good shakes. If you are coming straight from the paint store and going straight into painting it isn’t necessary because the mixing machine shakes it really well for you.

Open your can up with your paint can opener/screw driver/knife/etc. and give it a good stir with your paint stick!

Once it has been mixed to your liking, pour the paint into the deep part of your paint tray and get ready to paint!

STEP EIGHT: Start Painting!

Start by painting the edges. I always work in sections, especially when I am painting by myself. This makes it so you won’t have any uneven spots! Paint dries fairly quick and it is very noticeable if you run the brush over an area where the paint has already partially dried. You only have to use the brush for a small area of the edges where the roller can’t reach. This is where a painter’s cup can save you time! Pour a little paint in one and it is super light and easy to carry around with the handle! If you are looking for some good Paint brushes, this is the set that I used and they work great plus comes in a variety of different sizes!

Once you have finished with the edging, or a section of it, you can grab your roller and start rolling away! Just dip your roller in the paint and roll it up and down the ramp of the tray to get an even coat on the roller and to take off any excess. When rolling just make sure you are coating the wall evenly and that there isn’t any parts that look spotty or have to much paint.

Rolling is my favorite part of the whole thing. It is super quick and you also get a nice little arm workout in. 😉 Rolling the ceiling is a whole different level though. Not fun, especially for this shorty. Our ceiling was extra hard to paint because it was a new wall, but if you are painting over paint it should go on pretty easy!

Benjamin Moore carries a ceiling white which makes it nice and easy!

STEP NINE: Let the paint dry and see if you need to apply a second coat.

In my opinion, a second coat is always smart. But it isn’t always necessary. It all depends on the coverage of the paint you are using and what you are painting over.

STEP TEN: Once the paint is dry, it is time to turn the room back to normal!

This means you can remove all tape, make sure to be careful when doing so so that no paint is pulled off. You can use a razor knife to cut any edges that the tape was heavily painted on and pull it off down and away from the wall.

You can pull up the floor covers. Put all of your electrical covers, blind, curtains, wall decor, etc. back on the walls and put your furniture back where it belongs. Ta-da!

You have officially painted a room like a pro!

If you have any questions that I didn’t answer above, drop them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them!

I hope everyone enjoys their 4th of July weekend! Stay safe out there, friends!

How to paint a room like a professional!