Learning how to paint a room properly is essential for beginning DIY’ers, new homeowners, and veteran home improvement experts alike. After all, it’s pretty painless, relatively inexpensive, and—should something go horribly wrong—easy to fix. But before you grab your roller and get started with your first coat, it’s essential to have a plan of attack. So we asked a handful of experts for their best painting tips and tricks to get you started. Read on to learn how to paint a room and see step-by-step what you’ll need to do to make sure your project is a success.
While San Francisco based designer Nicole Hollis may have turned heads for painting the exterior of her home jet black, we're prone to the moody blue she chose from Farrow & Ball for the bar.
Douglas Friedman
Start by thinking about how you want the finished project to look and remember that you’re not limited to four walls or an entire room in the same color. Consider painting an accent wall in a bold hue or highlighting moldings in a contrasting shade or finish. And don’t forget to look up and see whether the ceiling could use a refresh as well.
Alexander Gorlin used Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball on an accent wall in a New York apartment.
Browsing through fan decks and paint chips can be overwhelming. Start by figuring out the general color characteristics: Do you want a warm or cool shade? Neutral or saturated? If you have existing furniture or art, you’ll also want to consider how the shade will complement them. Once you have a sense of what you’re looking for, pick a few shades and get samples—lots of direct-to-consumer brands, like Backdrop and Clare, will send you adhesive swatches you can slap on the wall for a better sense of shade (and it’ll save you a trip to the store). Test the colors to see how they look in the room at different times of day.
Many paint companies also have tools on their websites that will let you upload a photo of your space and preview different colors on the walls. But colors can look different in real-world conditions, so you’ll still need to try it out in the space.
When shopping for interior paint, there are an astounding number of options, but no matter what color you choose, take a beat to consider the finish. Here's when to use each one.
Flat: This matte style has an almost chalk-like look. It's great to use on damaged walls because it doesn't reflect light, and therefore hides imperfections. It is, however, less durable than other finishes, so you'll want to use it in a low-traffic space.
Eggshell/Satin: This probably the most commonly used interior paint. It's a bit more reflective than flat (so it will make unwanted texture on walls show a bit more) but it's a lot more durable than flat so it's great for any room in the house.
Semigloss: The shinier paint gets, the more durable it gets, so semigloss is another step in that direction. People like to use it in bathrooms and kitchens because it's easy to wipe down. Because it reflects light well, it also has the ability to make a dark room feel a bit brighter, so it's perfect in a small powder room.
High-gloss: Think super shiny. Using this finish makes the paint and walls the star of a room, so you only want to use this if your walls are up to snuff and you're ready for something bold. They're the easiest to clean (just wipe!) so they make a great choice for cabinets and trim.