How to Paint a House Interior

Choosing paint colors is more than just a stylistic choice; certain colors can boost the value of your home. Whether you plan on selling or if you simply want to spruce up your living space, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders.

If you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before, you might be wondering how to paint a house interior. The good news is that it’s super simple, and you can use these tips to guide you through the entire process!

Prepare the Room

When you paint a house, you’ll want to avoid getting paint on your furniture, so make sure you remove all obstructions. This includes all the furniture in the room along the walls you’ll be painting. If you can’t move it to another room, move it to the center, so it’s out of the way.

Protect any furniture you can’t move with plastic sheets. You might also want to remove light switch covers and outlet plates.

Using painter’s tape helps you to protect parts of the room you can’t remove, such as the trim, areas around an air conditioning unit, windows, doors, and so on.

Make sure to protect your floor with some drop cloths.

Grab the Tools

If you want to know how to paint a house interior like a pro, you’ll need a good set of tools. Here’s what you need on hand before painting a house:

Primer
Interior paint
Paint roller
Drop cloth
Plastic sheeting to protect furniture
Paint trays
Paint tray liner (optional)
Paint can pour spout (optional)
Painter’s tape
Angled paintbrush
Paint stir stick
Protective gloves
Ladder
Work lights (optional)

Having all the necessary tools on hand before you start the job prevents disruptions and limits runs to the hardware store. It also makes the job much easier.

Apply Primer

Primer isn’t always necessary, though it can help to reduce the number of coats you need to apply. Applying a pre-tinted primer to the walls brings them closer to your desired color, which can reduce the amount of paint you need.

There are also paint and primer in one products, which is a popular option that works well on any walls that are clean and well maintained.

Paint the Edges

First, remember to mix your paint using a wooden paint stirring stick. Once you’ve mixed the paint, pour it into your paint tray.

Paint the edges of the room, moving toward the center of the wall by about four inches. Use a trim brush for this part.

Let the paint dry, and apply at least two coats.

Roll on the Paint

Dip your roller in the paint tray, rolling it and squeezing out the excess.

Paint the wall in a “W” shape, and then start filling in the “W” working in small sections of about four feet by four feet. Try to work quickly to avoid streaking. You’ll want to maintain a wet edge.

Once finished, let the walls dry before applying a second coat. This can take a few hours, depending on the paint type.

Don’t forget to paint the ceiling! Ceiling painting can freshen up the whole room, giving it a polished look.