Top Tips On How To Paint A Room Fast & Professionally

Painting a room is the most common DIY task. Whether you’re a decorating novice or an experienced decorator this handy guide will point you in the right direction to achieve a professional finish, fast.

Before you start, take time to think through not only the colour but also the finish you want.

TYPES OF PAINT FINISH

Absolute Matt Emulsion is an original classic flat paint for walls and has the most matt finish.

Intelligent Matt Emulsion is a popular ‘Intelligent’ paint with a slightly higher gloss level than absolute matt emulsion (5% gloss level versus 3% gloss level) and is more durable and completely washable – perfect for high traffic areas. Intelligent Matt emulsion is an Escapology favourite.

Intelligent Eggshell is a water-based paint, formulated to resist moisture, staining and general wear and tear. It has a tough yet subtle finish and is a superb paint for woodwork and kitchen & bathroom walls.

Flat Oil Eggshell is a more traditional, oil-based paint with a gloss level of 15-20% suitable for most surfaces including woodwork and primed metals. It requires time for the finish to fully cure following application, the paint should be cured after 4 weeks.

Couple Holding Paint Brushes Decorating A Room

Once you have settled on your colour scheme and the desired paint finish here's what you'll need.

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED:

THE PAINTING ESSENTIALS:

  • Your chosen paint colour(s)
  • A small paint brush at around 1½” wide for cutting in
  • A large paint brush around 4" wide for finishing
  • A paint roller & tray
  • A damp sponge
  • A canvas sheet to protect the floors and any furnishings that can't be moved out of the space (old bedsheets work perfectly too)
  • Painter's tape or masking tape
  • A ladder to reach the highest points on the wall
  • A paint kettle.

AND IF YOUR WALLS NEED SOME REPAIR:

  • Ready-mixed filler
  • A flat scraper or filling knife
  • Fine sandpaper

The secret to achieving a professional paint finish quickly and easily is in the preparation.

FIRST PREPARE THE ROOM FOR PAINTING

  1. Remove as much as you can from the room you are painting and cover any remaining furniture/objects and of course, your flooring with your choice of sheet. PRO TIP - Secure it with a little bit of tape to prevent movement whilst you’re painting.
  2. Any holes from artwork, pictures, or fixtures need to be filled for an even finish. Take a small amount of filler with the edge of your scraper and holding it at a 45-degree angle against the wall, pull the filler across the hole. Then holding the scraper to the wall at a 90-degree angle, remove any excess filler. Follow the advised drying time of the filler you have chosen and once dry, use fine sandpaper to remove any excess filler and create a smooth surface.
  3. Use a damp sponge to wash your wall. Sugar soap or diluted washing up liquid works perfectly. The most important part of this step is making sure your choice of cleaning product has been properly washed off and is perfectly dry before painting. Don't skip this step, it is key to achieving a professional finish.
  4. Tape around any edges of things you don’t wish to paint for example; light switches, plug sockets & skirting boards. PRO TIP - Unscrew the sockets and switches to get a perfect finish. Isolate the electricity and keep your screws safe though.

FAST & EFFICIENT PAINTING

  1. If you have filled any holes larger than a ten pence piece, dilute some of your paint and prime by overpainting the filler.
  2. If your space requires more than one tin, mix the two in a paint kettle to ensure a perfectly even colour. Stir your paint thoroughly to ensure consistent mixing. PRO TIP - Stir your paint for 3 minutes. This ensures your paint has been mixed properly.
  3. Now you are ready to paint. Start by painting all your edges with a brush. This includes the vertical and horizontal wall edges and around your light switches and wall sockets. Edging makes it a lot easier to paint by framing the area to work within with your roller. Once complete, start with your roller and give the whole wall one coat in diagonal ‘V shaped’ motions. Leave to dry. The required time depends on the room's temperature but generally is between 2 and 4 hours.
  4. Once dry, de-nib the walls by gently going over them with fine-grade sandpaper. Nothing too rough, you just want to take off any paint peaks.
  5. Then it is time for your second coat. Repeat the same process as you did with Step 3.
  6. Allow your paint to dry. Then take off your tape (if applied). PRO TIP - remove the tape on the same day to avoid any issues with removal.

AND REMEMBER

Leave the correct amount of time for your paint to dry before hanging any wall art or pushing your furniture up to the walls. It may be dry to the touch but that doesn’t mean the paint is fully dried!

Need a helping hand with interior styles and inspiration? Escapology is the perfect place to start when shopping for furniture, lighting and home accessories.

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