Renovation guides

How to paint walls: the first coat yourself: step by step

Quick review by a licensed contractor on Oct 7, 2026. This is not a certification. Follow product labels where they differ.

First coat now, before floors and doors. The final coat comes in phase 8 after all install work.

Difficulty 2 of 5 · about half a day · you can do this

Photo of your room, the look you pick, then this guide with the materials counted for your room.

Step by step

1. Step 1 of 6

   Stir and box the paint

   

   Stir each can. Using 2+ gallons? Pour them together into a 5-gallon bucket (box them) so the color is identical on every wall. Open windows or run a fan out a window while you paint and while it dries.

2. Step 2 of 6

   Cut in the corners, ceiling line, and around windows and doors

   

   Brush every edge before rolling.

3. Step 3 of 6

   Roll in sections about 3×3 ft, W pattern, then even out top to bottom

   

   No pressure on the final vertical strokes.

4. Step 4 of 6

   Keep a wet edge

   

   Start the next section before the edge of the previous one dries. One wall in one pass.

5. Step 5 of 6

   Every 2–3 sections, step back 6 ft and look at an angle

   

   You are looking for holidays (missed spots) and drips. Fix them now while the paint is wet.

6. Step 6 of 6

   Pull the prep tape while the paint is still slightly soft

   

   The baseboard and casing tape from prep comes off now. Pull it at 45°, along the line, not away from the wall.

Español