16-06-2023

How to Paint Interior Walls

A fresh coat of paint can transform your room. Whether you’re just sticking to the same colour and giving your room a refresh, or switching colours for a whole new look, the planning and operation of your painting project are the same.

A big part of the preparation involves ensuring your walls are suitable for painting. Then, you’re going to want to choose the correct paint, and the right tools, and utilise the proper technique.

Here at Speedy, we have professional-standard tools available to hire, such as airless paint sprayers, so you can do the job yourself and still achieve a quality finish. Just create an account today to start hiring:

 

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Painting correctly may seem like a pain, as it can take some time, but it will be worth it in the long run. Paint is less likely to flake over time, and the colour will last too.

When painting, always wear suitable PPE. Eye protection, breathing protection, and gloves will be required. You also need to cover all bare skin. Buy any PPE you need straight from Speedy.

Below, we will run through 10 tips for how to paint your interior walls like a pro.

 

Interior wall painting tips

 

1. Have the correct surface

You need to prepare the wall surface sufficiently, so the paint adheres to the wall.

Check for any holes and hairline cracks in the plaster. Use filler to fill them and leave them to dry before lightly sanding down to match the depth of the wall.

If your wall needs smoothing, use a drywall sander to sand the whole wall. This will get rid of any scuffs and give your wall a slightly rougher surface so the paint can adhere to it.

 

2. Use the right tools

Most people will use brushes and rollers to paint their walls. If you do, purchase a high-quality roller which won’t lose fluff as it is used.

However, it may be easier to use an airless paint sprayer, especially if you’re stuck for time or have full rooms to do. This will give you a thin coat of paint in moments, which will dry quickly before you do the second coat.

You’ll also need good quality paint brushes, which can be used to cut in along skirting boards and ceiling joints. Good paint, from a quality brand, will have a higher pigment too.

 

3. Prep your room

Remove furniture if possible. For anything you can’t remove, cover it with dust sheets. You should also cover the floor with thick dust sheets and use masking tape to secure it.

SPEEDY TOP TIP: Use cotton drop cloths rather than plastic if you can. They can be reused, and they will be heavier, which won’t need as much taping.

Wipe up any spills straight away so they don’t get tracked through the house on shoes.

Open windows to allow for airflow when using paint, or sanding. You will want to close interior doors to ensure the fumes don’t spread through the house.

 

4. Clean the walls

Clean your walls before painting. This will get rid of any dust from sanding, but also general dirt and grease from everyday living. You may be surprised at how much dirt is on your walls that you can’t see.

The paint won’t adhere well to grease and dust, which could affect how the paint looks after a few months. You don’t want sections to flake away.

Always use a soft microfibre cloth to clean walls, which won’t scratch or damage the wall. Dampen it with warm soapy water, and lightly rub the wall. Allow to dry fully before painting.

Don’t oversaturate the wall. You only want to clean the very top layer.

 

5. Prime if necessary

For most homes, especially those where the walls are already painted, just painting two coats of topcoat will suffice.

However, if you’re covering a darker colour than your chosen topcoat, or you’re switching to a rich dark colour, you will need a primer. This will cover the old paint colour, so the topcoat shows properly.

You will also need a primer, or a mist coat if you’re painting new plaster.

 

6. Mix the paint

Paint can separate over time when stored, with the heavier components settling at the bottom of the tin, so it needs to be mixed before use.

Even if you’ve just bought the paint, it could have been prepared months before and been sitting, so it is worth mixing even if it looks fine.

For the best results, use a paddle mixer. This will be more reliable than mixing by hand.

 

7. Use the correct painting method

If you’re using a paint roller, work in a W or M motion for the first coat—this will give the paint time to dry. You don’t want to just be going over the paint you’ve already put on the wall.

Wait for this to dry, before repeating for the second coat.

An airless sprayer will be easier to manage, as you just move along the wall. Work from the top corner, going horizontally, slightly overlapping each row so there are no gaps in the paint.

Read our guide on how to use an airless sprayer.

 

8. Work out how much paint you need

Every paint tin will give you an average area coverage. Work out how large your room is; you may need two or three tins, especially considering that you need two coats at least.

Paint colour can vary ever so slightly from one tin to the next, so mixing all of the paint into one larger container will be beneficial.

If using a paint sprayer, you can then load the sprayer pump with the paint from the tin and use it as much as you need without pouring the paint into a tray.

 

9. Paint woodwork first

Skirting and ceilings should be painted first, especially if you’re painting them a different colour to the wall (such as white).

It is easier to tape off the trims when painting the wall than it is to tape the wall to paint the trims. If you get any white paint on the walls, it will be covered with colour afterwards anyway. And white is easier to cover than the darker wall colour.

Use a high-quality brush when painting woodwork. If painting doors, a small foam roller may be beneficial too.

 

10. Paint in natural light

Avoid artificial and low light if possible. Painting when the lighting isn’t great will just leave patches that will then show up when natural light is most prominent.

You don’t want to have to go over sections of the wall again once you’ve packed everything away. Touching up patches of paint can also leave slightly varying colour patches on your wall.

So, check everything is perfect in good lighting before you finish the job.

 

 

READY FOR MORE PAINTING TIPS?

 

Hopefully, you’re now well prepared to get painting, and your room will look professional while saving you some money.

If you hire an airless paint sprayer, why not use it to paint your garden fence too? Read our guide on how to paint your garden fence.

Plan for your next DIY project and open a Speedy account online or visit us in-store for all your tool hire needs.

Speedy has more than 200 local service centres across the nation, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery. It has never been easier to hire the tools and equipment you need.

 

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