BEFORE YOU START

Make sure you prep your room and walls. This step, although tedious, is the most important when starting any paint project. For more on this, be sure to check out our Prep Overview article

HOW MUCH PAINT?

One gallon generally covers up to 400 sq. ft., which is normally enough to cover a small room with one coat. If you need more than that, you should use a large paint bucket to mix your paint to get better color consistency. Then, label it with the room you're painting so you can stay organized.

To get a personalized estimate for your space, check out our Paint Calculator

BRUSHES AND CUTTING IN

ROLLING

Apply the paint in a “W”-like pattern, starting up, then down, then going back to fill in the gaps. This will help distribute the paint evenly.

It helps to maintain a wet edge when painting, so you avoid any vertical paint lines caused by starting and stopping. This unwanted effect is known as lapping. To remove any roller lines, you can lightly roll back over the painted areas to smooth them out. Apply your first and second coat the same way.



REMOVING TAPE

For best results, remove tape while the paint is still wet.