How To Paint An Interior Wall
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Time
- 2-6 hours
The paint experts at Norfolk Hardware & Home Center give advice on the best practice to paint an interior wall. Check out their how-to guide in the steps below.
Before You Paint An Interior Wall:
- Ensure that the space you wish to paint is properly ventilated.
- Inspect walls for any imperfections.
- Remove everything from wall, including HVAC vents and electrical faceplates
- Spread drop cloths on the floor and tape to secure. Move furniture away from the area.
Materials
- Drop Cloth
- Paint of your choice
- Paint Primer
- Painter's Tape
- Sandpaper
- Spackle
Tools
- Brushes
- Extension pole/ladder
- Paint Roller
- Paint Tray
- Putty Knife
- Rags
Step 1: Prepare Wall
Using a spackling compound, repair any cracks, dents, or holes in your wall with a putty knife. Once dry, use sandpaper to ensure that the repair is even with the rest of the wall. After you are finished, clean the wall to ensure that there is no dust. Dust on walls prevents paint from applying evenly to the surface.
Step 2: Tape Edges
Evenly place tape along the outer edges of the interior wall, pressing down firmly along the edge. This will prevent your paint color from spreading to adjacent walls, the baseboards, or the ceiling. There are different painter’s tapes for different surfaces – consult one of our paint experts to decide which tape is best for your project.
Step 3: Prime Wall
Primers are used to seal a wall, prevent mold and even out your paint color. Using a paintbrush, outline the edges of your wall with primer with 3 inch strokes. Once your wall is outlined, prime the rest of the wall using a paint roller. Our experts recommend priming one wall at a time to ensure proper blending.
Many major paint companies, including our Benjamin Moore & California Paint lines, offer paint and primer in one can, saving you time in the painting process. Or, you can buy a tinted primer, cutting down on the number of paint coats needed, saving you money.
Once the primer is dry, sand away any bumps and wipe away dust with a damp towel or sponge. Let dry.
Step 4: Paint Interior Wall
Time to paint an interior wall! Outline the room again using the same technique that you used with the primer. To avoid leaking through the paint tape, first brush on the wall under the tape, until most of the paint has been applied. Use the excess paint on the brush and carefully brush next to the tape, overlapping the tape with your brush.
Once outlined, fill in the rest of your wall using a paint roller. Paint small areas at a time to ensure proper color blending. Using the roller, paint in V or W shaped strokes until each section is covered. Then, roll over the area you just painted, top to bottom without taking the roller off of the wall. This will help even the coat and cover up your stroke lines.
Allow the first coat to dry (2-4 hours), then repeat if necessary with a second coat of paint.
Step 5: Remove Painter's Tape
Once you are finished painting, make sure to seal any leftover paint tightly in cans, and thoroughly wash brushes and rollers. Once your paint is nearly dry, remove the painter’s tape and discard.