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How to paint a room
Updated October 2026
Good preparation is most of the job. A well-prepared room painted with mid-range paint looks better than a rushed job with expensive paint.
Preparation
- Clear and cover furniture and floors
- Fill cracks and holes, then sand smooth
- Wash down marks and grease
- Mask skirting, sockets and windows
- Prime bare plaster or filler with a mist coat
Choosing paint
- Matt emulsion: hides imperfections, best for ceilings and most walls
- Silk or eggshell: more wipeable, for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways
- Satin or gloss: for woodwork such as skirting and doors
How much paint?
Measure the wall area (height times width, minus large windows and doors), check the coverage on the tin, and plan for two coats. Buy a little extra for touch-ups.
When to call a decorator
High ceilings, stairwells, lots of repairs or wallpapering are often worth handing to a professional.
Paint, brushes, rollers and filler are stocked by builders' merchants such as Travis Perkins.
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