Little Greene Masterclass: How to paint a wall

Recommended Equipment

We recommend using high-quality decorating equipment like the Little Greene Decorator’s Kit. The kit contains masking tape, synthetic brushes, fine abrasive paper, and a medium pile roller with a paint tray.

[Step 1:] Prepare your walls and work area.

Many of us might wish we could eliminate the preparation phase and skip straight to adorning the walls with our chosen colour. But the first stage before painting a room is vital to create the perfect finish.

Before you begin:

1. Move all furniture and accessories to the centre of the room and cover with dust sheets.
2. Remove items that are fixed to the wall and fill all holes and cracks.
3. Once dry, sandpaper over the filler until the wall is smooth and even.
4. Loosen sockets, switches and door handles, and cover with masking or painter’s tape.
5. Mask windows and edges where the wall meets the woodwork, running your finger/scraper over the edge of the masking tape to prevent bleeding. It is worth investing in good quality tape.
6. If painting over wallpaper, make sure all the edges of the paper are securely stuck down. Vacuum the room and use a damp cloth to remove dust from the walls.

Top tip: For minimal disruption, try to finish the preparation stage the night before. You should then have time to apply two coats of paint and begin arranging your room the following day.

[Step 2:] Cutting in: how to paint with a brush

This step demands a slow and concentrated hand, so take your time. The edges where the wall meets another surface is where the finish will be most visible, especially if you are using dark paint colours against lighter woodwork and ceilings. As such, cutting in - or painting the wall with a brush around the edges - is a vital step.

Open the tin and stir your chosen paint colour thoroughly with a stirring stick to distribute the pigment evenly. Pour about an inch of paint into a container that is easy to hold.

Dip the brush into the paint. Begin at the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling and paint a frame (about 5cm wide) around all the edges of the wall, from top to bottom. Then do the same in the corners of the room: the edges of the skirting board and around windows, doors, light fixtures, sockets and switch plates.

[Step 3:] Paint the wall with a roller

Be ready with your roller before the cutting in is completely dry. Pour about 3cm of paint into the roller tray and coat your roller. It should be evenly saturated but not overloaded. The roller should be able to spin freely without paint dripping from it.

And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for - start painting!

Work from the ceiling down and aim to roller the one metre square in front of you before moving onto the next square section. Your painting technique should combine a steady pressure with moving the roller up, down and across until you have covered each area evenly.

Which type of roller should I use?

For our water-based paints, we recommend a medium pile roller, suitable for applying paint to both walls and ceilings. Our roller can be found in our Decorator’s Kit.

Top Tip:

If paint begins to build up on the wall at the edges of the roller stroke, immediately roll over the lines in a gentle motion. Water-based paints start drying quickly, so don’t go back over tacky paint as you will unsettle the surface.

[Step 4:] Thirsty Work: Protect your painting tools when you take a break

If you’re in need of a tea break or you’re waiting for your first coat to dry, keep your roller from drying out by wrapping it in cling film or tin foil.

[Step 5:] Apply a second coat of paint

With most paint colours, we recommend two full coats. This is especially important to achieve maximum coverage when you are undergoing a dramatic colour transformation, such as light-to-dark or dark-to-light.

You should usually wait at least two hours before your second round of cutting in, although drying times are dependent on weather and humidity and the finish you’re using. You can use this step to correct any small errors. For more difficult corners, you may want to switch to a small, artist’s brush.

Repeat the rollering process to apply the second coat – et voila! You should have beautifully painted walls.

[Step 6:] Finishing Up: Preserving your Roller & Brushes

Depending on the type of paint you have used, now is the time to clean your brushes. If you have used water-based paint finishes, cleaning simply requires water and a little washing up liquid. Scrape excess paint from brushes, rollers and containers into the tin. Remove the remainder of the paint by adding a few drops of mild washing-up liquid under a running tap, and rinsing until the water runs clear.

Pat dry with paper towels. Try to store paint brushes hanging with the bristles down to increase their longevity. Once dry, store your rollers with their roller cover on.

Paint should be stored with the lid firmly on, out of extreme temperatures and away from children.

You can start putting your furniture back in place once the paint is dry, but always be sure to leave a small gap between furniture and walls so that you don’t inflict rub marks on the wall – especially with sofas.

Now sit back, enjoy your newly decorated room – and start planning which room to paint next!

If you plan to incorporate wallpaper alongside your chosen paint colour, read our experts’ instructions for hanging wallpaper. Or explore our advice hub if you plan to apply paint to any other surfaces.