How to Paint a Room in a Weekend: A Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you're brightening up a tired bedroom, adding personality to a living room, or modernising a hallway, painting a room is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to transform your home. Even better? You can get it done in just one weekend—with the right plan and a little motivation.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to painting a room from start to finish, stress-free.

1. Choose Your Colour(s): Pick your paint colour ahead of time. Don’t leave this to the last minute. If you’re undecided, sample pots are a great way to test a few shades on the wall before committing.

2. Gather Your Tools: Make sure you have everything ready to go so the rest of the steps will work like a dream. Tools you’ll likely need::

• Paint (plus primer if needed)
  
  

• Rollers and roller tray
  
  

• Brushes for cutting in
  
  

• Masking tape
  
  

• Dust sheets or plastic drop cloths
  
  

• Filler and sanding block (for any wall imperfections)
  
  

• Ladder or step stool
  
  

• Stir sticks and paint tin opener
  
  

3. Clear & Protect the Room: Move furniture to the centre of the room and cover it with drop cloths. Protect your floors, light switches, and skirting boards with masking tape.

4. Clean & Repair Walls:  Wipe walls down with a damp cloth to remove dust and grime. Fill any cracks or holes and lightly sand smooth. If you're painting over a dark colour or porous surface, consider applying a primer on Saturday morning.

5. Cut In First: Start with a small brush to ‘cut in.’ Paint along the edges of the walls, around windows, doors, corners, and ceilings. This gives you a neat frame and helps avoid roller smudging near the edges.

6. Start Rolling: Using a roller, work in sections (about a metre wide) and use a “W” motion to apply paint evenly. Blend as you go to avoid streaks or visible roller marks. Don’t overload the roller. Two thin coats are always better than one thick one.

7. Let It Dry & Apply a Second Coat: Follow your paint's drying time guidelines. Most water-based paints are ready for a second coat in 4–6 hours. Once dry, apply your second coat for even coverage and richer colour.

8. Clean Up Carefully: Seal your paint tins, wash your brushes and rollers if you plan to reuse them, and remove masking tape while the second coat is still slightly tacky to get clean lines.

9. Inspect & Touch Up: In daylight, check for missed spots, roller marks, or drips. Use a small brush for final touch-ups.

10. Remove Covers & Style Your Space: Once everything is dry, remove your dust sheets, move your furniture back, and enjoy your refreshed space! Add new cushions, artwork, or lighting to complete the transformation.

• Ventilation is key: Open windows while painting.
  
  

• Take your time cutting in: It makes all the difference.
  
  

• Don’t forget the ceiling or skirting boards: A fresh coat here can elevate the whole room.
  
  

With a little planning and the right tools, you really can paint a room in a weekend. So pick your colour, prep your playlist, and give your home the fresh start it deserves.

Happy painting!