What is
The Best Order
for
Painting a Room
in 2023
Painting a room can be an overwhelming task, but with a few simple steps, you can quickly get the job done.
If you are wondering where to start painting when it comes to a room in your house, it is recommended that you begin by painting the ceiling first.
After that, you can then move onto the walls and finally finish with the woodwork.
This will ensure a neat and professional-looking paint job.
Top Tip: When you cut in the ceiling, don't worry about going on to the wall. Painting the wall by 1cm or 2cm will help when it comes to painting the wall. As you cut in the wall to the ceiling you'll have a clear new white line to go up to, which will give you a much nicer finish.
Also if you have a pendant light fitting, unscrew the base cap, paint right up to the plastic fitting and screw the base cap back up and you have a perfectly cut light fitting.
What Comes First?
Now Time For The Walls
Starting at the bottom and working up is not the traditional way to cut and roll walls. If you have followed the first section by getting a 1cm to 2 cm coat of ceiling paint on the walls as you have cut in, you will need to start at the bottom, to allow the ceiling paint on the walls to dry.
There is benefit in doing it this way. For one it’s a quicker way to get the ceiling cut in. Secondly, you will be able to get a better line when you cut the top of the walls. The third reason is that by the time you cut and roll the entire wall(s) the paint along the skirting will be dry enough for you to apply your wood finish.
Cut in the walls along the skirting and around the architraves. Then roll the walls leaving around 5cm gap from the ceiling. When you come to cut the ceiling in, after you've used a brush to cut in, you can use a mini roller to coat the space you left when rolling the walls.
Top Tip: Using a mini roller when cutting in means you are less likely to over roll, or roll to far, and get paint on an area of the room you do not want to. For instance a mini roller width from the ceiling gives you plenty of room for the roller when rolling the walls.
Doors, Architrave’s and Skirtings
By the time you have cut and rolled the walls up to a few cm from the ceiling, the wall area around the woodwork will be pretty much dry. If it isn’t, this is a good opportunity to start cleaning up your rollers and brushes (if you intend to use the again), and having a general clean up of the area.
Start at the top of the skirting carefully cutting the top edge against the wall. It’s important to take it slowly with this as flicks and spills are a nightmare to clean up. You should also do small areas at a time, approx a couple of feet. Once top and bottom of the skirting are cut in, use a mini roller (not the foam ones) to roll the gap.
Door’s are fast and easy with a mini roller. Cut in the door’s panels and edges with a brush, then simply roll the gaps. A perfect door.
Top Tip: Baby wipes are essential when glossing. Any flicks that evade your dust sheet can immediately be mopped up with a baby wipe. Also don’t forget the sides and top of the architrave. Commonly forgotten by DIY’ers and professionals.