No one ever taught me how to paint walls.
I learned how to paint completely by trial and error after my Pap died and I had to paint every wall and ceiling in his house with two coats of primer and two coats of paint.
My uncle handed me a five gallon bucket of primer, a five gallon bucket of paint, some rollers and left.
I called in reinforcements.
My friends and I painted Pap’s entire house over the course of a couple months all while wearing his XXL overalls that we duck taped in the back to hold them up on us.
That’s one of my favorite memories and a couple pairs of those overalls are safely tucked away now.
Needless to say, after all that painting and all the painting I’ve done in my other homes, I’ve learned pretty quickly how to paint walls – and how to do it in less time with less mess.
Disclosure: This post was a collaboration with HomeRight. All opinions and self taught stellar painting skills are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Now, as we all know good and well around here, I tend to not always do things the “professional” way.
I prefer the Jenna method.
Therefore, others may critique my methods, but this is what I do and what works for me.
How to Paint Walls
Step 1.
Tape off around any trim as needed.
I typically only tape off around my baseboards. I can usually edge pretty easily around door casings and the ceiling. When I don’t tape the baseboards, it never fails that I end up accidentally running the paint roller over them a few times.
Also, lay out an old sheet or blanket to protect against any paint splatter. I am a cheater and don’t always do this because I’m impatient and just want to get started. If you don’t put down a blanket and do get some splatter, either wipe the paint up immediately with a wet paper towel or wait for it to dry and then just scrape it up with your fingernail, it comes right off. However, that method only works on tile and hardwood floor, so ALWAYS put down a cover over carpet.
Step 2.
Edge. Always edge before rolling. Edge around your ceiling, doorways, trim, and in your corners. If you have done a lot of painting or after you get some good practice, you might be able to edge pretty good with a regular paintbrush. I am pretty good edging with just a paintbrush, but I also like to use my HomeRight Quick Painter for edging too.
The quick painter basically eliminates the need for you to tape off around your trim as much if any. The trigger releases paint and the pull handle sucks paint into the tube, like so:
First, you remove the painting pad, dip the tip of the tube into the paint can and pull back on the handle. This draws paint into the tube. Place the paint pad back on and squeeze the trigger to get paint on the pad. Then edge away! The quick painter is really great for people who have trouble edging with a regular paintbrush – it can also save a lot of time. You aren’t constantly going back to your paint can for more paint.
Step 3:
Roll on your paint. Since I first used the HomeRight EZ Twist Paint Stick last year, it has been my go-to tool for painting walls.
The paint stick comes with a tube that you place over your paint can. You stick the nozzle on the underside of the paint stick onto the tube, pull back on the paint stick handle and paint is pulled into the tube. To release the paint into the roller, you just push up on the stick and start rolling.
Once more, this saves a lot of time because you aren’t running back and forth to the paint tray. You can also easily paint ceilings or tall walls without a ladder since the paint stick is longer than a regular roller.
Some people roll their paint on in a “W” or a “V” pattern. I don’t. I usually start rolling at the top, and just work my way down the wall rolling.
You can see how I first used the EZ Twist on my living room walls here.
Step 4:
After you have rolled on a coat of paint, go back and do another coat of edging and another coat of rolling, repeating as many times as needed.
Remember to pull up your painter’s tape as soon as you paint on your last coat of paint – do not wait for the paint to dry before removing the tape. This increases the risk of some of your paint peeling off when you remove the tape.
Do you have any tips or tricks for painting walls?
Need more Painting 101 help?
How to Paint Trim and Doors – everything you need to know about painting all types of trim and doors in your home.
What Kind of Paint Do I Use on That? – a guide to all different types of paint and what surfaces to use on each.
Painting 101: Everything you need to know about painting anything – from kitchen cabinets to furniture and more, it’s all here.
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We are getting ready to paint our entire interior …. this would be SOOOOOO helpful. Love your blog. Read all posts via INOREADER.
Jenna… I so need one of these! Less time.. less mess? I’m in!
My husband and I were just saying how much we need to paint but what a hassle it is. This would be awesome to have! Thanks for the fun giveaway
AWESOME!! I’m actually working on my office- which will be my first paint project in this new house. So in a week or two I could really use this with these high ceilings.
I would repaint the upstairs bathroom. I took a day off a few years ago to paint it, and painted it to quickly! I really should re-do it.
my bathroom
I would definitely paint my den… it’s been a project in the wprks for tqo years!
Getting ready for a bathroom reno. Will wait until I win these products. Will make the job so much easier!
I had a snow day yesterday and removed the wallpaper and border from my bedroom. I’m eager to pick a color and give that room a new look.
Our baby girl’s nursery! 🙂
Great post Jenna! I’ve never heard of the HR edge painter, I’m going to have to get me one of those! Thanks for all the tips. 🙂
Anna
Thanks, Anna! I love that edger!
Oh my I need this whole kit. My mom is planning to visit and one of our projects is to paint the whole living room and Florida room. I honestly think prep takes the most time but with these tools the painting would take no time at all!
We are getting ready to sell our house and have so much to paint. This would be a great help when we start painting the living room! Thanks for offering.
My living room and kitchen desperately need paint!
I’ve already got an entryway/hallway/stairway painting project on the docket!
I’d paint my bedroom.
The first room I’d paint would be the basement.
As a long time apartment dweller turned recent homeowner I am very new to painting. These tools would make it so much easier!
I have 3 bedrooms waiting for paint but I’ve been prevaricating (as usual, lol)!
I’m about to re-paint my huge family room, this would be a huge help!
Great post!
i finally bought the paint for my bedroom and bath now just have to get my lazy butt in gear these sure would make it all a lot easier xx
I am getting ready to do major overhaul of my Craft Room and this would make it so much easier to paint it!! Would love to win these so I can get it done a lot faster and easier! Thanks for the chance to!
I need to redo a bedroom!
I am so in love with your blog! And you’re so stinkin’ cute 🙂 I’ve got some major re-hauling of our 80+ year old home, including LOTS of painting so this post will come in handy 🙂 And the painting kit would REALLY come in handy!
Have a shiny, warm and blessed day!
Lisa
Thanks so much, Lisa! You are too sweet!
Our girls room would be the first painting project for me if I won.
I love the concept of this paint stick. Would love an opportunity to try it!
I would paint my whole apartment!!! it’s a rental and it has a gross green colour on it right now 🙁 nothing looks good with gross green!
I so need this. I have been procrastinating on painting the last few rooms in our house. Yes we have been here for 2 years, don’t judge.
My new husband and I just painted our living room and main bathroom. We have plans to paint the kitchen and hallway next, as soon as we decide on a color. Thanks for the great giveaway. This looks like an awesome product!
monica
I need this sooooo bad. I need to repaint every room in my house.
I’m in the process of painting our entire house…a lot of work! Anything that makes it faster and neater is for me”
I want my son to paint my family room. This kit would make it a lot easier. Thanks
I’d start by freshening up the bathroom with a new coat of paint!
definitely my bedroom!
First, Thank you for this giveaway!!! I have LOTS of painting projects around these here parts but I would first complete my girls bedroom closet! It’s not a huge closet but built ins were just added and there are plenty of areas to paint.
I need to paint my entire house…all 12 rooms (want to come help?)!
Thanks for the tips…I am picking out colors now to paint my sewing room!
I have SO MANY ceilings that need painted…I have tackled the removal of 13 rooms of wallpapers, applied with NO prep over drywall, but did not do the ceilings. Keep telling myself the paint stick is the way to go…just hoping to win it! LOL Once I do, I am looking UP for the next several weekends!
I would start practicing by painting several walk in closets. I’ve always hired someone to paint and I am finally confident enough to give it a go myself and save some major $
My first painting project would be my master bedroom and bath I just bought the paint for!
I would paint my living room, it needs a change. Thanks!
it would be my bathroom
We have a spare bedroom in our house that we want to paint and turn into a playroom.
I would paint my entire upstairs!
Looks like I have to add the edger and paint stick to my arsenal. Thanks Jenna for the chance to win the equipment.
I would be painting 4 rooms. We are just finishing up the drywall. This would make the painting (my job) so much easier and nicer. Thanks for the chance.
I learn so much from you. Thank you for all of your great tips and tutorials =]
Thank you for such a sweet comment, Amy!
My painting project is our new home – a 1897 farmhouse. This Spring and Summer I will be painting the exterior and interior of the house.
My bedroom needs painting.
My bedroom,
If I won the paint tools, I would paint my dining room! The dark gold color is dated! It is time for a fresh, light look in there.
I would paint my scrapbooking room for sure. It needs a nice pale robins egg blue color in there.
would definitely be the bathroom in my boyfriend’s house.
The bathroom would be the first project.
I’m the WORST painter! I always end up having to paint my ceiling too (which actually looks cool-like you’re inside a colorful jewel box, but it’s not always the look I want!)….I think these tools could help me ‘stay in the lines’ better! My old house needs paint pretty much everywhere. I’d do my son’s room first!
Anything to speed up painting is great with me!!
My bedroom. Sad to say it’s always the last room to get any work done. Kids bedrooms and living room have been painted numerous times. The last time we painted ours…about 18 years.
Now i am feeling inspired! First would be the kitchen and i am anxious to get it started!
Would love to win this. I have looked at these so many times and just drooled! We are going to paint our home and this would make it so much easier. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.
We would paint my daughter’s playroom first
I would paint my bedroom or the nursery first.
I haven’t painted in my house in about 5 years so I’d probably update my colors!
My foyer and front hallway, maybe OVER wallpaper?!?
I have a painting project in my closet office that needs these items to motivate me to finish! 🙂 love your pinterest. digging in!
The bedroom. It would be a nice project.
I mentioned before we have loads to paint but hopefully the next ones on the agenda are the tiny master bath or the extra 1/2 bath downstairs after we remove wallpaper. (The house is covered in it.) Ours is halfway removed. I am thinking pale green, or a shade lighter than continental blue but I really like various shades of lavender and purple. I am hesitant on that for a man…but than I saw yours. Super bright! I can do anything! Thanks for the confidence booster on colors!!
About to start painting our master bedroom… this would be great!
Oooooo. That thing is FANCY! I’d paint every white wall in my new house house after my cross-country move on Friday. Good luck to me!
I’m getting ready to paint my kitchen, hallway, livingroom, and bedroom. Boy, could I use these products! Otherwise, it will likely take me until Labor Day to finish them.
I’m getting ready to paint my foyer and great room soon. This would be great!
It would be my daughters bathroom
I would be painting our bathroom. We have horrendous wallpaper on the walls. It is peeling and ready to come down and get a fresh coat of pretty paint.
My daughter’s bedroom. It’s long overdue!!!!!
I would like to repaint our basement.
I would paint my master bedroom!
I used a paint stick that my parents had. They are fantastic! I would love to win one to paint my guest bathroom and guest bedroom.
I am preparing to paint the entire inside of my house and I am very nervous! This post was helpful, thank you! The tools would be helpful as well! 😉
My first painting project would be my daughter’s bedroom! 🙂
I would start with the bathroom. It is in need of an update.
My first project would be to paint our powder room. We just moved into a new home with 10 ft. ceilings, so these tools would be a great help!
I would go for my den, the walls haven’t been painted since we moved it (yike!) and really the area that you paint is not that big.
Sadly to say, the whole house needs it, but I would start by painting the kitchen.
My kitchen and bathroom!
First thing I’d paint would be my living room!
My bathroom…..it’s orange….not a nice one either
We need to paint our master bedroom.
I would tackle my grand kids room first.
You made that look and sound so easy! I am the worst at edging and would love to tackle my next project with these!! Thanks for the inspiration!
I would paint the bathrooms. They haven’t been painted in at least 15 years
We just moved into a new house and ALL the walls need to be painted! I so need these tools!
I need to paint the entire house! This sure would make it easier! 🙂
Most likely one of my kids bedrooms
My first project would be my bedroom.
I think that my first painting project would be my living room. I have been wanting to paint my whole house for quite a while now.
I would probably paint my half bathroom.
I would love to win this prize pack! We are looking to buy a new home and many of those houses will need to be painted. I see these things coming in handy soon!!
I’ve been telling my daughter that I will paint her room. I’ve god her this fir past 3-4 years. I would definitely paint hers first if I won!
My hallway – it’s got scrapes from furniture being moved in/out, and the paint that’s on the walls now is sprayed on and cheap – you cannot wipe it down at all.
If I won my first project would be my bedroom I need to pain all the walls and the trim
First project would be to repaint the living room.
We need to repaint our living room, so that would be the first project
painting my baby nursery i am due in june this would be perfect
I would paint my bathroom.
My first painting project would be my bedroom! It’s the previous owner’s paint still…lime green! Lime green walls, doors, baseboards…lime green everywhere!! LOL
I want to paint my daughter’s room!
Wow thank you for that tutorial! We just moved recently and I am getting tired of all our white walls. This would help!
Ah! Painting tools! We are about to have to paint my entire almost 100 year old house to sell. This would be amazing in getting that done!
The first place I would start is in my hallway leading up to my main bathroom. We live in an old row home with high ceilings. The hallway is in need of a paint job. I have cats and there is one who likes to jump up the wall and pounce on it. (I know, she is a weirdo). She has made 7 holes in that wall. I have begun to repair the holes with joint compound and pieces of dry wall. The holes are that big! Oh yes, the walls are old dry plaster. I need all the help I can get! Thanks.
I would finish my bathroom painting.
I love this — we’d use it to paint our bathroom first and then the kitchen and bedrooms.
I do a lot of painting and I want to try this.
We would paint our bedroom. It’s almost ready to be painted so this giveaway couldn’t have came at a better time!
I would love to repaint my bedroom, but I really need to repaint the inside and outside of my home.
I would repaint my bathroom. My last painting project didn’t quite turn out like I wanted it to so it was never finished.
rooms in my house i just got a new house
I would paint my bedroom first
My whole house needs painting but I will start with my entryway. It will be a tough job but this win would make it a bit better!
My fiance and I are moving into our first home very soon and need to repaint everything! this would definitely come in handy!
I really need to repaint my bedroom..I have been putting it off for years but your tips make me want to do it now.
I would love, love, love this! How easy this could make painting? Great idea!
A ROOM IN OUR HOUSE THAT IVE HAVNT DECIDED WHAT TO USE IT FOR
Our guest bathroom is in major need of a paint job, I’d love to get it done before family comes to stay for my sister’s wedding.
I would start with my daughter’s room and then my room.
We have all builder painted walls so I would start with the entryway project, then hit up the powder room, the laundry room, the upstairs hallway, and the stairway to the basement.
Bathrooms that I already tore down the wallpaper in woudl be the first projects. Then the whole house–which is also wallpapered.
I would paint my living room first and then every other room after that.
Thanks for the time-saving giveaway!
I live in an apartment that won’t let me paint but I am hoping to buy my first house soon. When that happens I am going to probably paint EVERYTHING. Thanks for the tutorial, I know it will come in handy.
I have some paneling in my house screaming to be painted!!!
Where to begin when there are so many rooms begging to be repainted and redecorated ~ at the very least! But I think I would have to start with my home office which is so dismal and such a mishmash I know it’s effecting the quality of my work! I need some peace of mind with just the right touches of inspiration!
I think that I would start with my living room, but just about every room in my house needs to be repainted.
I would paint my daughters room if i won it.
We are currently in the process of painting our entire interior of our house! It’s taking me forever!
I have a bedroom which needs to be painted white with crimson trim. Roll Tide!
If I won the paint stick, then I would no longer have an excuse for not painting my bedroom. I could get it done in a weekend and be sleeping in it again on Monday!
My next painting project will be the foyer and hallway. It’s pretty messed up with scuffs and handprints from the kids.
The computer room in my house
The first room I would paint is my bedroom.
I would paint our bedroom as a first task
My laundry room! It’s in bad need of a make over!
I’d paint my bedroom.
My bedroom would be the first project on my list.
Under the bar, where the grandkids tend to “kick”. I have been wanting to do it for some time now! Seems like a good thing to handle the job.!
My first painting project would be the kitchen in my new home.
I am wanting to paint the wall leading upstairs. It has handprints all over it. I am wanting to do a good job since I am going to do it myself and these handy tools would be perfect! Thank you for the generous giveaway! I sure hope I win! And of course, you can come help me! lol
Great tips! These will be useful, I’m getting started doing a bunch of painting around our house.
I am moving soon so my first project would be the bedroom!
My first painting project would be my downstairs bathroom. I need to fill in some holes and change the color.
My first painting project would be my living room.
We’re in the process of building a laundry room, so that would be my first painting project!
The bedroom in my new house! It is a horrid yellow and desperately needs new paint.
My entire house needs to be repainted, so I could really use these tools!
The new grandbabies room.thanks so very much.
I would love to win this so I could paint the several rooms, and ceilings, in our house. I just finished the bathroom and it was a nightmare trimming out along the crown molding and ceiling. this would have been so much easier!
I would redo my bedroom.
If I won I would use this when we paint my 2 nephews room. Half will be Mickey Mouse and half will be Charlie Brown.
I need to paint the dining room. That’d be first.
My first painting project would be our new house we are buying!
My bedroom first and then my kitchen cabinets!
family room
It’s about time for me to paint my sons room again. This would be a great help
My first painting project would be my daughters bedroom! A surprise for when she gets home from college!
This is so great we were just talking about what we would need to redo our bathrooms and I came upon this giveaway this would help out so much we really do need to repaint our bathrooms and I am sure we wouldnt stop there thanks so much!
My whole house needs to be painted so I will start in the living room I think
I would paint my daughter’s bedroom.
If I won, I would use these tools to repaint my kitchen. I would love to brighten up my color palette in anticipation of Spring.
Always love reading your blog! This is awesome – makes painting so much easier!
I would do the master bedroom. I’m so tired of white walls!
Master bed & bath!
Love to redo our front door.
I was just talking to my mother in law about painting my apartment and this would speed up the process SO much! I’d start off with my super long, super in need hallway! It runs the whole length of my apartment starting at my front door and would be so much better off with some fresh paint!
I need to paint my bedroom….it’s old and boring.
I would paint my kitchen first. 🙂
My bathroom would be first!
These are great tips. Once I tried painting some blocks for a wall, but unfortunately I learned I am not very good at painting straight. Any advice on that?
Hey Paige! If you need straight lines while painting, I highly suggest using FrogTape! Works great for making straight lines!
Hi Jenna – With all the new paints since last year 😉 Have you ever gotten by with painting one coat? I hired a pro who was moonlighting about nine years ago, he painted my 11×20 LR walls with one gallon of Behr paint, one coat. Now I need to get paint tinted for this room, I assume I’ll need two gallons. I’m doing the ceiling with ceiling white paint. I have another brand of paint stick that is still new in the box, I bought it last year before I knew about HR’s stick/products. The pro said the roller cover made a huge difference so I bought a 3-pack of professional roller covers – they don’t fit on the painting stick. Also, I was wondering, with all of your room painting how many times have you had to replace the HomeRight roller cover? Thanks and I hope your yard sale was a huge success!
I have gotten away with one coat. Behr’s new Marquee line of paint will give you one coat coverage as long as its applied correctly! I was shocked – I’d always had to do just about every room with two coats. The only time it didn’t give me one coat coverage was when I was putting pink over a dark green wall. That took a couple of coats. I’ve probably replaced my HomeRight roller cover about once between every two rooms I’ve painted.