Guide written by:
Anne, Painter, Cambridge
Trends change over the years and it's normal to find ourselves wanting to change the ambiance or style of a room. Painting a bedroom is an easy and cost-effective way to breathe fresh life into the room just so long as you choose the right type of paint – i.e. one that is easy to apply – and the correct finish for the look you're hoping to achieve.
Choosing the right type of paint
Choosing the right paint for a kid's room
Prepare the walls
Apply the paint
Clean up the bedroom
Many different types of paint can be used to repaint a bedroom. You can choose between water-based (or acrylic) and oil-based paint. When using acrylic paint, you can clean your tools with water; with oil-based paint, you'll have to use white spirit. Please note that the same products (water and white spirit) are used to dilute each type of paint.
Acrylic paint is generally the best option when it comes to painting a bedroom. Acrylic paints are almost odourless and emit fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are harmful to health. However, they often call for two coats: the first coat provides the base colour while the second coat ensures a perfect finish. Acrylic paint sometimes requires slightly more skill to apply since oil-based paint provides better coverage on its own. That said, water-based paints dry much more quickly and come in three different finishes: matt, satin and gloss.
Matt paint tends to give a cosier and warmer feel to a room. The advantage of this type of paint is that it doesn't reflect the light so it works well for covering up imperfections. Matt paint is the ideal choice for ceilings. It is wipeable but is not washable.
Gloss paint will reflect the most amount of light and can make a space feel bigger. However, this also gives the paint one major disadvantage – it will make any flaws more obvious. A glossy finish can be very attractive but this type of paint should only be applied to very smooth surfaces. It is wipeable and washable.
Satin paint combines all the advantages of matt and gloss paints. It reflects the light and is also washable.
Velvet matt paint is an increasingly popular option. Halfway between matt and satin paint, velvet matt covers up imperfections, is exceptionally easy to apply and looks great. In short, this finish often comes out tops! It is wipeable and washable.
Want to paint a nursery or kids' room? Be careful about your choice of paint! Oil-based paints are to be avoided at all costs due to their high emissions of VOCs including formaldehyde which is very harmful for health and the environment. VOC exposure can lead to skin and respiratory issues.
Acrylic paints are less toxic but can also contain glycol ethers which are also harmful for children. Be sure to read the full list of ingredients before purchase and no matter which type of paint you choose, air out the room for several hours after painting to get rid of as many toxic chemicals as possible.
Please note that it is possible to find organic paints which replace chemicals with natural substances such as linseed oil, lime or casein. These paints may be more expensive but are safer to use around children.
Look out for labels such as the European Ecolabel which seeks to minimise the environmental impacts of paint by eliminating heavy metals. These paints also aim to limit VOC emissions.
Finally, it is even possible to make your own paint using various natural ingredients such as milk, linseed oil, slaked lime and chalk.
If you are painting a brand new wall or ceiling, apply an undercoat and follow up with two coats of paint – there's no need to prepare the surface first.
If you are painting over a wall that has already been painted and has flaking paint, it's best to sand the whole surface before cleaning and applying an appropriate undercoat.
If the wall has already been painted using an oil-based paint and you want to cover it with acrylic paint, sand down and clean the whole surface before applying an undercoat. Alternatively, you can simply clean the surface and apply a special undercoat designed to to help water-based paint adhere to oil-based paint.
If the wall is already coated in water-based paint but is in good condition, you will just need to clean thoroughly before applying the fresh paint.
If the room is wallpapered, peel off the wallpaper and sand down the wall before applying an undercoat. Otherwise, if the wallpaper is in good condition and not peeling away, you can simply paint over it.
Check for cracks in the surface. If there are cracks, use a multi-purpose filler to fill them in and leave to dry before sanding and painting.
Apply masking tape around sockets and light switches as well as skirting boards, window and door frames and anywhere else you don't want to paint.
Always start by painting the ceiling. Ensure the area is properly lit so you can see what you are painting. Start in the left corner of the room and apply the paint in areas of about a metre square.
Tackle the corners and edges first. Apply the paint in one direction before going over the same spot in the opposite direction with a little less paint.
Work your way towards the right painting in small sections until you reach the other side of the room. Keep going until you have covered the whole ceiling with paint. Wait for the paint to dry before applying a second coat.
Follow the same steps to paint the walls. Start at the top in the left corner of the room and work downwards in sections of roughly one square metre. Always work in criss-cross motions to produce an even finish.
If you like, you can always paint your own headboard by simply painting a rectangle behind the head of the bed in a different colour to the rest of the wall. Similarly, you might want to paint one wall in a darker tone to create a feature wall for greater depth. It can be a good idea to make the wall with the window the feature wall to avoid making the room feel darker.
Another option is to paint vertical or horizontal strips around the room to give it more dimension.
Do not wait for the paint to dry before removing the masking tape or you risk taking off some of the paint with it.
Remove any protective sheets you have used to cover furniture or the walls and place them in a bin liner.
Rollers and brushes can be cleaned using water (if you have used a water-based paint) and stored.
Any leftover paint should be sealed and the month and year should be written on the lid for the next time you use the paint and/or for touch ups.
Air out the room properly to eliminate VOCs – in no circumstances should a child sleep in a freshly painted room.
Remove masking tape from sockets and switches.
Take out any rubbish.
No particular skills are required to paint a bedroom. To paint any room, you simply need to be able to prepare a surface properly including filling in cracks and holes as required, sanding and cleaning the surface and applying masking tape to sockets and switches. Applying paint using a roller doesn't require a lot of skill beyond being able to work the roller in regular motions to apply the paint evenly.
A medium-sized room should take 2 to 4 days to redecorate entirely depending on the number of paint coats you need, whether or not you need an undercoat and the type of wall prep required.
Can be done by one person but will be faster with two people.
Paint grid
Roller and replacement sleeves
Small roller
Round paint brush
Roller extension pole
Interior filler
Paint mixer
Mask (depending on paint type)
Guide written by:
Anne, Painter, Cambridge
After 8 years of trade, I turned professional: I trained myself to be a painter and carpet fitter, either on my own or with 16 year old comrades. 9 months later, following vocational training, I created my company. I’m a self-taught DIYer and decoration enthusiast, I love to find and restore furniture and to create unique decoration pieces. I completed the renovation of my sister’s house with my niece: electrics, tiling, plasterboard...we did it all. And today, if I can share my experience I'm happy to do it. Good Luck.