How to Paint Walls

Want to paint the walls in your house for the first time? Trust Hometalk to guide you in everything you need to know about painting walls. All the tips, ideas, and step-by-step guides from our unique DIY community that you will need to make your painting project a success. Read the top projects, ask a question, and watch the videos.

Accent Wall

Paint a Wall Step by Step

Prep the walls first: Fill any holes, remove outlet covers and tape over the outlets before you begin painting.
Sand the walls and scrape if needed: If you spot any bumps in the wall, scrape them off. Otherwise, sand the wall to create a surface for the paint to grip onto.
Use a primer before you paint: Primer creates an even base onto which to apply your paint. For optimal results, sand the wall after priming it.
Mastering the technique: When painting, use a brush to paint the edge where the wall meets the trim, then use a roller for the space in between.
Finish by painting the trim: Once the wall is dry, tape off the trim using painters’ tape. This will allow you to paint the trim without ruining your newly painted wall.

More painting categories

Top Projects for Painting Walls

All the DIY wall painting top projects are right here. Check them out.

Accent Wall

I love white but I wanted to add a little depth to my dining room this year. So, today I am going to show you how to paint an accent wall.

Brittany Malia

Super Simple (and Cheap) DIY Accent Sponge Wall

This sponge wall was the easiest, cheapest DIY I’ve ever done! We decided to do this fun pattern above board and batten in our guest bathroom. We originally discussed wallpapering it, but this was a MUCH cheaper (FREE) alternative, and we’re so happy with how it came out!Edit: Many people are asking about the total transformation of the room. Like I mentioned, this post is regarding the SPONGE WALL portion, but if you're interested, I've also shared a board and batten tutorial here.

Montross Made

Geometric Accent Wall

Give your wall some dramatic character with this easy to-do accent wall!

Ashley | DIY & Home Design

DIY Faux Brick

I have always loved the look of exposed brick in homes! Our home, unfortunately, didn’t have any, so I decided to find a way to add it myself. I am in love with the character that it has added to our home. Check out my tutorial so that you can do it yourself!

Nikki | thebuckbungalow

How to Stencil a Powder Room Wall With Stencil Revolution

Our half bathroom was one of those “I started to give it a makeover and quit a year ago” projects. Have you ever done that before!? It was still in dire need of one!Well I’m going to share with you how you can give your bathroom some new life with a beautiful accent wall using Stencil Revolutions wall stencils!! Their palm leaf wall stencils is one of my favorites!! It is PERFECT for a bathroom! It’s also great for beginners. The palm leaf pattern is so whimsical and fun! You can move the stencil in any pattern you would like. This stencil is great because you can play around and have fun with it! Move the stencil in the way that you would imagine palm leafs blowing in the wind!When our Stencil Revolution stencil came in the mail we were all so excited! Their packaging was perfect!

Megan

How to Build a Wood Accent Wall for Under $100!

Danielle

Vertical "Shiplap" Accent Wall

Vertical shiplap is so popular right now! While this isn't your traditional tongue and groove shiplap, it's an affordable alternative to achieve the same look. Here's what you need for this simple but impactful home project.

Build It Thrifty

Color Block Wall Arch

I wanted to give our dinning room a new look. I've always been into color block walls so I decided to finally try it out, and I'm obsessed.

Brittany Malia

Accent Wall

I love white but I wanted to add a little depth to my dining room this year. So, today I am going to show you how to paint an accent wall.

Brittany Malia

Super Simple (and Cheap) DIY Accent Sponge Wall

Montross Made

Geometric Accent Wall

Give your wall some dramatic character with this easy to-do accent wall!

Ashley | DIY & Home Design

DIY Faux Brick

Nikki | thebuckbungalow

How to Stencil a Powder Room Wall With Stencil Revolution

Megan

How to Build a Wood Accent Wall for Under $100!

Danielle

Vertical "Shiplap" Accent Wall

Build It Thrifty

Color Block Wall Arch

I wanted to give our dinning room a new look. I've always been into color block walls so I decided to finally try it out, and I'm obsessed.

Brittany Malia

Check out our wall painting slideshows for ideas for your own projects.

Wall Painting Videos

Looking for videos on how to paint walls in your house? We've got you covered.

How to Easily Create Gorgeous Mosaic Walls

There is something very modern and funky about unique geometric patterns. They are not only the perfect paint treatment to add depth, dimension, and pattern to a statement wall but can make a nursery look absolutely delightful.

Shea Curry

DIY Dalmatian Accent Wall + Entryway Makeover

Is your entry way lacking those WOW first impression vibes when you enter your apartment? Before this accent wall, I didn't bat an eye when walking past it. Now, it's one of my favorite spots in my apartment. If you've been looking for something creative and different for your home, don't be afraid to take the risk and go for an eclectic, fun hand-painted spotted accent wall!

Emily Grace

Hexagon Wall Treatment

I’ll let you in on a little secret...hexagon is going to be a huge trend this year wether it’s the shape of a light fixture or the pattern of fabric, it’s gonna be hot!I have a wall in my office that really needs to be updated so I thought I would jump on this trend. I saw this idea on Vintage Revivals and decided to give it a try!

Alicia W

How to Do the German Schmear...It's Easier Than You Think!

I'm doing a bedroom makeover at my parents house and they have a brick wall in the room. I was going to paint the brick white but then came across the German Schmear. I thought it looked so cool and it gave the brick a really unique look, so I gave it a shot. The German Schmear (also known as mortar wash) may seem like a bit of an intimidating project, but let me be clear, I am not a professional and I have never done this before and it looks AMAZING. It was NOT hard and it was NOT expensive and it turned out great! So take that hesitation, that doubt, that uncertainty, and get rid of it, cuz YOU CAN DO THIS!If you want to checkout the entire bedroom transformation, here's the link: https://youtu.be/GWQ3PspjUtALets be friends - Check me out on:Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/timbertea?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timberandtea_Drop me a comment I love hearing from you.

HEIDI

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Wall Painting Projects

Looking for the best wall painting projects to inspire you? Look no further.

DIY Whitewash Plank Wall

What I loved about doing this wall feature, was there was no wrong way (amen!). We were going for a rustic, natural, and imperfect feel so I really had fun with this one. When it was time to paint, I played around with color combinations then chose the look I preferred!DIY Whitewash WallMaterials for Wall:- Nail gun and nails - we used 2 inch nails- Stud finder- Tongue and Groove Pine Boards - you can choose to have these cut to the exact length of your walls like we did, or if you want more lines you can cut each board to different lengths.- Jigsaw- TrimMaterials for Whitewashing:- White Paint - we used SW Super Paint velvet in Alabaster- Paint Brush- Container to mix in - We did 5 cups Alabaster: 1 cup water- Spray bottle with water- Dry Cloth- Drop ClothInstalling your boards:Nail your boards to the wall - Using our stud finder we found the studs in the wall, and drew a line down each stud to show us where to nail. We chose not to use liquid nails for this project, so this was an important step. Starting at the very top of your wall use your level to make sure the very first board is perfectly straight. This board is the most important of them all, as it will set your line for your wall! Once your board is level using your nail gun, nail your boards into the studs. Because all of our boards were cut to the length of the wall we simply followed this method for the entire wall until we reached the outlets. We then measured out our outlets, and used the jigsaw to cut around these. And that was it! Our nails were so small that we didn't even need to patch and caulk, especially because we were going for a rustic, natural feel. This was a HUGE time saver!Add trim - We chose to trim out the wall feature, but it definitely isn't a must. We simply measured the height of our wall, cut the trim down, and nailed it right in. Easy, easy! And done, we had our wall feature. Now it was time to whitewash!DIY Whitewash:A few notes before we get started. Installing the tongue and groove boards to the wall was definitely the easier half of this project. The whitewashing is not difficult, but it is time-consuming and takes a bit of playing around with to get it exactly how you want. Don't be discouraged, but I don't want to pretend that it was the fastest moving, mindless thing either! And remember, like I said before there is no perfect way to do this. Play around with it, and get it exactly how YOU love it!Choose your paint - I love SW Alabaster so it was a no brainer that I would go with this color for the walls. I chose their Super Paint because it is not as thick (or expensive) as their top of the line paints, and I was going to be watering it down anyways.Mix up your paint - This is the most important part! I started with 2 cups Alabaster to 1 cup water, and mixed it really well. Wow that makes a lot of paint! I would recommend using smaller amounts while you are coming up with your mixture...lesson learned! The second I applied it to the pine boards, we knew it was way way lighter than we were after. I simply added another 1 cup of paint to my mixture, so now I was at 3 cups Alabaster to 1 cup water. I applied it to another spot on my pine boards, and knew I was getting closer but still not as dark as we wanted. Finally, I ended up with 5 cups Alabaster to 1 cup water. And we LOVED it. It was exactly as we envisioned. It dries quite a bit differently than it goes on, so I would recommend testing out different mixtures, letting them dry and then picking your favorite. Again go with what you love! Every type of wood will take the paint differently, so play around with it and choose what most fits your taste. Apply your mixture - Before applying your paint, lay down a drop cloth. Because your paint is watered down, I highly recommend this step! Next, using your paint brush, apply the paint with the grain. This will allow the texture of the boards to really show through. I had planned on rubbing off the paint with a dry cloth in sections, but as I went along brushing with the grain I loved the look of it! So I ended up only rubbing off when I felt the paint was going on too thick. I also had a small spray bottle of water that I would squirt onto the wall when I needed the paint to thin out a bit. This really helped me achieve an even coat across all the boards.Stand back and admire - Let your first coat dry, and see if it is the look you want. I had planned on putting on a second coat, but after letting it dry it was exactly the look we were going for (woo, because mama was tired!). You also could go back and use a dry brush technique (dip your paint brush in paint then wipe most of it off) to add more texture to your wall. We love that the knots and natural veins of the pine boards show through and didn't want to take away from that! So we stopped at one coat!This whitewash wall is everything I hoped it would be and more! Now this room is such a soothing, relaxing sanctuary. I love the rustic tone it sets for the rest of the room. For all the sources and more details visit:http://www.farmhouseblooms.com/weekly-blooms-whitewashed-wall-nursery/

Farmhouseblooms.com

Board and Batten Accent Wall

I knew even before we moved into this house I wanted a board and batten accent wall in this nursery.

Sydney Dawson

Bohemian Rainbow Wall Mural

Our little girl decided she wanted a rainbow in her room, and since with paint anything is possible, we decided to go with it!

Nikki | thebuckbungalow

Making a Faux Copper Feature Wall

My bedroom badly needed a makeover and I wanted a feature wall for my bedroom that "popped" but also imparted a feeling of warmth. I chose a warm copper feel using a Dulux Copper paint finish.

Sue Findlay

Straightforward Guide to Stenciling a Wall Without Bleeding

This post is sponsored by Stencil Revolution. All opinions are my own. What happened to the days of just wallpaper and paint? Those used to be our only options as far as giving a wall a makeover. Thank goodness today we have so many more options! One of those options is giving a wall a makeover with a stencil! Let me show you how I'm going to give our bathroom wall a fun makeover with a buffalo check stencil from Stencil Revolution.I thought long and hard as far as where I could stencil a wall in our home. Ultimately, I decided on creating a stencil wall in our master bathroom. Let me show you.

Lindsey

Easy DIY Painted Arch

A painted color block is an easy and budget friendly way to create interest on a plain wall. In this tutorial I will teach you how to create the perfect arch for your space!

Loyda| La Casa Sunrise

DIY Whitewash Plank Wall

Farmhouseblooms.com

Board and Batten Accent Wall

I knew even before we moved into this house I wanted a board and batten accent wall in this nursery.

Sydney Dawson

Bohemian Rainbow Wall Mural

Our little girl decided she wanted a rainbow in her room, and since with paint anything is possible, we decided to go with it!

Nikki | thebuckbungalow

Making a Faux Copper Feature Wall

My bedroom badly needed a makeover and I wanted a feature wall for my bedroom that "popped" but also imparted a feeling of warmth. I chose a warm copper feel using a Dulux Copper paint finish.

Sue Findlay

Straightforward Guide to Stenciling a Wall Without Bleeding

Lindsey

Easy DIY Painted Arch

A painted color block is an easy and budget friendly way to create interest on a plain wall. In this tutorial I will teach you how to create the perfect arch for your space!

Loyda| La Casa Sunrise

Popular Wall Painting Discussions

Looking to discuss ideas for painting your walls? Join the conversation here.

Where is the best place to get cheap wall paint

/> Delores W

I want to add a splash here and there in my apartment for a change, but i don't want to invest in paint that is very expensive. any suggestions?

View discussion

Dry wall seems that appear oily after primer and paint?

/> Mdbc77

We recently put up new dry wall. We primed it and painted and were surprised to have the seems appear oily/shiny. It's very visible. I'm beginning to see shiny spots where the nail holes were, too. Any idea what could be causing this and how to fix it? I thought the drywall compound might have gone bag? Or there is a bad reaction between the drywall compound and the primer? Not sure what drywall compound was used, but we used Valspar Contractor Primers: Interio, PVA Primer.

View discussion

Can melamine paneling be painted it’s in the bathroom??

/> Gert Caldwell

View discussion

How can I paint one open wall that connects 2 rooms?

/> Laurie Stuard

I have one wall that runs from my living room (front of the house) through my kitchen ( back of the house). I would like to start with a darker color and fade to a lighter shade where my kitchen starts

How can I paint one open wall that connects 2 rooms?

View discussion

New Painting Walls Projects

What's trending in the world of DIY wall painting? We have compiled it all here.

How to Do a '70s Old Kitchen Cabinets Makeover on a Budget

Love the ‘70s, but hate those ‘70s kitchens? Then you’re going to love this ‘70s old kitchen cabinets makeover. Today, we’re giving my friend’s kitchen a much-needed facelift.I’m going to show you how to put contact paper on cabinets as well as other budget-friendly ways to makeover a kitchen, even if you’re only renting.

Katy | LaughCryDIY

How I Painted Wallpaper to Create an Accent Wall

Have you ever painted wallpaper? I know that some people have done so but I had never tried it; probably because once I got tired of wallpaper, I just took it down. I've been helping one of my sons refurbish his first home. We've been painting, removing & replacing trim, etc. I had already removed a wallpaper border in the kitchen and had planned to remove the wallpaper in the master bath....that is until he suggested we try painting it.

Jeanne

How to Paint a Mountain Mural

Last year, my daughter wanted to add an accent wall in my grandson's bedroom so she decided to paint a mural. The scene she wanted was mountains. To create the mountains, she used painter's tape & three paint colors. This year, I added trees and snow

Jeanne

How to Paint Trim Perfectly Every Time

Look high, look low, glance down a hallway, or peer out a window—it's nearly impossible to be in a home without catching a glimpse of some form of trim in the frame.Baseboards, molding, window frames, and door frames—all these various types of finishing woodwork, collectively known as trim, add a touch of elegance to any space.While it may not be as exhilarating as painting an ombré accent wall or creating a stunning mosaic, the art of painting trim yields its own gratifying results.Whether you opt for semi-gloss whites to instantly brighten a room or choose a contrasting hue for a stylish impact, painting trim has the power to transform a space in just a matter of hours.This guide covers all the bases of how to paint trim, starting from repairing cracks to the priming and painting process. We’ll even cover how to paint trim in a room with carpet. Before you know it, that oft-overlooked trim will be the darling of your eye.

Erin Lindholm

How to Paint an Accent Wall and Change the Entire Look of a Room

By Alexa EricksonAn accent wall invites diversity to the home. The singular walls serve as their own wall decor by adding a pop of color or design that stands out while still complementing the other walls of the room. Sticking to just one wall with that bold color you’ve been dying to try but don’t want to overwhelm a space with is a great way to indulge in your daring side without going overboard.Enticed yet? We’re here to guide you through not only the physical act of painting an accent wall, but we’ll also provide some creative accent wall ideas and color suggestions. Here’s everything you need to know about how to paint an accent wall to create a stunning focal point in a room.

Alexa

How to Create an Impressive Dining Room Accent Wall For Only $70

Welcome to today’s episode of LaughCryDIY. Today, we’re going to makeover a dining room by adding a blue accent wall and some DIY wall frame molding.My friend Kylie is a business coach and she wants a professional background for her Zoom calls. So, we’re going to be creating a renter-friendly dining room accent wall on a budget for her, her husband, and her dog, Mocha.*Remember to get your landlord’s permission before painting walls or doing big DIY projects on a property.

Katy | LaughCryDIY