To ensure a smooth finish, a microfiber roller sleeve is best.' 4.

You will need: a pot of paint a paint brush and paint roller primer soap and water for cleaning a painting tray a dust sheet painter's masking tape and, if you have high ceilings, a roller extension pole is a good idea.īenjamin Moore's Helen Shaw says: 'When it comes to the must-have tools, a firm favorite amongst consumers is to use a roller for painting walls and a 2in brush for cutting in around the edges. When painting a wall, there's nothing worse than realizing too late that you haven't got all the tools and materials you'll need to do the job properly. 'For example, mid-sheen and gloss finishes reflect light, while kitchen and bathrooms require moisture and stain-resistant qualities.' 3. 'The right paint finish for different surfaces and specific results is the key to a perfect result,' say the experts at Dulux (opens in new tab). Whether you're looking for organic, neutral or bold, statement living room color schemes, picking up a selection of sample pots is always a good idea to see how the hue reacts to the light in your space.Īnd don't forget the finish. Choose your color and get the right finish Finally, double the overall meter square total to account for doing two coats.'Ģ. If you have large windows or many doors or built-in cabinets, you can deduct this from the total to avoid buying too much. Although we would recommend that if you have particularly tall ceilings, it’s best to measure this rather than use the 2.5m estimate. 'Most rooms have a standard 2.5m high ceiling, so if you simply multiply the perimeter by 2.5, you will have the total in meters squared. You can then do the same to estimate the width. Then add two times the length and two times the width together to get the perimeter. A loose and easy guide for this is step it out – one step for an adult is about 1m, so start by standing against one wall and pacing out to the opposite wall. She continues: 'Firstly, we recommend starting by measuring or estimating the length of the room. 'As a guide, it’s key to bear in mind that most paints will cover about 10-12sq m per litre. '

'There is no 'average room', so it’s important to roughly work out how much paint you will need to avoid buying too much,' says Helen Shaw, Director at Benjamin Moore (opens in new tab).

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