How to Paint White Walls in a Room

Choose your paint color. One trip to the paint section of your local home improvement or hardware store will show you that picking out white paint is not as simple as it seems. There are more shades of white than most other paint colors. Whites can range from warm and creamy to cool and crisp. To make the best choice, pick out several paint chips and take them home. Tape them to your walls and take a step back to see how they look. You will notice that the light in your room can make the colors look much different than they did in the store.

Once you have chosen your paint color, you also have to choose a finish. Paint comes in many different finishes, from matte to glossy and everything in between. There are advantages and disadvantages to the different finishes. Matte paint can get dirty and scuffed more easily than glossy paint. However, glossy paint may have more sheen than you want. A popular choice is eggshell, which is in the middle of the spectrum.

Prepare the walls and repair any imperfections. Remove all furniture that was up against the wall. Take down any art or picture frames that are hanging on the wall and remove any nails, screws or hardware. Then fill the holes or any dents in the wall with spackle. Let the spackle dry completely.

Lay a drop cloth on the carpet or floor to protect it from the paint. Cover any furniture or valuables with sheets or plastic as well. You can also protect the baseboards and ceiling by applying a line of painter's tape. This will create a straight smooth edge to the paint.

Prime the walls. Buy a can of basic white primer for interior walls. Primer comes in two varieties: oil-based and latex. Oil-based primer is harder to clean up and takes longer to dry. Latex is easier to work with cleans up easily. Many people favor oil-based primer and paint for its durability, but for most jobs, latex will work fine. Paint a layer of primer on the walls with a paint roller. One thin layer is usually sufficient. However, if the existing paint color is dark, you may want to use two coats of primer. Allow the primer to dry according to the instructions.

Use a clean paint roller to apply the first coat of paint. As with the primer, paint comes in both oil-based and latex formulas. They have the same benefits and drawbacks as the primer. Use angled "w" shaped strokes to apply the paint. This will reduce the appearance of paint strokes and lines. When the wall is covered, allow the paint to dry completely. Then apply a second or third coat as needed. If in doubt, always apply an additional coat. Use a smaller brush to paint the edges.