modernnesting

Painting a room

Change the room. Start with the walls.

Plain-English guides to painting a room yourself: choosing colors and finishes, working out how much paint, prep that makes the difference, clean lines on trim, and tidy cleanup.

How much paint? Which finish?

Living room plan12 by 12 ft

  • WallsWarm white, eggshell2 gal
  • Accent wallSage, matte1 qt
  • Trim and doorSoft white, semi-gloss1 qt

333 sq ft of wall, 2 coats2 gallons

An example plan. Coverage varies by paint and surface.

Start with one of these

CalculatorHow much paint?Gallons and cost. GuidePaint finishesWhich sheen, where. ChecklistRoom PaintingSixteen steps to clean lines.

15 painting guides

Planning

Prep

Painting

Finishing

Free download, no email needed

The Room Painting Workbook

Measure the room, plan colors and finishes for each surface, list supplies, follow a prep checklist and keep a record for touch-ups.

Get the free PDFSee the Room Painting checklist

Coming soon

Plan every room

Modern Nesting Room Refresh Planner: printable room color plans, paint calculation sheets, prep checklists, a swatch log and a project timeline for a whole-home refresh.

$9 once. Yours to keep. 30-day refund.

See what's in the planner