What You Need to Paint a Room: Decorating Checklist (UK)
Painting a room needs a roller, two or three brushes and a steady step ladder, and the preparation kit makes the difference: dust sheets, filler, sandpaper and masking tape. A 4 × 3 m room with 2.4 m walls takes 5.1 litres for two coats on the walls, 2.0 litres for the ceiling and 38 m of masking tape. The checklist is below, and the room decorating materials calculator works out the amounts for your room.
The checklist, stage by stage
1. Protect and prepare
| Tool | What it is for | Own or hire |
|---|---|---|
| Dust sheets | Cotton for the floor, polythene for furniture | Own |
| Masking tape | Masking skirting, frames, sockets and the ceiling line | Buy per job |
| Screwdriver | Loosening socket and switch faceplates (switch off first) | Own |
| Filling knife and filler | Filling cracks and holes | Own |
| Sandpaper or a sanding block | Smoothing filler and keying glossy paint | Buy per job |
| Sugar soap and a sponge | Washing grease and dirt off the walls | Buy per job |
| Decorator's caulk and a gun | Filling gaps along the skirting and frames | Own the gun |
2. Cut in and roll
| Tool | What it is for | Own or hire |
|---|---|---|
| Angled brush, about 50 mm | Cutting in at corners, the ceiling and the woodwork | Own, if you clean it |
| Roller frame, 9 inch | Rolling the walls and ceiling | Own |
| Roller sleeves | Short pile for smooth walls and gloss, medium pile for emulsion on most walls | Buy per job |
| Roller tray | Loading the roller | Own |
| Extension pole | Reaching the ceiling and the tops of walls from the floor | Own |
| Step ladder | Cutting in at the ceiling | Own or borrow |
3. Clean up
| Tool | What it is for | Own or hire |
|---|---|---|
| Rags | Wiping drips straight away | Own |
| Brush comb | Cleaning brushes so they last | Own |
| Cling film or bags | Wrapping brushes and rollers between coats | Buy per job |
Safety and ventilation
- Open the windows while you paint and while it dries.
- Switch off at the consumer unit before you loosen sockets and switches.
- Use a sound step ladder on a level floor, and do not stand on the top step.
- Old paint in older homes can contain lead: do not dry-sand it. Test it first if you are not sure.
- New plaster needs a mist coat (thinned emulsion) before the first full coat.
Paint and tape for other room sizes
2.4 m walls, one door, one window, two coats at 12 m² per litre. Masking tape is counted along the skirting, the ceiling line and round the door and window, in 50 m rolls (check yours). The tools do not change with the room, but the paint does: a 5 × 4 m room takes 10.0 litres for the walls and ceiling together.
| Room | Wall paint | Ceiling paint | Masking tape |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 × 3.0 m | 4.3 L | 1.5 L | 34 m (1 roll) |
| 4.0 × 3.0 m | 5.1 L | 2.0 L | 38 m (1 roll) |
| 4.5 × 3.5 m | 5.9 L | 2.6 L | 42 m (1 roll) |
| 5.0 × 4.0 m | 6.7 L | 3.3 L | 46 m (1 roll) |
See how much a tin of paint covers, the common mistakes when painting a room, and the decorate a room planner for the order of work. Estimates only: check the coverage on your tin.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to paint a room?
Paint, dust sheets, masking tape, filler and a filling knife, sandpaper, sugar soap, an angled brush, a 9 inch roller with sleeves and a tray, an extension pole and a step ladder.
What roller sleeve should I use for walls?
A medium pile sleeve for emulsion on most walls and ceilings, and a short pile for very smooth walls or for gloss and eggshell. Check the advice on the paint tin.
How much paint for a 4 x 3 m room?
5.1 litres for two coats on 2.4 m walls with one door and one window, and 2.0 litres for the ceiling.
Do I need to wash walls before painting?
Yes, in kitchens, bathrooms and anywhere hands touch. Sugar soap removes grease so the new paint grips, then rinse with clean water and let the wall dry.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.
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