Decorating Interior Painting Painting Techniques How to Use a Paint Roller to Quickly Refresh a Wall Painting with a roller is easy once you know the steps. Here's a quick refresher on how to use one for a speedy and flawless paint job. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on September 6, 2022 Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Painting a large wall goes much faster when you have the right tools. Luckily, there are a variety of options to ensure a quick and easy paint job. A paint roller covers more surface area per stroke than a paintbrush, and the handle can be elongated for hard-to-reach areas. Roller covers come in different widths and materials appropriate for any painting project. Once you're prepared with the materials needed to complete your paint job, application is a breeze. We'll show you how to use a paint roller so you can refresh your walls in a weekend. What You'll Need PaintPaint panRoller brush and coverWaterDrop clothLint roller Step 1: Pour Paint Pour an inch of paint into a paint pan. Make sure the paint pan is on a flat surface. Place the roller cover onto the roller handle and remove any wrapping. Whether you're using a gloss, semi-gloss, satin, or chalk paint, invest in a higher-end cover for a better paint job. The cheapest cover options don't hold as much paint, which can make a paint job take much longer. Step 2: Wet Roller To prep the brush for painting, get the roller cover damp with water. Shake the brush to remove any water from the inner tube. Blot and roll the cover dry with a rag or on a drop cloth. This primes the brush so that it absorbs and applies paint evenly. If you are using a wool cover, use a lint roller or tape to remove stray fibers before dipping into paint. Step 3: Roll in Paint Roll the roller in the paint until it's evenly covered. A new roller brush will typically take 5–6 repetitions to fill. Roll against the paint screen or tray ridges to remove excess. Removing excess will help prevent paint drips on the wall. Interior Paint Tips Step 4: Roll on Wall Starting a few inches from the bottom of the wall, apply a stroke of paint upwards with even pressure. Don't press too hard on the roller, as the fibers of the roller cover will get matted—let the paint do most of the work. Pressing too hard will also make your paint thick at the edges of the stroke. If you're using a paint roller with an extended handle, stop a few inches from the ceiling. Without lifting the roller, move it down the wall. Keep the same even pressure as you continue across the wall. How to Paint Walls Step 5: Continue Painting Continue in a zigzag or "W" pattern until the paint on your roller becomes thin. Keep the zigzag pattern within a section of the wall to ensure an even layer over the entirety of the wall. Working in a zigzag pattern helps to smooth out roller marks at the edges of the stroke. Step 7: Finish Wall Reload the roller as needed and continue applying paint in sections until the wall is covered. If needed, add a second coat on top of the first using the same technique. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit