Looking for a way to speed up your painting? 5 proven methods that anyone can do

Painting wall yellow — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Painting is one of those jobs around the house that, in theory, you think you can probably tackle yourself quite easily. But, when it really gets down to it, it's a seriously tiresome job that can take a really long time.

If you've got a large space to cover, it can also be a job that you just put off endlessly hoping that one day you'll channel the energy to tackle it. Even when you do though, it's not as easy it sounds. I've spent hours painting rooms around my house and I pretty much always end up wishing I'd never started.

Before you put down that roller or paintbrush and give up though, there are some easy ways to speed up the process. Here's five tips you should follow if you want to get the painting done quicker – and you'll even learn some skills to improve your painting skills in the process.

1. Prepare like a pro

One of the most time consuming parts of painting your home is cleaning up the mess you make. The best way to tackle this is to ensure your space is prepared properly before you even think about putting paint on the walls.

This includes removing furniture from the room, laying down a tarp of cloth to protect your floor, and preparing all the tools you need. That means laying out your rollers and changing them out if they're old, putting painter's tape to protect windows, doors, and baseboards, and making sure your paint tray is perfectly clean.

2. Paint edges first

Woman painting wall with a rollerbrush — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Painter's tape is great at providing a protective border for things like electrical sockets and light switches, but you can do one better by painting the edges first. Creating these extra edges will mean you can go in with the roller at a much faster pace, rather than having to be extra careful around the tape.

This is also a tip that'll help you do a better paint job overall, by allowing you to create a consistent and smooth finish rather than skirting around the edges with thick paint.

3. Use a paint sprayer

Paint sprayers are tools for fast and easy application of paint. But, are they really worth the money? Well, it depends on how much you're painting and where. If you've got a big job on your hands, a paint sprayer is going to be one of the fastest ways to get everything painted.

But, if you're painting inside, you'll need to consider whether the area has been prepared properly. With a lot more paint spray, there's a higher risk of making a mess, so tip one comes back into play here in a big way.

If you're outside, it can be much simpler job with the correct tarp coverage and a suitable mask worn.

4. Use the 'W' method

A tray filled with white paint with a roller in it on a table top — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

This may sound unusual, but instead of using your roller to paint straight lines, you should paint a large 'W' shape on your wall and then fill it in. After you've made the initial 'W', you shouldn't lift your roller off the wall. Instead, you should simply keep rolling the paint until it's completely covered.

This method is then repeated until you've covered the entire length of the wall. Then, you should run the paint roller vertically over your handiwork. This is a great way to make sure your paint is spread evenly, as well as quickly.

5. Keep a wet edge

A roller painting white paint on a ceiling — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

What is a wet edge? Well, in painting, it means that you apply new paint to the next section of the wall you're working on, but not too far from the paint you've already applied.

So, when you use your roller, you pick up some of the wet edge and roll it in with the new area. This will avoid lap marks and save extra work later. The same applies for cutting in and painting edges. Only do this when you're ready to roller the rest of the wall so you can ensure the paint is still wet and will seamlessly mix with the rest.

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Grace is a freelance journalist working across homes, lifestyle, gaming and entertainment. You'll find her writing for Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Space.com, and other sites. If she's not rearranging her furniture, decluttering her home, or relaxing in front of the latest streaming series, she'll be typing fervently about any of her much-loved hobbies and interests. To aid her writing, she loves to head down internet rabbit holes for an unprecedented amount of time.

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