Spray Paint Walls Like A Pro - Complete Guide For Beginners

Looking to upgrade the look of your home without the mess and effort of traditional brush painting? Spray painting walls is the perfect DIY project for beginners to transform any interior space with a smooth, flawless finish in half the time. We've put together this comprehensive guide so you can learn how to spray paint walls like a pro.

While spraying may seem intimidating, we'll walk you through start to finish - gathering supplies, prepping your room, mastering technique and applying multiple thin coats for a durable finish. Follow our tips below and soon you'll be a spray paint pro taking on remodeling projects with confidence.

Overview of Spray Painting Walls

Spraying delivers paint in a fine, even mist that adheres directly to surfaces for consistent coverage. Unlike brushing or rolling, you'll avoid unsightly brush marks and lap lines completely. It also allows you to easily coat hard-to-reach nooks and crannies in one sweep for faster project times.

Here are some key advantages this method offers compared to more traditional painting:

• Faster application resulting in major time savings
• Delivers a smooth, flawless finish lacking any visible brush strokes
• Easily accesses hard-to-reach areas like corners or crown molding
• Provides highly uniform color and sheen
• Minimizes lap marks between application strokes

The tradeoff comes in the form of overspray and increased paint consumption. Without proper drop cloths, you risk accidentally coating surfaces adjacent to your work area. Fortunately, a little masking and preparation eliminates issues. Once you learn the ropes, even first-timers can master achieving pro-quality spray painted finishes!

Gather Spray Painting Supplies

Having the right gear is key to spray success. At the top of your supply list:

Airless Paint Sprayer

You'll need an airless spray gun attached to a canister pump which maintains consistent pressure to push paint through the nozzle as compressed air hoses aren't suitable for thicker wall paints. Models from Graco and Titan are trusted brands. Look for a sprayer offering adjustable pressure levels to tailor flow for the paint you use.

Paint

Any high quality interior latex or enamel will work, avoiding alkyd oil-based paints which dry too slowly. Calculate gallons required based on room dimensions, purchasing a bit extra since spraying uses more paint than rolling. Stick to the same sheen level throughout your space for cohesive results.

Masking Supplies

Keep overspray at bay with plastic drop cloths taped flush to base trim, then top with canvas tarps to prevent paint seeping underneath. Apply painter's tape to wall edges bordering ceilings, windows and trimwork too for straight painted lines once peeled off.

Safety Gear

Don respirators or ventilator masks when working with spray equipment to avoid inhaling fine liquid paint particles, coupled with protective eyewear. Full disposable paint suits or dedicated painting clothes add an extra precautionary measure against potential messes as well.

Prep Your Room for Success

Now that your supplies are set, proper precautionary measures ensure you only paint intended wall surfaces.

Clear All Furniture

Remove all portable furnishings, artwork and decor from your workspace. For non-movable items like builtins, cover completely with drop cloths, securing bottom edges with painter's tape to guard surfaces below from spray, drips and dust.

Protect Adjacent Surfaces

Mask off all trimwork, floors, ceilings, windows and outlets bordering your walls with tape and drop cloths as mentioned for best spray painting outcomes. Use lightweight plastic to cover larger areas then top with canvas tarps capable of absorbing paint splatter without seepage.

Secure Room Ventilation

Open windows and switch on fans to circulate fumes and lingering paint odor during and after you spray. Consider wearing a respirator mask whenever spraying paint indoors too. Better air flow equals faster dry times.

Once prepped, your space will only feature wall surfaces intended for paint without fixtures vulnerable to accidental overspray damage. Now the real magic starts!

Set Up and Test Your Spray Gun

With your roommasked off, shift focus tofine tuning spray gun settings for flawless spraying technique:

Assemble Components

Attach the hose connecting paint canister to spray gun securely, then twist on your tip (angle for corners, flat for broad wall expanses). Ensure intakeline filter screens are clearedof debris so paint flows freely.

Thin & Strain Paint

Condition paint to optimal spray consistency by adding thinning agents, then pour through a mesh strainer to catch any lingering clumps which could clog intake.

Find Ideal Pressure Balance

Test spray a scrap cardboard sheet at low pressure first, then gradually increase psi until even dispersion is achieved to avoid excess overspray. Wall texture determines optimal pressure too.

With your sprayer prepped, now's the perfect time to test the spray fan pattern and consistency before hitting walls. Simply pull gun trigger and spray a test patch!

Apply Primer & Let Dry

Start by misting primer formulated specifically for spray applications across every section getting painted. This enhances topcoat adhesion and evens surface porosity differences for uniform sheen once painted.

Coating Technique

Position nozzle 6-12 inches from walls at all times, moving arm in long, even passes both horizontally and vertically to coat entire surface areas completely. Overlap just enough to avoid misses between passes. Work methodically section to section for easiest coverage. Allow primer to dry overnight fully before painting.

With primed surfaces prepped and ready for paint, it's finally time for the fun part - spraying on color!

Spray Paint Walls

Apply two to three coats spraying lightly first, then increase saturation on subsequent passes once prior coats dry fully. Less is more until final coat!

First Coat

Mist entire wall surface lightly on first spray coat just to get base color down without dripping. Work top to bottom or side to side methodically until coated. Touch up any missed spots before moving onto next section.

Second Coat

Once first coat dries thoroughly, apply second in same fashion but with 50% spray overlap instead for extra coverage. Hit missed pinholes or thinly coated areas on this pass too before paint dries.

We recommend waiting at least 2-4 hours between coats - check manufacturer guidelines to confirm exact dry times for the paint you use. Rushing coats before drying fully will ruin professional uniformity!

Final Coat

Assess second coat, spraying any unevenness on your final "wet" pass for maximum smoothness, sheen consistency and opacity. Two coats suffices for light colors. Deeper shades often needthree completecoats for best vividness.

Allow Paint to Fully Dry & Cure

Patience pays off! Allow several days before enjoying freshly painted walls or conditioning spaces. Though paint dries to touch far quicker, full curing takes much longer for hardness and durability. Verify exact manufacturer dry, recoat and curing times for best quality results.

Clean Up Your Supplies

Once your last coat hits full cure hardness, carefully peel away all masking materials. Wipe down any base trim and window sills catching stray paint traces using a small brush and multi-surface cleaner paying special attention to crevices and corners.

Before wrapping, take a minute wiping down your spray gun nozzle and tip too using paint thinner so lingering residue doesn't dry and clog openings before next use!

Now that you're armed with all the core techniques and preparation details needed for flawless sprayed finishes, it's time to put them into practice! Start small by refinishing closet walls or painting accent areas first before taking on full room makeovers.

Just remember - proper masking prevents unwanted overspray and drop cloths minimize cleanup. Adjust spray gun settings incrementally to limit paint waste yet achieve uniform coverage. Follow drying times between coats closely so paint fully cures, gaining hardness and durability most roller applications lack.

Soon you'll be tackling whole interior painting projects like a seasoned pro thanks to your newfound spray skills! Once you master the convenience spraying offers coupled with smooth pro-quality finishes, you'll never grab another roller or paintbrush again.