Adding a fresh coat of paint can be a great way to freshen up a room without spending too much money. But how much does it cost to paint a bedroom yourself? This can vary depending on the paint you choose, the size of the room, and your painting skills. In this blog post, we will provide an estimate of how much it costs to paint a bedroom yourself. We will also offer some tips on how to save money while painting!
How Much Do Professional Painters Charge To Paint A Room?
The cost of professional painting services varies depending on the size of the room, the paint brand, and other factors. The cost can also be impacted by where you live, with the higher cost of living areas having a higher cost to paint a bedroom.
According to HomeGuide, professional painters charge between $1 and $6 per square foot to paint a room. For a single bedroom, you should expect to pay anywhere from $350 to over $2100 to have it painted by a professional.
There are pros and cons to both painting a room yourself and hiring a professional to do it.
Paying a professional to paint your room can be expensive, but it can also be worth it if you’re looking for a high-quality finish. A painting contractor will have the experience and equipment necessary to complete the job quickly and efficiently.
On the other hand, painting a room yourself can be cheaper – especially if you already have some of the supplies needed like paint and brushes. It also gives you more control over the finished product, which can be important if you’re looking for a specific look or color scheme.
How Much Can You Save By Painting A Bedroom Yourself?
The average cost to paint a bedroom is $200 to $300. You can usually save around 50% of that cost by painting the room yourself. The actual amount you’ll save depends on the size of the room, the type of paint you use, and your own personal painting skill level.
If you’re considering painting your bedroom yourself to save money, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- You’ll need to factor in the cost of paint and painting supplies. Good quality paint isn’t cheap, so be sure to budget for it accordingly.
- It’s important to take your time when painting. If you rush through the job, it will show in the finished product. This means that the job will likely take longer than you initially thought, and you’ll need to factor that into your schedule.
- A good paint job isn’t just about the paint itself. It’s also important to prep the room properly before you start painting. This includes things like removing old wallpaper, sanding down rough spots, and patching up any holes.
How To Calculate The Cost To Paint A Bedroom Yourself
- Calculate the area of the walls to be painted (and ceiling, if applicable).
- Calculate the area of doors and windows and subtract this from the total area calculated in step 1.
- Calculate the area of any trim and/or baseboards.
- Find your total area.
- Calculate the cost of the paint required for your project.
- Calculate the cost of painting supplies needed.
- Add the cost of your paint and painting supplies together and that will be the total cost to paint a bedroom yourself.
Factors To Consider When Calculating Painting Costs
Size Of Your Room
The size of a bedroom can impact the cost to paint it. If the bedroom is small, then the cost to paint it will be lower than if the bedroom is large.
Remember, professional painters generally charge by the square foot, so the larger the room, the more expensive it will be to paint. The room size will also impact how much paint you need to purchase, so this rule will also apply if you decide to go the DIY route.
Height Of The Walls
The height of your walls will also impact the total area of your room. If you have high ceilings, you will have more square feet to cover per wall which will increase the price.
For example, a 12ft wall with standard 8ft ceilings works out to be 96 square feet. However, if your room has extended 10ft ceilings, this same wall would work out to be 120 square feet. This is a 25% increase in area (and cost to paint) just by having higher ceilings.
Number Of Windows
Generally the more windows you have in a room, the cheaper it will be to paint. This is because you can subtract the area of the windows from the total paintable area of the room.
Baseboards And Trim
While having more windows can save you money when painting, you may need to add back in the cost of painting the window trim if your windows happen to have trim. However, if your windows have a simple drywall return, you can save on the cost of painting trim.
You will also need to consider the additional cost if your doors have trim. Baseboards and crown molding can also add to the price if your bedroom happens to have these.
Paint Brand
If you’re considering painting your bedroom yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, paint doesn’t come cheap. A gallon of standard latex paint can cost anywhere from $25 to $50. Oil paint can be a bit more expensive at around $20 t0 $60 per gallon.
You should also consider the brand when choosing your paint. Some popular brands include Sherwin Williams, Behr, and Benjamin Moore. If you decide to go with a designer paint brand instead, this can cost a lot more. Some designer paints can cost hundreds of dollars per gallon – definitely not budget-friendly.
Ideally, to keep your costs reasonable, you will want to go with a brand of paint that has a good reputation. The quality of paint is an important consideration because low-quality paint will yield poor results and potentially need re-painting sooner.
Paint Type And Finish
Before you buy your paint, be sure to consider the type and finish as this can impact the cost of the paint.
The two main types of paint for interior jobs are oil and latex paint. Latex paint is generally a bit cheaper than oil paint. It’s also quicker drying, easier to use, and non-toxic, making it a more popular choice than oil paint for the interior of a house.
The other main consideration is the finish of the paint that you choose. There are five standard paint finishes for interior walls. These are:
- Flat or matte: This type of paint is usually the cheapest. It is the least shiny of the five finishes, which means that it hides marks and imperfections well but it’s also the least durable of the paint finishes.
- Eggshell: Paint with an eggshell finish is a good versatile option that isn’t entirely matte but isn’t shiny. It’s a bit more durable than flat or matte paint but still covers imperfections well. It’s commonly used in the master bedroom, dining room, and living room and could be a good option if you’re looking to paint your own bedroom.
- Satin: Satin paint is easy to clean and reasonably durable. It’s great for high-traffic areas such as hallways and kids’ bedrooms. Similar to eggshell, it’s not really shiny but isn’t entirely matte either.
- Semi-gloss: Semi-gloss is a resilient paint finish that is resistant to moisture and can be cleaned with a damp cloth. It’s shiny and reflects light, which makes imperfections on the walls a bit more obvious. Semi-gloss paint is commonly used for bathrooms, kitchens, window trim, and baseboards.
- High gloss: High Gloss paint is the shiniest and most durable of all of the paint finishes. It’s easy to clean and is most frequently used for kitchens, bathrooms, doors, and window trim. High gloss is generally the most expensive paint finish of the five.
Primer And Number Of Coats
When painting your bedroom, picking a new color is one of the best parts of the task. However, you should definitely consider the original color of the room before making your decision.
Painting a light color over dark may require primer or more coats of paint to achieve a nice finish. Both of these things will increase the overall cost of your project.
And depending on the paint brand, you may need more than one coat to get good coverage so you’ll need more gallons of paint for the project. Some brands guarantee one-coat coverage for their paint, however, we’ve found that white paint often still requires more than one coat so keep this in mind.
Painting Supplies
Another cost to consider is the price of paintbrushes and other painting supplies. Paintbrushes can range in price from $2 to $30 each. And don’t forget about paint rollers, paint trays, and drop cloths – you’ll need those too!
When deciding on which painting supplies to buy, you should consider how many painting projects you’re likely to do. If you only plan on painting a single room, the budget painting supplies might do the job. However, if you plan to complete multiple painting projects or paint the entire house, then you should consider investing in some better-quality painting supplies.
While these might be a larger investment up front, they’ll last longer if you look after them properly and won’t need to be replaced as often.
Cost Of Your Time
How much is your time worth? If you’re like most people, your time is worth quite a lot. So, when you’re considering whether or not to paint a room yourself, it’s important to factor in the cost of your time.
Painting a room can take anywhere from several hours to an entire day, depending on the size of the room, how much prep work is required, and the number of coats of paint you need to apply.
If you value your time at $20 per hour, then painting a medium-sized bedroom would be around $160 in labor costs alone. Of course, this doesn’t include the cost of materials like paint and primer.
If you don’t have a lot of free time, it may be more economical for you to pay a professional to do the job rather than doing it yourself.
What Supplies Do You Need To Paint A Bedroom?
To paint a bedroom, you will need the following supplies:
- Paintbrushes: There are different types of brushes available and the best one will depend on the job that you’re doing. You’ll likely need a different brush for painting large areas vs intricate detail. Brushes start at around $2 and can cost as much as $20 to $30 each for the top-of-the-line options.
- Paint rollers: Paint rollers are one of the best ways to paint large areas. They range from $10 to $30 and have different nap lengths depending on the surface being painted. For a smooth wall, go with a short nap roller so that it doesn’t add too much additional texture to the wall.
- Paint trays: A paint tray is a necessary tool when painting a room. It holds the paint and allows you to easily apply it to the wall. You can pour smaller amounts of paint into the tray so you use only what you need and avoid waste. Paint trays will set you back about $2 to $5 each.
- Drop cloths: Drop cloths are a must-have when painting, as they protect your floors and furniture from paint splatters. There are a few different types of drop cloths available, but we recommend using a heavy-duty plastic drop cloth for best results. These can be found at most hardware stores (e.g. Home Depot) for a few dollars. Canvas drop cloths are another option, but we prefer the plastic option for easy clean-up.
- Painter’s tape: When painting, it’s a good idea to use painter’s tape to protect your walls and trim from paint splatters. Using painter’s tape is also one of the easiest ways to get a sharp line when transitioning between different areas and to hold your plastic drop cloths in place. Painter’s tape costs about $8 to $12 per roll, depending on the brand and width of the tape.
- Ladder: You’ll probably need a ladder to reach the top of the walls, especially if you’re painting a tall room. Ladders can be rented from most hardware stores or you can purchase one starting at around $70.
- Patching supplies: If you have any small holes (e.g. from nails or screws) or imperfections in your walls you can patch and smooth these before beginning to paint. To do this, you’ll need spackling paste, a putty knife, and sandpaper to smooth it all out. This will cost about $20 to $30 for the lot.
How To Save Money When Painting A Bedroom
Painting a bedroom can be a great way to freshen up the look of your home without spending a lot of money. There are a number of ways that you can save money when painting a bedroom. Here are some of our favorites:
- Paint a feature or accent wall instead of painting the whole room.
- Choose a darker color so you don’t need to use a primer or do multiple coats of paint.
- Choose budget-friendly paint and avoid designer brands.
- Borrowing painting supplies from friends or family (especially if you only plan on painting one wall or room).
- Clean painting supplies straight away so they don’t get ruined. This will save you the expense of needing to replace your painting supplies mid-project.
Final Thoughts
Painting a bedroom can be a relatively affordable way to update the look of your home. However, it’s important to factor in the cost of materials like paint and primer before you begin. If you don’t have a lot of free time, it may be more economical for you to pay a professional to do the job rather than doing it yourself. We hope this article has helped give you an idea of what supplies you’ll need and how much everything is likely to cost. Have any other tips on painting a bedroom on a budget? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Should I buy cheap or expensive paintbrushes?
A: While you don’t need to break the bank on painting supplies, we recommend avoiding the cheapest paintbrushes as they will likely shed bristles and leave streaks in your paint job. Instead, opt for a mid-priced option that will provide a smoother finish.
Q: How do I get a straight edge on trim and corners?
A: The best way to get a straight edge on trim and corners is by using painter’s tape. Simply apply the tape to the area you want to paint up to, then paint over top of it. After you’re done, carefully remove the tape and you’ll be left with a clean, straight line.
Q: How do I stop paint peeling when removing painter’s tape?
A: To avoid paint peeling when removing painter’s tape, there are two good options. Firstly, you can remove the tape while the paint is still wet. Alternatively, you can take a box cutter or other sharp knife and carefully cut alongside the tape before removing it. This will separate the paint from the tape and help avoid peeling.
Q: How many square feet does one gallon of paint cover?
A: This can vary from brand to brand, however, a gallon of paint covers 350 to 400 square feet in most cases.
Q: How long does paint take to dry and how long do I need to wait between coats?
A: Similar to the question above, the time for paint to dry can vary from brand to brand and between different paint types. Generally, latex paint will be dry enough for a second coat in around 2-4 hours, while oil paint needs closer to 24 hours between coats.
Q: How do I clean paint brushes and rollers?
A: This depends on the type of paint. For latex paint, you can clean your brushes and rollers with water. For oil paint, you’ll need mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean your brushes and rollers.