How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Living Room?

Painting your living room is a way to increase the lighting in the room, express your style and taste, and make the room look cleaner and fresh. Once painted a living room will not need to be repainted for several years, unless you just want to make a change.

The cost of painting a living room is listed as the number one reason why people do not change the colors on their walls more often. The second biggest reason listed as to why people live with the same colors on the walls is the amount of work involved in painting.

In this article we will discuss:

• The cost of paint
• The tools you MUST have to paint
• How to get a professional finish
• How long does it take to paint a living room
• How to determine how much paint to buy
• The tools that make painting easier
• The labor rates that professional painters charge

Living Room Paint Costing Estimates

Living Room Accent Walls Paint Cost

Figure on painting at least 2 coats of paint on the wall and one coat of primer. So double the paint cost estimate.

Average Cost of Paint Ceilings

Figure on putting 2 coats of paint on the ceiling and one coat of primer so double the paint cost estimate. If you are using a paint sprayer add enough paint to do a 3^rd coat and that will cover the cost of the extra paint these tools use. Paint sprayers use up to 40% more paint to do the job.

To learn more about ceiling paint costs, check out my article average cost to paint a ceiling? estimated cost guide.

How to Determine How Much Paint to Buy

The method of determining the proper amount of paint is to multiply the length of the room by the width of the room. When you arrive at that figure divide the figure by the number of square feet that the paint container says it will cover.

Example:

20’ wide x 18’ long = 360 Square Feet

Paint covers 400 square feet per gallon so you would need 1 gallon to do 1 coat or 2 gallons to do a proper 2 coat coverage.

The Tools You Must have to Paint Living Room

• Ladder or step-stool to help you cut in the upper sections of the wall
• Paintbrush – a 2 ½” angled brush
• Paint roller
• Roller covers
• Paint tray
• Drop cloths
• Painters’ tape to tape off outlets, trim, and such
• Stirring sticks to mix the paint
• A 2 to five-gallon bucket to mix the paint in
• Clean dry rags

The Tools That Make Painting Easier 

• Paint sprayer
• Disposable paint tray liners
• Electric paint roller
• Extension handles for paint roller
• Electric mixer to stir the paint

To learn more about door painting details check my latest post on how much costs to paint the living room door? Essential costing guide.

How Much Does Painting Accessories Cost?

How to Get A Professional Finish

Professional-looking finishes are smooth, flawless, and inviting. The pros are able to hide imperfections in the surface materials and make a room look better with a coat of paint. If you paint your own room, you want the same finish when you are through.

To achieve this type of finish you must have:

• A properly prepared surface
• Quality paint
• Quality tools like brushes and roller covers are made from the best materials
• The patience to apply multiple coats rather than trying to rush through with just one coat of paint

The labor rates that professional painters charge

What Adds to The Cost of Professionals Painting a Living Room?

• The number of windows in the room
• The number of ceiling fixtures in the room
• Water damage on the surfaces
• The number of outlets and switches in the room
• The type of trim
• The location of the home (different areas of the country charge different amounts and painting in cities may cost differently than painting in rural areas)

Related article – How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Fence?

How Long It Takes to Paint a Living Room?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does One Color of Paint Cost More than Another?

Yes, some paint colors are more expensive to buy than other colors are. Blue is actually one of the most expensive colors because of what it takes to make blue pigments.

Can I Use Store Brand Paint in My Living Room?

You can use store-brand paints, and in many cases, they create good finishes. The real thing to know about store brand paints is they are typically not as thick or lack some of the additives that cause the paint to be scuff resistant, or mildew resistant. It often takes two or three more coats of the cheaper paints to cover the same area that one coat of quality paint will cover.

Can I Use Exterior Grade Paint on Interior Walls?

You can use exterior-grade paint on interior surfaces. You need to understand that if you try to paint over water-based paint, and most interior paints are water-based, with an oil-based paint you may cause the paint to blister or bubble. Also, cleaning up exterior grade paints is more involved.

Will I Save a Lot of Painting Time by Using a Paint Sprayer to Paint My Living Room?

You will save a lot of time on the actual painting by using a paint sprayer to do this work. You will need to spend more time preparing to paint, and more time cleaning up when you are finished. You will also spend more money using a paint sprayer because those tools use about 40% more paint than a typical roller and brush do.

Boat paint cost guide – How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Boat?

Final Thoughts

Painting your living room does not cost as much as you might think. It is one of the cheapest ways of renovating your home and it can increase the value of the home. If you can possibly do the work yourself you will save a lot of money on the project.