How To Paint a Room Quickly and Easily Using a Paint Sprayer

One of the quickest ways to paint a room is using an airless paint sprayer. With a Graco sprayer, you can change the look of any room in the house in a fraction of the time it would take you to paint it by hand with a roller or brush. Graco paint sprayers can be used for a wide variety of exterior and interior projects.

WATCH: How to Paint Interior Walls (3:58)

Suggested Tools & Equipment

• Graco, Magnum, or TrueCoat Paint Sprayer (visit Paint Sprayer category page to compare models)
• Paint
• Spray tips – a narrow 6- or 8-inch spray fan typically works best
• Empty buckets for priming sprayer and cleanup (two needed)
• Stir sticks
• Paint strainer bag – helps prevent tip plugs and provides a better finish
• Tarps, drop cloths, or plastic sheeting
• Masking tape
• Paint brush for touch-ups
• Magnum tip extension (optional) – for hard-to-reach areas that would otherwise require a ladder
• Pressure roller kit (optional)
• Additional airless hose sections if needed
• Spray shield
• Pump Armor storage fluid (see pump protectant product details)
• Cleaning rags
• Stiff nylon brushes for cleanup

1. Move as much of the furniture out of the room as possible. Move any remaining furniture to the center of the room and cover it completely. Allow plenty of space for your tools and equipment.
2. Cover everything you don’t want to get paint on. Apply masking tape and protective paper around and over doors, windows and trim.
3. Turn off the electricity to the room and remove cover plates from electrical fixtures, outlets and switches. Remove heating and air conditioning vent covers. Apply masking tape over the remaining switches and outlet receptacles.
4. Use spackling compound and a putty knife to fill in all nail and screw holes. Once dry, sand any rough areas.

Tip: If you’re working in a small room or would rather not spray, use a Graco Pressure Roller Kit for great results and time savings.

1. Select the spray tip that’s best suited for the paint you are using and the surface to be sprayed. Be sure the tip’s hole size does not exceed the maximum capacity of your sprayer (see spray tip info). If you’re using paint from multiple containers, mix it together in an empty 5-gallon container to ensure consistent color even if small color differences exist between individual paint cans.
2. Start at the top of the room and work your way down. Work in sections, only as far as you can comfortably reach. Spray the outer edges first, “banding” the area that you will spray and cutting in any corners. For inside corners, aim the spray tip directly into the corner so it overlaps both sides.
3. Cut in around windows and doors first, and then spray the remaining flat areas using overlapping strokes. Make repeated spray passes down the walls, pointing the spray tip at the edge of the previous pass and overlapping by approximately 50%.

1. Allow significant time for the paint to dry before removing tape from your trim. This will result in crisp, clean lines.
2. Remove all coverings from furniture and other areas.
3. Replace any lighting fixtures that you removed and move furniture or other items back into place.
4. Clean your airless paint sprayer after each use. Follow the directions in your user’s manual for Power Flush cleaning with water based materials or use the bucket method of cleaning if applicable. For more information, see Power Flush Video or refer to your Sprayer Operation Manual.
5. Move furniture or other items back into place.