How to paint your house yourself: finish a room in a day, with a paint calculator
You can paint a room yourself in a day, if you know how much paint you need, which primer to use and how long to wait before the second coat.
Painting your home yourself takes 5 steps: prepare the wall so it is clean and dry, apply the right primer for old or new render, thin the paint with 10–15% clean water, apply the first coat, then wait 1–2 hours and apply the second. Voqe Wall Paint covers 35–40 square metres per gallon per coat, so a typical bedroom can be finished in one day.
Before you start painting, get everything ready
Painting is like cooking: get everything ready and the job is half done. The rest is a steady hand and patience.
You'll need paint, primer, a roller with a tray, a small brush for corners, masking tape, a cloth or plastic sheet to cover the floor, and a bucket of clean water. The Voqe 4-inch roller at ฿89 suits edges and narrow walls, and the 9-inch roller at ฿189 is for large walls.
- Voqe Wall Paint, in the quantity you've worked out
- Primer for old or new render, depending on the wall
- 4-inch and 9-inch rollers and trays
- A small brush, masking tape, a dust sheet and a bucket of clean water
Working out paint: how many gallons should you buy?
The simple formula: measure the length around the room, multiply by the height, subtract the area of doors and windows, then multiply by the number of coats to get the total area. Divide that by 35 and you have the number of gallons, with a little to spare, because Voqe Wall Paint covers 35–40 square metres per gallon per coat.
For example, a 3 x 4 metre bedroom, 2.6 metres high, is 14 metres around, giving about 36 square metres of wall. Subtract around 4 square metres for doors and windows and you have 32 square metres. Two coats make 64 square metres, which takes about 1.6–1.8 gallons of paint.
A money tip: a 9L can at ฿2,500 holds more than two gallons of paint but costs less than buying two ฿1,299 gallons. If you're painting more than one room, the 18L can at ฿3,990 is the best value. Or use the paint calculator on our website: enter your room size and get the answer straight away.
Prepare the wall and choose the right primer
The wall must be clean and dry. Scrape off any flaking old paint, fill holes and small cracks, and dust it down thoroughly. Tape around switches, the ceiling edge and door and window frames. However good the paint, if the wall isn't ready, it won't look good for long.
For walls that have been painted before or older render, use Voqe Primer old concrete, from ฿205 for 0.946L. For newly plastered walls, use Voqe Primer new concrete, from ฿630 for 3.785L. Check the product page for how long the primer needs to dry before you apply the paint.
Get painting: first coat, let it dry, second coat
Thin the paint with 10–15% clean water for brush and roller, and stir well. Start by cutting in the edges and corners with a brush, then use the roller for the large areas. Roll in a W shape, then smooth it out. Finish one wall at a time and you won't see any joins.
Voqe Wall Paint is touch dry in 20–30 minutes and ready for a second coat after 1–2 hours. First coat in the morning, lunch, second coat in the afternoon, tidy up in the evening: a whole new room in one day.
The paint is 100% acrylic, with little odour and low VOC, and carries the Green Label, so it's more comfortable to use indoors than you might think. Still, open the windows to let the air circulate.
Finishing off and cleaning your tools
Peel off the tape when the final coat is starting to become touch dry; the edges will be sharper than if you wait until it's fully dry. Wash rollers and brushes straight away in clean water, because it's a water-based paint.
Close the lid tightly on any leftover paint and keep it for touch-ups in the future. If you'd rather not do it yourself, Voqe offers a Supply & Apply service with trained painters.
- Peel off the tape as the paint starts to become touch dry
- Wash your tools in clean water
- Keep leftover paint for touch-ups
“First coat in the morning, second coat in the afternoon, a new room by night.”
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint do I need for a bedroom?
A 3 x 4 metre bedroom, 2.6 metres high, takes about 1.6–1.8 gallons for two coats. A 9L can is better value than two gallons.
How long should I wait before the second coat?
Voqe Wall Paint is touch dry in 20–30 minutes and ready for a second coat after 1–2 hours.
Do I need to prime before painting?
You should. Use the old concrete primer on old render or walls that have been painted before, and the new concrete primer on newly plastered walls.
How much water should I mix with the paint?
Add 10–15% clean water when applying with a brush or roller.
How many square metres does 1 gallon of paint cover?
One gallon (3.785L) of Voqe Wall Paint covers 35–40 square metres per coat.
Colour on a screen never matches colour on a wall
Order a sample to paint at home, or come and see the full shade library at Voqe Studio, Bang Phli.
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