For a bedroom with patched drywall and one dark accent wall, you don't need a huge pile of specialty products. Here's the practical shopping list.
Primer: use one good primer on the whole room
Because you have both fresh drywall patches and a dark wall, it's usually best to prime all the walls, not just the patches. Priming only the repairs can leave dull "flashing" spots that show through the finish. A full coat also helps if you're covering a dark color with a lighter one.
A good all-around choice is a high-quality acrylic or multi-purpose primer.
If the room only has normal drywall patches and no water stains or smoke damage:
KILZ 2 All-Purpose Primer
or
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3
If the room were entirely new drywall, an inexpensive PVA drywall primer would be ideal, but for a repaint with patches plus an accent wall, a multi-purpose primer is generally more versatile.
Supplies you'll actually use
- 9-inch roller frame
- 3/8-inch microfiber roller covers (good for smooth to lightly textured walls)
- Extension pole
- 2–2½-inch angled sash brush for cutting in
- Paint tray and liners
- Painter's tape (only if you prefer taping instead of cutting in freehand)
- Canvas drop cloth or plastic floor covering
- Sanding sponge (120–220 grit) for smoothing patches
- Damp microfiber cloth or tack cloth to remove dust
- Stir stick and paint can opener
Paint
Plan on:
- 1 coat of primer
- 2 finish coats of your wall paint
If you're painting the former dark accent wall a much lighter color, the primer will reduce the chance that you'll need a third finish coat.
Before you prime
- Sand the drywall patches until they feel perfectly smooth.
- Vacuum or wipe away all sanding dust.
- Prime the entire wall surface.
- Lightly sand any rough spots after the primer dries (optional but gives a smoother finish).
- Apply two coats of paint.
If you tell me:
- approximately how large the bedroom is (or its dimensions),
- the new paint color (light, medium, or dark), and
- whether the walls are smooth or textured,
I can estimate exactly how many gallons of primer and paint you'll need.
