Knowledge base

Painting guides

Practical, no-nonsense guides written by people who actually paint. Choose a finish, prep a wall like a pro, avoid the mistakes everyone makes — and then head to the calculator with confidence.

Buying Paint

Paint Finishes Explained: Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss & High-Gloss

Every paint finish has a personality. Here is exactly which sheen belongs on each surface in your home — and which ones to avoid in high-traffic zones.

9 min read · Paint finish, sheen → Planning

How Much Paint Do I Need? Paint Coverage Per Litre & Gallon

Paint coverage is not a fixed number. Learn what 1 litre or 1 gallon really covers, what throws the number off, and how to stop overbuying.

8 min read · Paint coverage, paint per litre → Preparation

Wall Preparation: The Step-by-Step Checklist Before You Paint

A great paint job is 80% preparation. Follow this proven checklist to fix cracks, prime correctly and get a finish that lasts for years.

11 min read · Wall preparation, prepping walls → Planning

Room-by-Room Paint Estimator: How Much Paint Each Room Needs

Bedrooms, kitchens, hallways and bathrooms all behave differently. Use this room-by-room estimator to budget paint before you shop.

10 min read · Paint estimator, paint per room → Buying Paint

Paint Buying Checklist: 14 Things to Check Before You Pay

Stop wasting money on the wrong paint. Use this 14-point checklist to buy exactly what you need, in the right finish and quantity.

7 min read · Paint buying guide, buying paint → How To

DIY Painting Tips: 21 Pro Techniques for a Flawless Finish

Cut in like a pro, roll without lap marks and avoid the small mistakes that ruin DIY paint jobs. Real, practical tips from experienced painters.

12 min read · Diy painting tips, painting techniques → Reference

Paint Consumption Table: Coverage by Surface, Texture & Coat

A ready-reference table of paint consumption per square metre for every common surface — new plaster, drywall, wood, metal, masonry and more.

6 min read · Paint consumption table, paint per square metre → How To

Common Painting Mistakes (And How to Fix Each One)

Drips, brush marks, peeling and patchy colour — the 12 painting mistakes everyone makes, with concrete fixes you can apply today.

10 min read · Painting mistakes, paint drips → Budgeting

12 Ways to Save Money on Paint Without Cutting Corners

Quality paint does not have to break the budget. These 12 proven tactics cut waste, reduce labour and keep your project professional.

8 min read · Paint cost saving, cheap paint → Help

Paint Calculator FAQ — Everything About Estimating Paint

Answers to the most common questions about calculating paint quantity, coverage, coats, ceilings and cost for any room.

9 min read · Paint calculator faq, how much paint →

How to get the most out of these guides

Each guide is written to stand on its own — you can read them in any order — but they also build on each other. If you are starting a project from scratch, a sensible path is to begin with the finish guide to choose the right sheen for each surface, then the coverage guide to understand how far a litre really goes, and finally the preparation checklist before you open a single tin.

From there, the DIY techniques and common mistakes guides are the ones most readers come back to mid-project. And once the painting is done, the cost-saving and buying checklist guides help you make sure the next room goes even more smoothly.

All of the guides feed directly into the paint calculator: every coverage rate, finish recommendation and prep step is consistent across the two, so the number you get from the calculator reflects the same assumptions you read about in the guides.