Prepare the Walls
Preparing your walls before painting is a lot of work, but is essential if you want to paint like a pro. Without proper preparation, the paint won’t adhere to the wall correctly. Scrape away any old paint and then clean it to eliminate dirt and oils. Before applying primer, sand rough areas and gently wash the walls to remove any remaining build-up
To Paint Like a Pro, Assemble Your Equipment Beforehand
Everything you need for this job should be gathered together and easily accessible. In addition to the paint, you will need brushes, rollers, extension handles, a drop cloth, painter’s tape, plastic sheeting, protective clothing, paint trays, and step ladders.
Anything You Don’t Want to be Painted Should Be Covered
It’s worth the effort to protect your furniture and flooring from accidental paint drips. Cover the floor with a drop cloth. If anything is too large to remove, place it in the middle of the room and cover it with plastic. Remove any outlet covers and tape over openings. Use sandwich bags to protect doorknobs.
Paint Like a Pro by Selecting the Appropriate Paint Finish
High-gloss paint is durable and easy to clean, yet it will show a lot of surface imperfections and is highly reflective. For most rooms, use gloss or semi-gloss paint on the trim and use satin paint, which hides surface flaws and brush strokes, on the walls. If you are painting a bathroom, use mildew-resistant paint to combat mold growth.
Paint From a Separate Container
Never apply paint to a brush or roller straight from the paint can. This will only transfer dirt accumulated from the painting tool right into your paint, contaminating the entire batch. Instead, pour a half-inch of paint into a tray from which to use. This will keep the paint clean while you paint the walls.
Paint From Top to Bottom
Use your roller to apply paint from the ceiling downward after you’ve used a brush to cut in your edges at the ceiling and baseboard. Pros paint directly over their errors as they work their way down the wall, while amateurs frequently have telltale drips and splatters after a paint job. If you’ve realized you’ve made a mistake after some drying has occurred, it’s better to leave an area alone until it’s fully dry. Reapplying paint at this point will leave scratches and color streaks on the surface.
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