Become an Expert Painter

Step 1
Choose your colors and finish. There are several different types of finishes to choose from: flat, satin and semi-gloss. Flat paint has no visible sheen and is a perfect choice for walls with an uneven or rough texture. Satin paint has a slight sheen and can be washed, which makes it a great choice for high-traffic areas. Semi-gloss is shiny and very washable; it's a great choice for moldings, doors, bathrooms and kitchens. If you chose a darker paint color, consider using a tinted primer first for better coverage.

Step 2
Remove smaller furniture items, lamps and decorative items from the room. Then move the rest of the furniture to the center and cover with a protective cloth or tarp. This way you'll have easy and complete access to all the walls and won't risk splashing paint on anything.

Step 3
Cover the floor with sturdy craft paper or a plastic drop cloth to protect it from paint spills and drips. Tape down the paper or cloth with easily removable masking tape to make sure it doesn't budge. If you do spill paint, wipe it up with a damp rag as soon as possible.

Step 4
If the walls are dirty or dusty, wipe them down with a damp sponge and let them dry properly. Use a putty knife with spackling paste to fill holes and fine cracks. If the surface is uneven after spackling, sand it smooth with fine-grit sandpaper, then wipe away excess dust. If you have water damage, use a wall primer with a built-in stain blocker, or else the stains will bleed through the new paint.

Step 5
Remove anything from the walls that shouldn't be painted, such as light switch and electrical outlet covers and heating and air-conditioning vent grates. Unscrew wall-mounted lighting fixtures or cover them with plastic to protect them. Once the walls are clean and prepped, make sure that the temperature is at least 50 F. Also make sure that there is enough light for you to see what you're doing and that the room is adequately ventilated.

Step 6
Now you're ready to start painting! If you have more than one gallon of the same color, pour all the paint into a five-gallon bucket and blend, since batches of paint can vary in color. Disposable paint tray liners also come in handy. You will need a 2-1/2" angled sash brush, a cut bucket (any plastic, quart-size container will do), a roller handle and a 3/8" synthetic roller. Brush out the roller with a wire brush to remove fuzz, which can cause bubbles in the paint. Some rollers need to be soaked in water first -- be sure to read the directions on the package.

Step 7
Surfaces should be painted from top to bottom in the following order: ceilings, walls, baseboards, doors and window trim. Instead of masking off adjoining areas to avoid getting paint on them, professionals use a technique called 'cutting in.' Hold the brush like a pencil for better flexibility and control, dip it in paint and flick off the excess, then wedge it into place at an angle and slowly drag it along the edge of the trim. Paint along all corners and trim before filling in larger areas with a roller.

Step 8
After cutting in, you're ready to paint the walls. Dip the roller in the paint tray and roll off excess paint. The roller should be saturated but not dripping with paint. Paint the walls in three-feet square sections, following a "W" pattern. Don't overreach -- move along the wall as you work. The paint will look lighter when it's wet -- paint darkens as it dries. For lighter colors, two coats should be enough. Darker shades may require three coats. Let paint dry thoroughly -- ideally overnight -- before replacing light switch covers and re-attaching wall fixtures.

Step 9
Once you've moved all your furniture back in, you're ready to enjoy your "new" room!