If you know your colors already just skip this step! We suggest taking a picture and going to the store in person. Talking to your local paint pro will give you specialized advice for your current project and could suggest to buy certain supplies. Narrow down a list of at least three colors you like. Even if you fall in love with one specific color at the shop, it may not look great when you splash it on a big wall. Buy a few samples and test out the colors! Keep in mind accents and trims. Monotonous paint schemes can be boring and dull. Contouring your exterior paints with different colors can turn heads and leave you happy for years to come with your interior.

If you want a professional-grade finish, you will need to put in a little elbow grease! Make sure to address any major marks, holes, or stains before you paint. Scrub with soap and rinse with warm water.  For more stubborn stains, sand with a fine-grit paper, and add a coat of primer to seal the area before you re-paint. Quickly clean your walls by attaching a clean rag to the base of a long swivel duster, then run it up and down each wall. 

If possible, move the furniture and any other large objects that might reduce your mobility. Gather some old sheets, newspaper, or a plastic sheet to lay down on the floor. Then gather all your materials: paint brushes, roller covers, paint bucket, applicators, mask, latex gloves, scraper, clean rags to help with mistakes, painter’s tape, strainer, and extendable paintbrush roller (reduces a need for a ladder).

Applying tape around the room is a very time-consuming process, and it might not even be worth the effort to fully outfit your room with tape. Taping off all your trim does not guarantee good results. Paint can still seep underneath tape. You should prioritize your time taping to only horizontal surfaces, like baseboards. Horizontal features tend to receive more accidental paint. Vertical trims like those around windows are less susceptible to paint splatter.

The painting process is now ready to begin. Even fresh, high-quality paint may have small debris particles in it. Make sure to place a strainer over a 5-gallon bucket and pour your paint through the strainer to have a clean source of paint. If you are new to painting, you might not know that painting dries quickly. If you are taking a break, make sure to cover the paint bucket with a lid and your brush with a damp cloth.

The process of cutting in can be the most difficult part of the whole process for novice painters. Use a tapered paintbrush, dip the brush into the paint bucket, tap the side of the brush to knock off excess paint into the container, and begin to paint the wall about half an inch from the trim. Avoid applying too much pressure when painting, this may cause a visible ridge of paint where you are cutting in. Make a second pass cutting all the way to the trim and keep your had extra steady. One way to keep a steady hand is by moving your entire arm, not just from the elbow down.

Before you get to painting, ask yourself if you have a textured or smooth ceiling. If you have a rough-textured ceiling, grab a putty knife, hold it at a 45-degree angle and run the blade at the edge where the ceiling and walls meet. You will create a groove that will make mistakes much less likely to splash over from wall to ceiling. Starting with the ceiling is a good idea because if you do splash a little bit on the wall, it will be covered up as you move onto the wall. An extendable roller comes in really handy when painting the ceiling since you don’t need to use (or risk) a ladder. Pick a flat finish paint for the ceiling as it hides imperfections.

Utilize a paint roller for the quickest and most effective painting experience. If you are right-handed, paint the wall from left to right (and vice versa for lefties). Load the roller brush with paint and roll from baseboard to ceiling. Then, roll straight back down to make sure you got every bit painted. Next, move your roller about 3 or 4 inches to the right and repeat the process. Use an 18 inch roller for the quickest job. However, you may have more control if you utilize a 9-inch roller with a shorter grip pole.