How to Do a Professional Paint Job

Here, once and for all, is a step-by-step guide to getting the perfect (or close to it) results when it comes to painting walls, ceilings and moldings.

So without further ado, let's get started, shall we?

Things You'll Need:

At least a couple of paint rollers, one for ceilings and one for regular walls

Paint! (Please Note: Always try to buy the right tools for the particular paint you're using; for example, you'll want latex rollers and brushes to use with latex paint.)

Spackle or caulk

A spackle or caulking scraper

Sandpaper

A damp cloth

Mild detergent

1. To make sure the paint doesn't crack, chip or peel, you're going to first prep the walls-This consists of completely cleaning and smoothing the surface. Fill the holes or cracks with spackle or caulk. Let dry, then sand smooth. Use sandpaper to take the shine off the moldings, thus giving them a rough surface for the new paint to adhere to. Follow by wiping all surfaces to be painted with a damp cloth and mild detergent.

2. The first surface you should paint is the ceiling (because splatters might spoil the wall or molding paint). Working in small sections, about three feet at a time, begin by using a brush to "cut" or paint a four-inch border to fill in ceiling edges. Then roll out the middle area of the ceiling. Apply paint liberally for good coverage.

3. Next, brush a fresh coat of paint onto the well-sanded moldings. Work from top to bottom to control drips.

4. Finally, roll out the walls by painting a zigzag pattern on the wall surface, beginning with an upwards stroke to minimize any splatter. Then, without lifting the roller from the surface, fill in the zigzag with even, parallel strokes. Apply a liberal coat of paint for best results (one coat should be sufficient unless you're covering a dark color).

Additional Info

A sunny yellow shade, like all vibrant colors, can give your room a springtime boost. But sometimes when shopping for bright paint, it's easy to select a shade that may be too intense. Here's how to get it right: When you're holding those paint selector cards in your hand at the store, pick a color that's two shades lighter than the one that looks right to you. Before you paint an entire room with a bright shade, buy just a quart to test your color tolerance. Paint a portion of a wall (about 4' x 4') with the color and live with it for a day or two. It may seem really intense at first, but it'll mellow over time. If it still seems too harsh after a couple of days, go a shade paler when you buy gallons of paint.