Remove all doorways, light fixtures, and equipment, and identify everything with masking tape. Rich Maceyunas of Maceyunas Wallpaper in Waterbury, Connecticut, adds, "It's remarkable how nicely a few drops can cover a floor." Purchase high-quality drop cloths, such as canvas or plastic with a paper backing. It soaks right through lightweight materials and bedsheets, so keep that in mind. Although it is useful, plastic sheeting is slick and does not absorb spillage.

Use sanding coat.

Sanding not only removes cracked paint but also gives the following coat of "tooth." Instead of sandpaper, use a sanding sponge for shiny trim. Sponges are more durable than paper because they mold to the contour of the trim.

Brian Doherty, in Richmond, Virginia, follows the hand-sanding with liquid sandpaper to ensure the surface is totally clear to avoid incompatibility difficulties when applying latex over alkyd or when he is unsure of the original finish. "I've seen houses where latex was used on oil-painted trim, and the wall painting design began to flake in less than a year," Doherty adds.

Fix mistakes before they dry.

Don't panic if errant brushstroke land on the wall—wet paint is quite easy to clean. You can stretch a moist cloth over a finger and wipe the it off the wall if you maintain a damp cloth nearby. Simply tuck the excess cloth into your palm to keep it from hitting the wet base.

Fill all fractures.

Filling gaps with acrylic-latex caulk reduces drafts and improves the appearance of your trim When caulking, the secret is to cut the tip smaller than you think it should be; too much caulk will make a mess.

To avoid stretching out the nozzle, use a fine wire instead of a nail to break the inner seal. Consider purchasing a drip less caulk gun, which automatically reduces pressure after each trigger stroke to prevent leaking.

Choose the best quality paint.

Every one of the pros has a preference, but they all agree that good paint isn't inexpensive. Weeks estimate that top-shelf quality will cost $20 to $35 per gallon. The experts also agreed that the best-looking finish is achieved by applying two coats not one. Don't skimp on coverage; if you're covering more than 400 square feet per gallon, you're squandering your resources. Keep a quarter to half a gallon on hand for touch-ups.

Also choose colors of wall painting ideas that reflect peace and comfort, easy for your curtain designs and sofas, tables, and cushions that will not leave you confused on how to style.

Quality rollers are a must.

The ideal roller would be able to carry a room's worth of the gallon, leave just the correct amount of texture, not spray or fuzz, and be simple to clean. Until someone invents the perfect roller, use these guidelines to pick the correct one. "The longer the nap, the more paint the roller will hold," Dixon explains, "but it will also create more texture." "A lamb's-wool roller with a 1/2-inch nap retains a lot of product without adding too much texture," Dixon explains. "Lower-cost rollers can work," Span says. "Wash them in dishwashing solutions first to get rid of any stray fibers."

Try sponge-bath walls

Don't paint over dust unless you want textured walls. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) or a mild cleanser, such as Jasco's TSP No-Rinse Substitute, should be used to clean the walls to add to your ideas for painting walls. Toto uses a 50/50 combination of bleach and water to clean smoke-stained walls.

Use two buckets to clean a wall. Scrub with a rag or sponge loaded with cleaning solution from your bucket. Rinse the sponge in a second bucket of clean water before redipping it.

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