Sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil before painting to figure out how much paint is needed. Measure how many square feet will be covered. Multiply the height in feet by the length in feet of the walls and/or ceiling. Paint cans will have estimates on them telling approximately how many square feet they cover. Buy the appropriate amount of paint.

After taping the edges and trim of your painting area, be sure to add a bead of painter's caulk.  This can be bought at any hardware store and will prove invaluable.  Here's how it works... After taping the area off, run a line of caulk along the edge of the tape that faces the wall you are painting.  Then smooth it out with your  finger.  The caulk will fill in any gaps between the tape and the wall, ensuring a straight edge.  This is especially important when painting an accent wall!!  It will give you that perfect line when two colors run into each other.

Choose either a foam or bristle brush. Foam brushes fall apart easily, so a good two-inch bristle brush is recommended. Again, buy quality products. The bristles on cheap brushes may shed and get stuck in the paint.

Clean the surface of walls and ceilings the night prior to painting or at least several hours before beginning. Use a household cleaner and a sponge. Mix in one or two capfuls of the cleaner in a bucket filled with hot water.

Don't just stop with laying a tarp on the floor. To protect doorknobs, electric switches, faucets and other items that you want to keep paint-free, cover them with aluminum foil. The foil can be crimped and folded to fit the shape of the object and should stay put until you have finished painting.

Add a coat of lemon oil to woodwork before starting. Any paint speckles that get on it will wipe right off. Just make sure to wipe them off right away, rather than waiting for the paint to dry.

To keep paint off shoes while painting, slip an old pair of socks over them. The cotton will absorb splatters and save you from ruining a decent pair of shoes. If you're working on a ladder or slippery floor, it's probably safer to remove the socks. Use common sense. Safety counts!

 

One of the latest innovations in paint is the magnetic type. You can paint the wall with two coats, then cover it with your favorite color of regular paint. The magnetic force will work through the regular paint.

If you want a paint that is easy to clean, use latex semigloss paint. It is also very durable.
Decide whether a primer is needed. If covering a white surface with a darker color, there is probably no need to apply primer. Otherwise, use a primer that is tinted to match the final color.Next, choose the type of paint. Generally a flat latex paint is used on ceilings and walls, and semi-gloss latex and oil paint are saved to use on trim. One determinant may be what type of paint is being covered. If the existing paint is oil-based, then an oil-based paint is required to cover it. Latex won't adhere as well. Purchase high-quality paints, even if they cost a little more. Cheaper paints will most likely require multiple coats and will not last as long, which could cost more in the long run.

For areas that are moisture-heavy, such as a bathroom or kitchen, it is best to choose a satin or semigloss paint that is mildew resistant. These are made so that the walls can easily be cleaned.

A flat paint is more appropriate for bedrooms or rooms that are generally more dry. This type cannot be washed.

 

PROCESS

If you’re forced to recycle an old paint tray with dried paint on it, be sure to line it with aluminum foil so you don’t get old paint flakes in your new paint.

Put up baby gates to keep children and pets away.

A good way to remember the type of paint that was used in each room is to write the color and brand of the paint on a piece of masking tape and affix it to the inside of a closet in the room.

After the room is finished, fill a clean baby food jar with the remaining paint and screw on the lid. When the time comes to do touchups, you've got an easier "paint can" to work with.

 An angle brush is great for painting details in tight spots. A sponge brush, is great for small touchups.

There are two basic kinds of paint, latex and oil-based. Latex paint is soft and rubbery, while oil-based paint is hard and brittle. Oil paints are generally more durable than latex.

Natural bristle brushes are best to use when working with oil paints. A nylon brush works fine for use with latex paints.

Use a 20-foot expandable ladder when painting a stairwell. Rest the bottom of the ladder against a tread for stability.

Use ladder mitts on the top end of the ladder to protect dry wall.

An inexpensive pot hook provides a spot to hang a bucket of paint from the ladder and avoids going up and down the ladder to load the brush.

A professional 18-inch roller cover and frame make the work go faster. A larger tray is also required.

A long extension pole helps reach awkward spots.

A new product, called a paint stick, which has a tube that can be filled with paint attached to a roller, makes painting go more quickly.

Stiff paintbrush? Heat a cup of vinegar in the microwave and soak the brush. Rinse it out and it should be like new!

If you need to take a break while painting, remove the wet roller cover and slide it into a potato chip can. Put the top on and place it in the fridge. When ready to use it again, remove and allow to thaw. Continue painting as before.

To avoid cleaning a brush during a break, put some paint on it and slip it into a plastic bag before refrigerating.

Use the rounded edge of a five-in-one tool to scrape as much excess paint as possible into the can before cleaning a roller.

Catch paint drips by gluing a paper or plastic plate to the bottom of a paint can. Remove and discard when dry.

Soak brushes with dried paint on them in vinegar for a couple of hours to remove it.

Soak clean paintbrushes in fabric softener to keep them pliable.