Painting 101

Make any paint project a breeze with these simple steps to a flawless and long-lasting application:

1. Buy the right amount of paint - To determine how many gallons to buy, multiply the width of your area by the height of your room and divide by 400.
2. Prepare your space - Remove draperies, pictures and outlet covers, and place drop cloths over flooring and furniture.
3. Prepare your paint surface - Fill in any imperfections with caulk or spackle and remove dust or dirt from walls and baseboards with a damp cloth.
4. Break out the painter’s tape - Tape off woodwork, trim or fixtures that are not to be painted.
5. Prime if necessary - If you have a problem area or are painting over a dark color with a substantially lighter color, be sure to prime your space.
6. Start with the ceilings - With a brush, paint a two-inch wide strip on the ceiling where it meets the wall. Then, begin in a corner and roll across the shorter length of the ceiling.
7. Finish with the walls - Again, start by painting a two-inch wide strip around all taped off areas. Then, create a letter “M” on your wall with a roller and proceed to roll from left to right until filled in.