6 Simple Steps to Painting a Room

Clean walls.
Remove dust, dirt, and grease spots (which can ruin a smooth finish) with water, a little mild dishwashing detergent, and a cellulose sponge. Rinse walls with clean water to remove the soap residue.

For more tips and tricks, see How to Paint a Room.

Tape the trim, window, and doorframes
Be sure to use painter's blue tape, which can be applied up to a week ahead. Remove tape immediately after painting, before the wall dries, so you don't peel off any paint with it.

See how to use painters tape.

Prime the walls.
It's a common myth that walls that have been painted many times don't need to be primed. In fact, primer helps maximize the sheen and coverage of paint and gives the finish coat a more uniform appearance.

Brush where you can't roll.
Brush on paint around trim and in the corners of walls, where your roller can't reach, with a two-inch angled brush. Extend out two to three inches from windows, doors, and moldings.

See how to paint corners.

Use the W technique.
For efficiency, start in the corner of a wall and roll on a three-by-three-foot W pattern, then fill it in without lifting the roller. Continue in sections until you're finished. Paint one wall at a time.

See how to use a paint roller.

Paint the trim.
When the walls are completely dry, tape where the trim meets the wall. Paint the moldings and the door and window frames with a two-inch angled brush.

See how to paint trim.