New paint can bring life to any room, but you’ll want to keep these 9 tips in mind!

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1. Wait for Dry Weather – When you paint on a rainy day the humidity can actually cause drips in your paint and even slow down the drying process. If you have no choice but to paint when the clouds are out take advantage of slow-drying paint so you can correct errors before beginning your second coat.
2. Preparation is key – Take your time and complete a thorough visual inspection and prep accordingly. Look for cracks, flaking paint, or other peeling areas that may need to be lightly sanded or scraped and rinsed before you even apply your primer. The weight of a new coat of paint will pull the old paint loose and you’re project will NOT turn out as you envisioned.
3. Invest in high-quality brushes, roller covers, and painter’s tape – Great paint doesn’t mean a thing if your application tools are not up to par. Good brushes and roller covers will offer you excellent coverage so you don’t have to spend more time on re-application. And high-end painter’s tape when it comes to selling out drips and blurs.
4. Know your nap – No, this does not mean being aware of when it’s time to catch a few Zs. The more texture your walls have, the thicker the nap you’ll want on your roller cover so that it can reach into those hard to reach crevices and offer you complete coverage. But, be careful, because if you choose a roller that’s too thick you may actually create texture where you don’t want it.
5. Protect anything you don’t want to be painted – If you like your beautifully finished hardwood floors the way they are, you’ll want to take the time to cover them. It’s worth the extra time to cover floors, furniture, and hardware before you begin a paint project. Drop cloths are a necessity, and small plastic sandwich bags secured with tape are an easy way to protect doorknobs.
6. Primer – If you already have a clean, smooth, surface then paint-and-primer combinations are fine. But, if you have any issues with a wall or it’s been more than eight years since you last painted, it’s worth the extra time and money to go with a separate primer.
7. Let the roller do the work – Most premium paints today already flow on easily, and you’ve followed tip number 3 and invited in a good roller (right?), so you don’t have to use as much pressure when you’re painting. Consider an extension pole so you can reach the maximum amount of area with the least effort.
8. Paint from top to bottom – You’ve cut your edges with a brush at the ceiling and baseboard so now it’s time to apply the paint from the ceiling downward. Pros take this approach so they can paint right over any drips or other mistakes as they work their way own the wall. Also, once an area starts to dry it’s best to leave it alone as going back over it can leave marks and color streaks in the paint’s surface.