How to Paint a Room Like a Pro in 9 Easy Steps

Most of us can paint a room with moderate success. We can slap some paint on the wall and, without close scrutiny, it will look okay. But we know the difference between an amateur paint job and the work of a professional. Part of the difference is a matter of experience, but most of it is know-how. Professional house painters know the tricks and techniques to get the job done beautifully without sacrificing efficiency.

With some basic know-how, you, too, can paint expertly. Here are a few tips gleaned from professional house painters to help you achieve professional looking results in your own home.

CLEAR THE ROOM

covered completely with a plastic sheet. — By Stokkete/shutterstock

Move small pieces of furniture and knickknacks out of the room you intend to paint. Anything too cumbersome to evacuate should be pushed into the center of the room and covered completely with a plastic sheet.

LOCATE AND FIX FLAWS

Shine a bright light across the surface you intend to paint. Look for any loose or rough places that will need to be filled or sanded. Use a pencil to lightly circle the trouble spots.

A lot of people mistakenly believe that a fresh coat of paint will hide minor flaws, but the opposite is true. The new paint will actually highlight minor irregularities. So, take the time to fill holes and sand the rough spots. For shallow depressions (less than 1/8-inch), use a spackling compound. To fill deeper indentations, use either epoxy wood filler or a 2-part filler.