Clear and protect
Move furniture out or to the center, cover floors with drop cloths and remove outlet covers and hardware.
Clean the walls
Grease, dust and soap film stop paint from sticking. Wash with a mild cleaner and let the walls dry.
Patch and sand
Fill nail holes and cracks with spackle, let it dry, then sand smooth. Feather edges so patches do not show.
Caulk the gaps
Caulk gaps between trim and walls for crisp lines. Use paintable caulk and smooth it with a damp finger.
Prime where needed
Primer seals stains, covers patches and helps with big color changes. Spot prime repairs at least.
Tape and cut in
Apply painters tape on trim, cut in edges with a quality brush and roll the walls in a W pattern for even coverage.
Our advice in one sentence
Spend most of your time on prep. Paint is the easy part.
