Often homeowners wonder how they can give their home a fresh new look without a hefty remodeling price tag. The simple and most inexpensive answer is to update their room design with a different paint color. With a little time and careful preparation, you can learn how to paint the interior of your home like a pro.

• 1. Need help calculating the amount of paint you'll need, check out this online paint calculator.

• 2. Always prime walls with a quality primer to get the most longevity out of your paint. You should let the primer on the ceiling, walls and trim dry first before moving to your main paint. Another added benefit of using primer is that you don't need to use two coats of your more expensive wall color.

• 3. Use a flat sheen for low traffic areas such as bedrooms; satin sheen for high traffic areas such as kids' rooms and bathrooms; semi-gloss and gloss sheen for trim and cabinets.

• 4. The glossier the sheen the easier it is to clean with soapy water. However, don't use a glossy paint on a surface with noticeable imperfections.

• 5. Some people have trouble working with the glossy sheens. Try using Floetrol or a like product to thin semi-gloss and glossy latex paints. This will help it flow easier. If you are using oil-based paints, paint thinner serves the same purpose.

• 6. Keep paint cans closed. The paint will easily dry out when exposed to the air.

• 7. For a smoother application, prep brushes by dipping them in water and pulling the bristles through your fingers before dipping them into latex paint. For oil-based paints, use paint thinner instead of water.

• 8. When you brush over masked areas, the brush should almost be dry. This will prevent paint from leaking under the tape.

• 9. Consider buying a high quality paintbrush. It leaves less streaks and bristle debris.

• 10. If you plan to stain hardwood moulding, use wood filler on holes instead of spackle.

• 11. Don't stop painting in the middle of a wall. Finish a complete wall before taking a break to minimize the appearance of paint seams.

• 12. Wear a dust mask or respirator when using sandpaper.

• 13. Use an exhaust fan to circulate the air when using paints and other toxic chemicals.

• 14. If your house was built before 1978, consult a professional to test your existing wall paint for lead. Only a professional should remove lead paint.

• 15. Be cautious with oil-based paints. Items soaked with oil-based paint can spontaneously catch on fire. Place items exposed to this paint in water filled metal cans after use.

It can take anywhere from half a day to a couple of days to paint a room. Mainly, it depends on the level of wall and trim damage. Before you make that trip to the hardware store, you should inspect all the surfaces you plan to paint. Record the location of any cracks, dents, holes, stains or peeling paint.

Refer to the tip section for more on picking a paint finish or calculating how much paint you need for your project.

• only needed for walls in bad condition
  • for oil-based paints

Remove all tapestries from the windows and pictures from the walls. Take easily moved decorations and furniture to another room. If you have large pieces that can't be moved, slide them to the center of the room and cover with a drop cloth. Proceed to cover the entire floor with separate dropcloths to protect it from paint spills. Use a screwdriver to remove faceplates from outlets then place masking tape over the plug entrances and switches.

Always start with the largest repair and work your way down.

Major hole damage: Purchase a drywall repair kit and follow the instructions.

Minor hole damage: Use drywall tape and joint compound to patch the damaged area. It's best to use more than one application. Be sure to allow the compound to dry completely before the next layer.

If you are lucky, you only have minor scratches and a few nail holes on the surface of your walls.

Peeling Paint: Scrape off paint with a putty knife and seal area with stain sealer.

Stain: Bleach stain if needed then seal with stain sealer.

Crack: Fill cracks with caulk. It is sometimes helpful to use a gloved finger and spread the caulk evenly over the crack. Wipe off the excess.

Nail hole: Cover with spackle and a putty knife. Clean off any extra spill off.

After you have repaired any damage to the walls and trim, sand down all the surfaces with 120 grit sandpaper followed by 220 grit sandpaper. This will give you a smooth canvas and will help the paint to adhere to the surface better. Once this is complete, you can sponge-bath the surfaces with warm water to get rid of dust particles. Use masking tape along the floor, trim, doors, windows and fixtures to protect them from paint.

Pour about a 1/2" of your paint into the roller pan. When loading your paintbrush, only dip the bristles 1/3 of the way into the paint to avoid drips. To use a roller, roll it down into the paint then roll it back up using the roller pan grate to get rid of excess paint.

Begin by using a 3" paintbrush to paint a 3" to 4" strip along the entire perimeter of the ceiling. This is called cutting in. You will also want to cut in around any fixtures or moulding on the ceiling. Starting at a corner, work in blocks about 2' square. Make a W shape in this space with your roller attached to an extension pole. Carefully, fill in the shape with paint making long smooth strokes. Try to overlap the previous cut in strip by an inch. You will continue like this across the entire ceiling.

Like the ceiling, you want to cut in a 3" to 4" strip of paint around the perimeter of one single wall. Remember to cut in around windows, doors and trim. Always work walls from the top down to keep paint from dripping. From the top corner of the wall, paint a W shape in a 2' square space with your roller. Fill in the block of space with lengthy up and down strokes. Continue this process until that single wall is done. Allow all walls to dry before moving on to the trim.

Now that the walls have dried, you can remove the masking tape from the trim. Some people like to be extra cautious and place masking tape on the wall to protect it while painting the moulding. However, be aware that you may chip paint on the newly finished wall. Instead of masking the wall, try using an angled trim brush that is lightly loaded with paint. Keep your strokes even and continuous.

If you need to take a break before finishing the whole paint project, you will need to protect your paintbrushes and rollers from drying out. While still wet, squeeze out as much paint as you can. Then, use a mild detergent and warm water to wash the paint out of the equipment. Do this until the water runs clear. Ring them out and store in a food storage bag. Don't forget to secure the lids on any paint cans and cover roller pans with a large bag to keep the air out.

If you are using oil-based paint, use mineral spirits to clean rollers and brushes prior to using soapy water.