Choose a paint variety to suit a surface, buy best quality, use large brushes  

    1. Buy flat (nonshiny) finish paint for most walls and ceilings in living spaces such as living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms   
 
    2. Consider that semigloss is easier to clean and provides a tougher finish; it's great for bathrooms, kitchens, entrance, doors and windows. 
  
    3. Buy latex (water-based) paint for virtually any room in the house. It dries fast, cleans easily (with water) and is very durable. 
  
    4.  Get alkyd (like oil-based) paint if you want an extra-tough finish for outside doors and their trim, or for bathrooms. It dries more slowly, cleans with solvents and is more durable - but may be overkill for some purposes. It also emits a strong smell as it dries. 
   
    5.  Buy the best-quality paint you can afford; paint itself is the least expensive part of the project. You'll usually get what you pay for
   
    6. Remember that any new surface will generally require three coats: one coat of primer, two of finish.   
 
    7. Paint on a tiny chip in a store may not look the same as it will at full size in your house. If you're changing the existing color and are not absolutely sure you'll like what you've picked, buy the smallest amount of paint you can. Paint a section of trim, or a swath of wall at least a few feet square, and see how the paint actually looks in place.    
  
    8. Large brushes work better. Make sure the brush is saturated and create an edge with the bristles. 
   
    9. Figure out how much paint you'll need: Multiply the length of the walls all around the room by their height; add the square footage of the ceiling (length times width) if you're painting the ceiling. Exclude the doors and windows. Add 25 to 30 percent. Generally a paint can of any quantity carries the information how much area it can cover. 
   
 10. Remember that any new surface will generally require three coats: one coat of primer, two of finish.
  
 
 
   
 

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