Ten tips from expert decorators

Be prepared. It’s worthwhile spending a few hours collecting all the materials that you’ll need. Having all your tools at hand will help simplify your painting project and save you time.

Quality matters. Avoid poor quality paints. Your walls will only need more coats and the finish can often look uneven.

Brush up. Invest in a good quality 2-inch (5cm) synthetic bristle brush for cutting in the edges.

Cut in with care. This means painting the corners, painting ceiling edges, above baseboards and around any windows and doors before moving onto the main walls. You should repeat this process for each wall before moving on to the next to be certain that the paint blends together properly.

Get rolling. You’ll need a 7-inch (17cm) medium pile roller for the walls and if you have radiators or narrow sections that need painting, then it’s well worth having a small roller as well. If your roller is brand new, wash it in soapy water before you start painting to get rid of any fluff.

Eliminate drips. Are you worried about paint dripping from the brush? Dip the bottom half of your brush into the paint to load it up, and then tap firmly against the side of the tin to get rid of any excess paint.

Paint by letters. If you’re painting a large space with a roller, begin by painting a ‘W’ on the wall and then fill it in with an ‘M’ without lifting the roller. This will make certain that you get an even coverage.

Leave windows for later. Don’t worry if you get a splash of paint on your windows. Just wait until it’s dry and remove it with a paint scraper.

Keep brushes fresh. Keep your brushes and rollers in a bucket covered with a damp cloth when not in use to be certain that they won’t dry out.

Clean as you go. Keep a clean, damp cloth close by and wipe up paint splatters as they happen. Dry the area with paper towels to remove any excess paint film. Tidying as you go will help reduce the clean-up job at the end.