• Paint
• Stencils
• Wallpaper

Preparing to paint

Before painting any surface follow these basic steps:

  First read the label!

  Cover floors and furniture with a protective sheet.

  If necessary remove curtains and plugs.

  Scrape and sand areas where paint is loose.

  Wash the walls with TSP (or biodegradable alternative); start at the bottom, rinse, and let
     the surface dry.

  Sand the entire surface lightly.

  Clean off the sanding dust.

Painting techniques

Use a brush to paint next to the floor boards, edges, ceiling and corners. Use a small chiseled brush. With a slow steady hand you should be able to paint these areas without getting paint on your floor boards or ceiling, though it may take some practice.

Now use the roller to get the wall. Don't put too much paint on it or you will end up with areas of heavy paint deposits. Begin by making an "M" on the wall. Then run back over the same area several times. One roller full of paint should cover about four square feet of space. If you are changing the color of the paint you should give the room two coats for the most professional look. You will also want to do the same thing with the ceiling.

Budding artists!

For children who love to draw on the walls try putting up a hearty border and under that border, white washable wall paper. This allows the artist to draw, paint on the walls, only in his/her room!