Compared to the prepping, painting is fun—and easy. Still, it’s worth brushing up on painting basics to make sure you’re doing it right.

Loading a Brush and Roller
Getting the right amount of paint on the brush or roller is key to a uniform coat. First dampen the brush or roller cover with water (if you’re using latex paint) or mineral spirits (if you’re using oil-base paint). Blot off liquid.

To load a brush, dip one-third of its bristles into the paint, lift it, and gently tap the bristles against the can’s rim. You want to load the brush just short of it dripping on the way to the wall.

Load a roller by dipping it into the paint tray then rolling it on the tray’s ramp until the cover is saturated.

Prime Time
For the most even appearance, use a primer—even if the walls are already painted. If you notice ink or crayon on the walls, apply a stain-blocking primer to prevent the marks from bleeding through the paint.

Cutting In
A roller can’t reach tight spots—corners, around trim, where the ceiling and wall meet—so you’ll need to tackle those with a brush. Use a 2 1/2-inch or 3-inch flat brush for this “cutting in” process, where you essentially outline the walls before painting them. Hold the brush as you would a pencil.

Rolling on Paint
A roller makes quick work out of painting walls—even quicker when you insert a dowellike extender stick into the roller handle to avoid having to use a ladder.

There are several rolling techniques, and we suggest the simplest: Roll paint on the wall in large Ws, working one 4-5 foot section at a time, floor to ceiling. Overlap still-wet areas as you move along to prevent roller marks.