Freshen up your home with paint

Donna Babylon, author of More Splash than Cash Decorating Ideas, suggests these handy tips for a successful paint job. These tips will insure that your painting project will look as good as if you hired a professional.

• Repair any cracks or other flaws on the walls before beginning.
• Once surface repairs are made, clean the walls thoroughly using TSP (or a biodegradable alternative). Wash the walls from the ground up; this prevents streaks. Allow wall surfaces to dry thoroughly.
• Select the best paint that your budget allows. Try your best to stay away from cheap paint-even though the price is inviting-and take advantage of sales on good paint. Cheap paint lacks the body of good-quality paint; it's thin and runny. It often has poor coverage, so more than likely you'll have to apply several coats. (This translates into more work and more paint!)
• To eliminate the drip of paint over the sides of the paint can, remove the lid and use an ice pick to make holes around the rim of the can. The holes should be made in the deepest groove and spaced about 1 inch apart. The paint will drip back into the can through the holes. This step will help prevent overflowing, save paint, and keep the can clean.
• If the project you are working on requires more than one can of paint, painting professionals recommend mixing all of the paint into one large container. This will assure that the color and sheen will be consistent in the room.
• Paint the ceiling first. If the ceiling is going to be a different color from the walls, use a brush or edging tool to apply paint around the edges where the ceiling and wall meet.
• To save clean-up time when working on a large painting project, remove as much paint as possible from your brush, wrap it in plastic wrap and foil, and store it in the freezer so it retains its shape. The brush can be reused (with the same paint) without cleaning thoroughly after each use. When you use the brush again, remove the plastic and foil and bring the brush to room temperature before using.

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