When it’s time to paint some or all of the rooms in your home, this can be a large project. It is generally best to get expert help from a professional, but if you are so inclined, here’s a few things to keep in mind.

Always start with the ceiling and then the four walls. Make sure all your furniture is removed or covered with plastic sheets or a tarp. You will also need to cover the floors. The more preparation in the beginning, the less cleanup in the end.

If the ceiling and walls are going to be the same color the corners and edges will be easier to keep the paint controlled and smoothed out. If the ceiling is a different color (some like to have the ceilings painted white to make the room look larger) you might want to tape off the adjoining walls so you don’t have to paint over the drips.

Painting the walls is easier but make sure you sand or scrape any defects on the walls first so your end result is smooth and looks good. Most walls and ceilings have some sort of texture that can easily be painted with a roller. The edges and corners will need to be painted with a brush first.