Mr Skill

Painting is fun. Let’s keep it so by doing a little planning before we dip brush and roller to paint. That way everything will work our great, you will enjoy yourself, and when your friends admire your work they might even think that you had decorators from London in to do the job!

1. Selecting the colours that you are going to use can be the most difficult step of all. Do you want a warm or cool effect, and energizing feel or a relaxing mood? Try starting with a colour that is already there – the floor covering for example – and work outwards from this. Alternatively, why not copy an existing colour scheme you saw elsewhere.

2. If using more than one colour, think practically as well The space below the wainscotings should be the darker of the two to bed the scheme, while the lighter colour dominates above. Painting trim a lighter colour than the walls makes for a cozier effect. Play with your imagination before you paint.

3. Paint effects can make all the difference to a drab room. Experiment with colour washing and stencilling and break into a whole world of new ideas. Who says all four walls have to be done in exactly the same colour either?

4. Mix shiny and smooth paints for stunning effects. Flat matt finishes hide imperfections and are great for walls not subject to wear and tear. Satin and eggshell paints are easier to clean, while gloss is robust and makes a statement on the trim.

5. Measure up and make sure you buy enough paint to finish the job with a single batch. The folk down at the hardware store will tell you how much you need when they know the square feet involved.

6. Preparation is your key to success. After completely clearing the room wipe down all the surfaces with diluted washing up soap. Fix cracks, sand them down and wipe clean again. Do you have all the materials you need, and a good ladder too? If so, you are ready to start painting finally! Does this sound like too much hard work? Simple solution, find a decorator at Mr Skill!

7. Mask everything off carefully. I know it is a real pain, however be assured that the painting will go quicker, and that the result will be well worth it too.

8. Work from the top down. Sounds obvious, however you would be amazed how many people do the ceilings last, and have to touch up splashes everywhere. My advice is, always re-paint the ceiling first, because it will look drab when you have done the rest.

9. Never be tempted to slap on a thick coat of paint. Two thinner coats do a better job, and you will not get so much paint on your hands either.

10. Do the trim last. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, you get less mess on completed work. Secondly, the job ends on a high note.

If the job is a big one though, like redecorating the entire house it could be wiser to have painters in to do the job for you. You will find decorator quotes easily on Mr-Skill, your handyman friend.