Painting your home can be a very rewarding experience, but before you jump right into it, there are a number of things that you should think about, and definitely make sure your things are covered by accidental damage by contents insurance. Here is some advice to help you start thinking.

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Get advice. Whether you surf the net and do a lot of reading, and then go and speak to your local handy man, remember there are many tips and tricks to painting that will help you along the way and save you a lot of trouble. Painting is not a DIY that you do without getting some handy hints.

Choose the right product for the right surface. This is something that you will really need to understand. Paints are so varied and the range is so large, you need to make sure that you are choosing the right products. Damaging your home to the point of having to call up your home insurance company is not something that you want to do. The idea is to improve not destroy.

Pick a time frame. Unless you are planning to do the whole house in one go – which is not a bad idea in itself if you have 2 weeks holiday up your sleeve – you are going to need to plan a time frame, which includes drying time, second coats and how you will live. Remember it is not a good idea to be trying to use any room and be working on it at the same time. Planning your schedule and your arrangements beforehand is extremely important.

Paint from top to down. This often a big mistake that many of us make. For some reason we always start on the walls. Maybe because they are right there in front of our face. Follow this order; ceiling, walls, trim, cabinets and then doors.

Make sure you have everything that you need. You will be tempted to get right into it without having everything you need. Stopping a job halfway through and driving all the way down to the handyman store can cause big problems with any job. Making sure you have enough of the right materials is crucial.

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Practice. The fact is that you will get better with the more that you do. If you are painting either the inside or the outside of your home, it is a good idea to start where it is least important. That way as you improve you move to higher traffic and more important areas of your home. Starting in a room that is used the least, so that you can use it to learn and get your skills up.

Cover up. Cliches are cliches for a reason. Covering everything up, furniture, carpets and particularly yourself is extremely important and it is something that many of us will think that we can get away with. Don’t risk losing what you have for a few minutes of time saving. It is just not worth it. With painting, preparation is the key and you will find your job a lot easier if you have prepared well. A small mistake can cost you a lot of time and money.

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