How to Use Semigloss Paint

Spread a drop cloth on the floor of the room to be painted. Cover any furniture with drop cloths. Tape off any areas such as window trims and moldings that will not be painted.

Put a quarter-sized amount of dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Sponge down the walls with a damp sponge to remove any dirt or marks. Dump out the soapy water and fill the bucket with clear, warm water. Rinse off the walls, making sure not to saturate them. Let the walls dry.

Fill in any wall holes with a small trowel and patching compound. Let the patching compound dry completely. Sand the repairs and any loose areas of paint with a medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe the sanded areas with a tack cloth to remove any sanding debris.

Pour some latex primer into a paint tray. Dip a paint roller into the tray. Prime the walls by rolling the paint roller from top to bottom. Let the primer dry for an hour and then prime areas where the paint roller cannot reach with primer on a paintbrush. Let these areas dry.

Pour some semigloss paint into a paint tray. Load a paint roller with a small amount of paint; semigloss paint is thinner than other types of paint, and it may be slightly runny. Paint the walls from the top down, covering areas where the paint roller cannot reach with a paintbrush. Let the paint dry overnight and apply a second coat. Paint the trim with a paintbrush.