How to Do a Professional Paint Job on New Walls

Remove as much furniture from the room as possible. Bring any remaining items into the center of the room and cover with a tarp or drop cloth. Cover the floor with a drop cloth.

Unscrew all the hardware and decor from the walls. This includes light switch plates, electrical plates and paintings. Set them aside.

Fill any holes and minor cracks in the wall with a drywall compound. Use a putty knife to spread the compound into the hole and scrape away any excess. Let it dry according to the package instructions -- it shouldn't feel tacky when touched. Sand the dried compound with 200-grit sandpaper to smooth it out and get a flawless finish.

Wash the wall with your usual household cleaner or TSP to remove any grease or dirt, which will affect how the paint goes on. Use a sponge mop on the walls and ceiling for faster cleaning. Rinse the walls with plain water to remove any cleaner residue and let them dry.

Mask the edges of the room with painter's tape to protect the surfaces you don't want painted. This includes trim, window and door frames. Painter's tape doesn't let paint seep underneath it but is also easy to remove.

Stir the paint using a wooden paint stirrer so the paint is evenly colored. Pour some into a rolling tray so the well is half-full. Pour a small amount of paint into a cup or can for cutting in the paint around the edges. An empty dairy container works well.

Dip your small bristle brush into the small paint container and wipe off any excess paint on the edges. Cut in the edges and corners of the room by painting with the bristle brush. This covers the parts of the room that the roller brush can't reach.

Wet your roller brush with plain water and set it in the well of the paint tray to load it with paint. Roll the brush up and down the grid to spread the paint around the roller and remove any excess paint.

Apply the paint using the roller brush in a horizontal zigzag fashion until the whole wall is covered. When finished, roll from the top of the wall to the bottom in even, overlapping strokes so the paint is all lying in the same direction.

Wait for the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. This will vary depending on the type and brand of paint. If in doubt, wait 24 hours. Apply a second coat of paint in the same manner as the first.