Do You Paint a Wall From the Top Down?

Preparation

• Before you paint, remove anything hanging on the wall. You can protect furniture by taking it out of the room or by moving it away from the wall. Cover the furniture and floor with drop cloths. For a smoother wall, fill nail holes and cracks and allow the filler to cure completely. Sand rough areas and clean the wall. Protect the trim by placing painter's tape on the edge of trim where it meets the wall along doors, windows and molding. Apply a coat of primer to the wall with a roller brush.

Edges

• The edges where a wall meets the ceiling, floor, trim and other walls requires special treatment. Although a paint roller works well on large areas, it is too bulky to do fine work along edges. Instead, use a 2-inch angle brush to get in close to the edge, a process called "cutting in." For a smooth transition, paint a small portion of an edge and then paint the area of the wall near that edge, repeating this process as you go. Begin by painting an edge along the top of the wall.

Sections

• A roller is an effective way to apply paint to large areas of the wall. You can attach an extension to the handle of the roller or use a ladder to reach high areas. Work in sections approximately 3 feet square as you paint the wall, beginning next to a painted edge area near the top of the wall. Using a roller brush loaded with paint, roll a "W" shape in the first section of the wall. Do not lift the roller as you do this.

Finishing

• Continue to use the roller brush to apply paint within and around the "W" shape, filling the square section of wall and slightly overlapping the previously painted edge. Alternating between painting edges and wall sections, cover the entire wall with paint. Working from the top of the wall to the bottom protects painted areas of the wall from drips. While the paint is still wet, remove the tape on the trim.