Like those of us who need to freshen up and “put on our faces” after a night’s sleep, your home occasionally needs a freshening up here and there – especially after spending the winter battling the elements. Whether your home’s due for a whole house painting or just a few touch ups, here are a few tips that’ll have you painting like a pro.

Clean, Clean, Clean

Paint doesn’t stick to dirty surfaces, so before you go spending all your time painting make sure you take the time to clean the surfaces that are getting painted.

Prep Not, Waste Lots

Ask any pro and they’ll tell you that the key to a successful paint job is doing the proper prep work before hand. That means cleaning the surfaces, scraping away flaking paint, sealing and treating bare wood, taping around windows and other areas you don’t want painted, and laying down drop cloths to ensure you don’t get paint on things not meant for painting. Prep work can be the most time consuming part of the whole process, but you’ll be glad you did it as it’ll save you from cleaning up and dealing with any mistakes you make.

Get The Right Gear (And The Right Amount Of It)

Most experts recommend one gallon of paint per 400 square feet. They also recommend that you invest in good paintbrushes and rollers since they do a better job of applying an even coat of paint. Good brushes, if taken care of, will last you a long time so don’t be afraid to splurge on a few nice ones. We like Purdys.

The Primer’s Right

Bad pun aside, treating and priming the surface is a must. All bare wood surfaces should be sealed prior to priming. This helps protect the wood from the elements and gives the primer a better surface to adhere to. Priming also gives the paint a better surface to stick to and helps bring out the paint’s true color.

Consistent Color

If you’re using multiple cans of paint, buy a five-gallon bucket and mix the cans together to ensure uniform color.

Top Down, Body to Trim

It might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many folks start painting from the ground up. Don’t do that. Painting from the top down will ensure you don’t spoil your paint job with drips and splashes. When it comes to trim, do that last and use an oil-based paint to get a nice sheen that’ll make the trim pop.

Final Thoughts

Water-based paints and humidity don’t get along, so if the forecast is calling for a sticky day, go ahead and save the painting for another day. The more humid it is, the longer it’ll take the paint to dry.