Protect Your Home Before You Start

Professional decorators always begin by protecting the room before any preparation or painting begins. A few minutes spent covering surfaces properly can save hours of cleaning later.

Dust Sheets

A good quality Dust Sheets product is one of the first items you should have on hand. Dust sheets help protect carpets, wooden flooring and furniture from paint splashes, sanding dust and general decorating mess.

Reusable cotton dust sheets are ideal for larger decorating projects, while lighter options are useful for quicker jobs or for covering furniture.

Floor Protection

If you are decorating over expensive flooring or recently fitted surfaces, dedicated Floor Protection offers extra peace of mind. It helps prevent accidental spills and gives you a clean working area throughout the project.

Prepare the Walls Properly

The best paint finish always starts with good preparation. Even the highest quality paint will struggle to hide poorly prepared walls.

Sugar Soap

Walls naturally collect grease, dust and everyday household dirt. Washing them with Sugar Soap before decorating helps remove contaminants that could affect paint adhesion and improves the final finish.

This step is particularly important in kitchens, hallways and children’s bedrooms, where walls often pick up more marks and residue.

Filler

Before painting, inspect the walls carefully for nail holes, screw holes, small dents and hairline cracks. A good quality Filler creates a smooth surface that becomes almost invisible once painted.

Filling Knife

Applying filler is much easier with the correct Filling Knife. A flexible blade helps spread filler evenly and reduces the amount of sanding required afterwards.

Many decorators keep both narrow and wide Filling Knives available so they can tackle different repair jobs with ease.

Sandpaper

Once filler has dried, lightly sanding the repaired area creates a smoother finish. Keeping several grades of Sandpaper available allows you to prepare walls properly without damaging the surrounding surface.

Caulk

Professional decorators rarely skip Caulk. Applying decorators’ caulk around skirting boards, door frames and window surrounds fills small gaps and helps create cleaner, sharper lines once the decorating is complete.

Choosing the Right Decorating Equipment

Using quality decorating equipment makes painting quicker, easier and produces a noticeably better finish.

Roller Frame

A sturdy Roller Frame provides better control and helps apply paint evenly across large wall areas. A good frame also makes decorating more comfortable, especially on bigger projects.

Roller Sleeve

The Roller Sleeve you choose should match the surface you are painting. Short pile sleeves are ideal for smooth plaster, while medium pile sleeves hold more paint and perform better on lightly textured walls.

Choosing the correct sleeve reduces splatter and gives you a more consistent finish.

Mini Roller

A Mini Roller is invaluable for awkward spaces. It is perfect for painting behind radiators, inside cupboards, around pipework and in narrow areas where a standard roller will not fit.

Paint Brushes

Every decorating project should include at least one good quality brush. Paint Brushes are essential for cutting in around ceilings, corners, light switches and sockets before rolling the larger wall areas.

A good quality brush helps produce cleaner edges and improves the overall appearance of the room.

Paint Tray

A Paint Tray allows you to load your roller evenly while removing excess paint before it reaches the wall. This helps minimise drips and encourages a more consistent finish.

Paint Kettle

Many professional decorators transfer smaller amounts of paint into a Paint Kettle while cutting in. It makes brushes easier to handle and reduces the chance of knocking over larger paint containers.

Extension Pole

An Extension Pole makes painting ceilings and tall walls much easier. It improves reach, reduces fatigue and helps maintain even pressure across the roller, which can lead to a smoother finish.

Finishing Touches

Masking Tape

Using Masking Tape helps create clean paint lines around woodwork, switches, sockets and window frames. Removing the tape while the paint is still slightly soft usually gives the sharpest finish.

Cleaning Cloths

Having Cleaning Cloths nearby makes it much easier to wipe up small spills, clean tools and keep the workspace tidy while you work.

Your Interior Painting Checklist

Common Mistakes First-Time Decorators Make

One of the biggest mistakes new decorators make is starting too soon. Proper preparation matters more than most people realise.

Skipping Sugar Soap can leave grease and dirt on the wall, which affects how well the paint sticks. Using cheap Paint Brushes or the wrong Roller Sleeve can also make the finish look patchy or uneven.

Another common issue is filling holes too late. Small repairs should be completed before painting begins, then sanded smooth before any dust sheets are removed.

It is also worth protecting the room properly from the start. Good Dust Sheets and Floor Protection make a huge difference to how clean and stress-free the job feels.

Professional Decorating Tips

• Protect floors before moving any furniture.
• Wash walls with Sugar Soap before carrying out repairs.
• Apply Filler before sanding the surface smooth.
• Use a good quality brush when cutting in for cleaner edges.
• Fit the correct Roller Sleeve to your Roller Frame for the surface you are painting.
• Keep a Paint Tray or Paint Kettle close by to avoid unnecessary trips around the room.
• Use an Extension Pole whenever painting large walls or ceilings to improve consistency and reduce fatigue.

Frequently Asked Questions