Prepare the walls and room.
You don’t want to ruin your favorite sofa or the artifact Grandma gave you, so clear the room of any furniture. If you don’t have enough room to move anything, place it all in the center of the room. Cover the pieces with a drop cloth or lightweight plastic sheeting, and do the same for the floor, cupboards, and counters that may be prone to spatter. “Don’t skip the drop cloth—paint will splatter, we promise,” say New Jersey contractors—and cousins—John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino, stars of the HGTV shows Cousins Undercover and Kitchen Cousins, as well as The Build Up and Grand Design on Ellen DeGeneres’ Ellentube.
Grab a roll of painter’s tape—the cousins prefer FrogTape—and firmly apply it to the margins of the room’s corners, base and crown moldings, and door and window casings, sealing with a putty knife as needed. “Getting a good seal so paint doesn’t get under the tape is everything, plus it will pull away clean after everything is dry,” they explain. If you dare (or have an artist’s steady touch), you may skip the taping altogether. Remove the light switch and outlet covers, then use painter’s tape to protect the outlets and switches from paint droplets. Before you begin, make sure you understand how to repair drywall so you can remove any nicks in the walls.