Specifically, we’re tackling hairline plaster cracks:

• Before beginning, gather your materials.  You’ll need a Spackle or putty knife, Spackle, paintbrush, primer, and chisel.
• The first thing you’re going to do for hairline cracks is widen the crack a bit with the chisel.  Then, clean off any dust and loose plaster.
• Next, press spackling compound into the crack with your finger.  Be sure to use enough compound to completely fill the crack and smooth it so it is level to the wall.
• Finally, seal that patch with primer.  The coat of primer you’ll use before your base coat will not be enough.  You will need this extra coat over the crack in order to prevent it from showing through.

From beginning to end, this process should take about a half hour.  Depending on how many coats of primer used, be sure to follow the product’s package to ensure proper drying time for the primer.  Good luck!

• Try to remove the paint when it is slightly dry, and not yet hardened.
• Wrap a piece of an old t-shirt or cleaning rag to the end of a butter knife, and rub off the not-yet dried paint.
• Use a blade to remove paint that has dried completely, and hardened.

Seems simple and straightforward, right?  The reason you want to wait until it is “sort of” dry is to ensure the paint that you want to stay put does not rub off during the cleaning process when the cloth or blade is brought right up to the joint.  Good luck!

1. Brush up on your knowledge of paintbrushes: there are so many new tools of the trade in home improvement stores, as well as super centers.  Rather than taping off an entire room, why not consider using an edging tool?  Not only do these new painting tools make the job much easier, but they also make the job take less time.
2. Employ some help: call in every favor you have, and introduce all of your help to any new painting tools you have obtained for this project.  If you are using the traditional tape, paint, and brush technique be sure you are working with “painters” who are willing to take their time and do the job right the first time.
3. Take your time: even though the idea is to finish the job quickly, take into consideration the fact that furniture needs to be moved out of the way, plastic needs to be laid down, and taping needs to occur before primer can go up on the walls – let alone paint!  If you are painting multiple rooms, chances are you will not finish this project in one day.

By following some simple steps, you can achieve a professional looking paint job without the need to have twenty years of experience under your belt.  If you have never painted a room before, be sure to ask someone who has for some tried and true tips and advice before getting started.

• Take down all of your picture frames that do not hold sentimental meaning (i.e. they can be altered without hurting anyone’s feelings)
• Purchase some complimentary or matching acrylic paint or spray paint
• Cover your work surface or work outside on a large sheet
• Remove the pictures and the glass from the frames
• Paint out all of the picture frames
• Replace the glass, and pictures, and then hang them back up where they were

It’s amazing how something so simple can cosmetically change the look of a room in a matter of just a couple hours of drying time.  If your frames contain mattes, consider changing those out or painting them as well.  Have fun!

Be warned: this home improvement project will make your muscles sore even if you have an extension rod attached to your paint roller.  Try to involve some friends or family members (who don’t mind having sore muscles) to help speed the process along.

Here are some links to lead you through the process:

• eHow.com: How to Paint a Textured Ceiling

• Home Improvement: How to Paint a Textured Ceiling

• DIY Chatroom: How to Paint a Textured Ceiling

Be sure to have plenty of drop clothes and that you’re wearing clothes you don’t particularly care about.  And, as pictured in the left, consider wearing a hat so you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing it out of your hair!

There are a lot of people who think this step is pointless.  Some of these people may even claim that they have painted dozens of rooms without taping anything off with beautiful results.

How often is this true, though?  (Think about how big you said that fish was, and how big it actually was.  Stories have a way of exaggerating themselves.)

For pristine paint results, tape off the edges of the room and along all moldings, trims, and casings.  This prevents paint from getting on to wood, as well as getting on to other painted surfaces.  I have seen what a mess this can make, so be sure to do it right the first time.  Burnish down edges to prevent paint from bleeding under edges, and be sure to choose the right tack.

For example, there are low tack tapes available when you are painting multiple colors on to one surface.  This low tack tape will prevent the color beneath the tape from peeling up when the tape is removed.  If you are unsure what type of tape to choose, ask a customer service representative at your local home improvement center or hardware store.

For example, if you have a very large room that is painted iced blue and it has high ceilings it will create a cold living space.  Add some weight at the bottom using a chair rail and rectangles created from molding.  Along the top, add a large band and a small band of color taken from accent pieces in the room.  They do not have to be shades of blue or a neutral color.

Don’t be afraid to experiment.  That’s the key to this home improvement tip.  Have fun!

When it comes to trying to figure out exactly which color will work best in your home improvement painting project, it is best to test the waters first.

Many painters suggest the following before making the final commitment:

• hang paint chip samples directly on to to the wall for a few days

• paint a section of color directly on to the wall and look at it for a few days

• paint pieces of canvas and change them out every few days

These suggestions allow you to live with a paint color (or several paint colors) for several days before making a final decision. We all know someone who has discovered the paint color was wrong after it was already all on the wall, or perhaps we have done this ourselves. These suggestions prevent this from happening. Not only does this save time and money, but it also saves some sanity!