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# Interior Painting Like a Pro: Prep, Tools, and Technique
- URL: https://housecompasshq.com/interior-painting-like-a-pro-prep-tools-and-technique/
- Published: 2026-08-18T21:45:12.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-18T21:52:14.000Z
- Author: Media
- Tags: DIY

Painting is the highest-impact DIY project there is — and the results live or die on prep, not on how fast you can roll a wall.

## Prep is 80% of the job

- Clear and cover: move furniture, drop-cloth the floor, remove outlet covers.
- Clean the walls — dust and grease keep paint from bonding.
- Fill nail holes and dents, sand smooth, and spot-prime patches.
- Tape edges you can't cut cleanly by hand, and press the edge down hard.

## Tools that matter

A quality 2.5-inch angled sash brush and a good roller cover (3/8-inch nap for most walls) outperform cheap tools by a wide margin. Buy better paint, too — premium paint covers in fewer coats, saving time and often money.

## Technique

Cut in the edges of a wall first, then roll while the cut-in is still wet to blend. Roll in a "W" pattern and fill it in, keeping a wet edge so you don't get lap marks. Two thin coats beat one thick, drippy one every time.

## Order of operations

Ceilings first, then walls, then trim last. Do the whole room's ceilings and walls before you tackle trim, so drips fall on unfinished surfaces.