A room looks wonderful with a fresh coat of paint. Here are some good tips to do the painting renovation project by yourself.

Clear the Decks

• If you can, clear out all the furniture and accessories. Take everything off the walls. If you can't move everything out, place the furniture and lamps in the middle of the room and cover them with a good drop cloth. Be sure that you tape the cloth around the furniture. Then put a second cover of plastic or old sheet over everything.

Get Yourself Ready

• No matter how hard you try, you're bound to get drips (or more) of paint on whatever you're wearing. So take off all jewelry. Reserve some old, but comfortable, clothes for your painting jobs. Slip-on shoes are easy to take off if you need to leave the room. You won't have to worry about tracking drops of paint into other rooms. When you paint the ceiling, put a scarf, shower cap, or old baseball hat over your hair and some plastic over your eyeglasses.

Don't Paint Over Problem Walls

• If your walls have holes or cracks, fix them before you start with the paint. Any home center or paint store has knowledgeable personnel to guide you to the best products for the job. Wide cracks and large holes can be "bridged" with fiberglass tape, spackle will fill small holes and cracks, and texturizing products are available to match your existing wall finish.

You can always make a DYI project or hire professional painters, but it's your job to decide on the paint finish. Choosing the right one is up to your own personal preference – you just need to remember that the glossier the finish, the more washable and durable it is and therefore better able to withstand frequent traffic. Read on to learn the difference between matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes, and the areas of the home to which they are best suited.

Types of paint finishes

Matte / flat finish

Matte or flat-finish paints dry with no sheen – that is, they have a matte finish that does not reflect light. They work wonderfully at hiding imperfections on the wall and are forgiving on novice painters. Some paint specialists advertise washable matte paint. However, a matte finish is generally hard to clean, so it's advisable to keep leftover paint on hand for touch-ups. Matte paint is a good choice for ceilings or walls in rooms that receive little traffic, such as a study.

Eggshell finish

An eggshell finish is similar to a matte finish but it has a tiny glimmer of sheen when dry. Picture the low sheen of an egg and that is the effect your paint will produce. It suits walls as it washes slightly better than flat-finish paints.

Satin finish

Also referred to as velvet finish, a satin finish is often the glossiest finish a decorator will recommend for walls in rooms other than the bathroom and kitchen. It's ideal for children's bedrooms and other high-traffic areas such as hallways and living areas as it's suited to washing and light scrubbing. Satin-finish paint is regularly used for windows, doors, trims and ceilings, too.

Semi-gloss finish

Semi-gloss paint dries with a significant shine without being too glitzy. It is most often used on doors, windows, trims and bathroom and kitchen walls. It withstands water and frequent cleaning. Ensure, however, the surface is properly prepared prior to painting as its reflective nature highlights imperfections.

High-gloss finish

High-gloss paints have a reflective quality. They bring out even the slightest of imperfections, so meticulous surface preparation is essential. Some people find it too shiny and opt for semi-gloss instead. It is used mostly on windows, doors and trims. High-gloss is a good choice for painting furniture as it creates a modern, durable finish.