• If you opt for conventional emulsion paint then you need to decide if you are going to apply it with a brush, roller or paint pad. Brush is the traditional way of applying paint and avoids the mottle effect and splashing that you get with a roller, but it is slower and requires a certain amount of skill to get the best results. Paint pads are also slow to use and tend to spread the paint out too far resulting in a patchy finish that requires more coats. Most people tend to use a roller. These come in many different forms but generally a medium pile roller is the best choice for general-purpose use. You will still need a small brush as well for edges, corners and "cutting in"; around switches and sockets (when painting walls) as well as a roller tray to pour the paint into.
• When painting ceilings, start painting in one corner and paint the edge in as you go rather than going all round the room first with the brush, which is what a lot of people do. This results in the paint drying before you roller the main area and that can show up as a banding effect. Apply the ceiling paint down about 2cm onto the wall with the first coat, that way when you apply the wall paint later, you only have to "cut in" to the ceiling line with the wall colour. This makes it much easier to get a neat line.
• The process for painting walls is just the same. Cut in around switches and sockets as you go and don’t worry about going over the skirting and doorframes a bit with the paint.; Again it makes it easier to get a nice, neat line with the trim paint later.
