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There are 10 simple steps to achieving that professional finish:-
1. Look closely at the room or area and plan what you’re going to do
2. Remove as much as possible from it to give yourself a clear run
3. Treat any stains
4. Remove nails; fill and repair any holes, dents or cracks
5. Sand smooth
6. Clean all surfaces thoroughly
7. Mask off and cover objects and surfaces not to be painted
8. Paint!
9. Remove any masking tape - CAREFULLY!
10. Touch-up anything that needs it
1. Look closely at the room or area and plan what you’re going to do
It makes a lot of sense to survey the state of the room and note repairs in particular that need doing. Removing nails can leave unsightly holes and don’t forget to look up – cobwebs can spoil your finish! Plan the order in which you’re going to do things.
2. Remove as much as possible
Furniture is best moved out completely but if this isn’t possible move it away from the walls but keep it to one end of the room. Don’t push everything into the middle of the room as this makes laying drop cloths difficult and prevents access to things like the ceiling rose which can be awkward to get around.
Ornaments, lamps etc need to be put somewhere safe and curtains need to be taken down. Walls often have pictures, mirrors or ornaments hung on them. All are hung on nails, screws or hooks of some kind. These all prevent a roller getting a clear run and can cause drips.
3. Treat any stains
Any treatment applied to a stain will need time to dry. Water-based treatments need less time than oil-based, so decide which you’re going to use and allow enough time for it to dry thoroughly. Oil-based treatments should usually be applied the previous day and allowed to dry overnight.
4. Fill and Repair any holes, dents or cracks
Holes and dents can appear anywhere but particularly in walls. They spoil the finished appearance so fill them before painting. Cracks can appear anywhere but typically on ceilings, between skirting boards and walls, between door-frames and walls and between ceiling and walls. Fill them with acrylic-filler and smooth to a finish using a moistened finger. Use a lightweight filler such as Spackling to fill dents, holes and cracks but remember that it will take time to set and harden so plan ahead!
5. Sand smooth
Sand any filler using a flexible sanding block of around 100 grit. This is rough enough to sand coarser fillers but light enough to give a smooth finish. Move the block in either a circular or side-to-side motion and don’t exert too much pressure. Woodwork to be painted also benefits from light sanding.
6. Clean all surfaces thoroughly
A professional finish is achieved through professional preparation. Wash all surfaces with a solution of Sugar Soap for a thoroughly clean surface ready for painting.
7. Mask off and cover objects and surfaces not to be painted
Light switches, electrical sockets and ceiling roses are the main objects to be masked off. There is nothing more unsightly than paint splattered plastic or brass (even worse!) fittings when masking them off only takes a matter of seconds. This is why I say that you must look at the room to be painted in advance. Many people don’t do this and therefore miss items that need to be masked-off. They then start painting, meet the obstacle and decide that they’ll just go as near as they can without touching it. Never works! Mask it off before painting!!!
Masking-off is also necessary around window-frames, window-sills and along carpet edges.
It is also useful when painting skirting boards and door frames white but a dark colour on walls.
In some cases where painting over wallpaper, a border may be present which is to be retained. Apply masking tape CAREFULLY to the border making sure that the top and bottom edges are sealed.
The adhesive on masking tape gets stronger with time and may pull the surface to which it applied off as it is removed, so be careful! Test a small area first!! If ordinary masking tape is too strong then use a low-tack tape. More expensive, but designed not to damage the surface to which it’s applied.
8. Paint!
If you have prepared things properly it will be a simple matter to start painting. Make sure you have your trays, rollers, brushes and paints ready, know where you’re going to start and in what order you’re going to do things. A little bit of
planning makes for a better, smoother, thoroughly professional finish.
I would suggest though that you always try to ensure that your finishing coat is applied when the natural light is good. Painting in your own shadow or in uneven light is realy not to be recommended when you're trying to achieve a professional, really high-standard finish.
9. Remove any masking tape - CAREFULLY
No point doing all the work and spoiling it at the end!
10. Touch-up anything that needs it
There's generally always something!
Before starting any painting project make sure you have adequate ventilation. Some paints and varnishes give off fumes which may be dangerous if used in unventilated or confined areas.
And lastly...TAKE YOUR TIME!
A rushed paint job looks exactly that. A rushed paint job. | 
