One of the easiest and fastest ways to give any room a brand new look and lay the foundation for an entirely different decorating scheme is by painting. Painting is fairly easy for most people. All that is required is a little patience and a minimum of skill. The good thing about doing a home paint job yourself is that it is also not that expensive. Of course, if you are planning to paint the outside of your home and there are high places that require a tall ladder, you might consider hiring a professional for this, but it all depends on whether or not you are able to do it physically or have a fear of heights.

The best paint to use when you can will be water-based paints. There might be some things that have already been painted with oil-based paint and it is usually recommended that you repaint with oil-based paint again. If you are painting a fresh surface that you have primed already or a surface that has already been painted with water-based paint, then water-based will be preferable and there are some reasons why.

When you use water-based paint it dries a lot faster than oil-based varieties and cleaning up any mess and the tools you use is much less complicated than oil. All you need is water and maybe a little soap to clean your tools and any places that might get splatters or specks, but it is important that you wipe up these places before they dry. After water-based paint dries it is easier to keep clean than oil-based. When you have children it is important that you use a paint that can be washed off frequently.

Many people can not stand to smell the odor that oil-based paints can leave behind for days or even longer. Water-based paints do have a slight smell, but it disappears quickly after the paint has dried. Water-based paints breathe easier and they are suggested to use on exteriors that have not been painted before and it also endures climate changes well also.

Before you begin any paint job inside or out and with oil or water-based paints, you should always clear the area where you will be working of any obstacles such as furniture, curtains, and rugs. This will make accidents less likely to happen and you will not end up with specks of paint all over things. The floors and light fixtures should be covered and light switch plates and electrical outlet covers should be taken off. Make sure that the surfaces to be painted are cleaned and dust free. Patch any nail holes or imperfections on drywall or wood and allow the places to dry completely before you begin.