Have you decided that it’s time to give your living room a bit of a makeover? Deciding to paint your home on your own can be quite an exciting opportunity but ending up with a paint job that you’re really proud of can often be much more of a challenge than homeowners expect. Expert painters can charge an arm and a leg to change the colors of your walls but there is a precision and balance that comes with their work that’s hard to match on your own.

However, by taking the necessary steps in preparation, you can help guarantee that you end up with a professional-looking paint job in no time at all. Here are a few tips you can keep in mind that will help you end up with expert-looking walls before you know it.

Protect Your Furniture and Floor

One of the biggest mistakes that DIY painters can make is underestimating the damage that a few paint drops can actually do. Once a small droplet makes it onto your furniture or flooring, getting it out can be nearly impossible. The best thing that you can do is to move any and all furniture completely out of the room. However, if that isn’t an option, making sure that you buy some plastic tarps will be essential. Cover all of the furniture you’re leaving in the space and place the rest along your floors so that anything that spills or falls can be easily removed with that plastic sheet.

Remove Electric Plates

One of the main benefits of using professionals is the precision and accuracy with which they do the job. And having paint-covered electric plates is a sure sign that you tried to do the job yourself. Not only does this look sloppy and poorly maintained but it can actually lead to the early rusting of those pieces, which can be extremely unattractive. By simply removing these plates and storing them in a safe place until the painting is finished, you can save yourself hours of scraping. Make sure that you keep track of the screws because a lost screw can really put a damper on things when you’re finished and finding the perfect match can be a serious challenge.

Clean the Walls

While you might think that your walls look super clean, the reality may be a completely different story. Dirt and grime can easily become attached to your walls over time and trying to paint over that dirt can result in bumps and grooves in your paint job as well as the formation of bubbles and issues with peeling later on. Make sure that you take the time to really clean off your walls properly before you start painting so you can be sure that you’re working on a flat, even surface.

Deciding to paint your home on your own can be a great experience but if you’re looking for that professional edge, then you need to make sure that you invest in the proper preparations. Keep these tips in mind and get your home ready for painting today.