Title: How to paint like an expert | Life and style | The Guardian
Headings: How to paint like an expert
How to paint like an expert
Gemma Cheney, a specialist in interior finishes, on where to start and how to make your redecorating job as professional as possible
Top tips to finish like a champion
1. Cutting in
2. Pantyhose preserver
3. Nap selection
4. High roller
5. White magic
6. By George
7. Paint spills
8. Look after your paint
9. Don't throw it away
10. Spruce up your brushes
· Carlene Thomas-Bailey
Which weapon?
Paint pad ...
Roller ...
Or paintbrush?

Content: Then prep the walls by rubbing them with sandpaper and dusting them off with a brush - try to get one with a lily bristle. Work methodically, so you can keep track of what part of the room you have done. If you are sanding the ceiling, use a pole with a pad on top, covered with sandpaper. Or use a tall ladder to get up close..
After sanding, I like to apply a miscoat of white emulsion (like a white wash) to the walls, which gives a blank surface to start on and see where to fill any imperfections. For the miscoat, take an empty bucket and one part emulsion to three parts water. To fill any holes, mix up your powder filler on the wooden board, make a hole in the middle, add water and mix it into a paste. After the filler has dried, sand the wall down and then dust it off. Use the filler to help when painting edges, too: run filler along the edge at the top and bottom of walls, then rub it down. You're left with a nice clean edge to brush in.