Now is the perfect time to paint the walls. Here's what you need to know to do the job.

Painting a room

Tools: Ladder, trim brush, roller, roller-extension handle, 1/2 -inch roller cover, deep roller tray and tray liner, Shur-Line trim edger kit and a paint pail

Materials: Blue painter's tape, thin plastic sheeting, paper drop cloths, rag, vinyl spackling compound, expandable wall tape, water-base stain kill, quality eggshell latex paint, trim paint and paint sticks

1. Lay drop cloths on floor. Cover all items that need protection with the plastic sheeting.

2. Remove hardware from walls.

3. Wash and repair walls. Use a solution of 3-ounces TSP to a gallon of warm water. Rinse well. Change the water for every wall. If you prefer, use a Simple Green or Krud Kutter pre-paint cleaner. Let dry.

You can fill most holes with vinyl spackling compound. There are now kits for fixing holes in drywall at most hardware stores. Stress cracks should be covered with expandable wall tapes such as Fiba Tape or Pro Mesh. Top coat with spackling compound. Sand with a medium sandpaper.

4. Mask ceiling and every area you do not want painted with blue painter's tape.

5. Roll a coat of water-base stain kill on the wall.

6. Re-read the instructions on the paint can so that you remember coverage and drying times. Make sure the paint is mixed properly, then pour some into a quart or a pint painter's pail.

7. Paint the border. Dip trim brush 1/3 of the way into paint. Tap against side of pail. Brush with long, even strokes.

8. If you have trouble painting long straight lines, using a Shur-Line Pro Paint Edger makes the job fast and easy.

9. Fill roller tray about 1/3 full. In your mind's eye divide the width of the wall into 3- or 4 foot squares. If you are right-handed, start at the upper left. Left-handed people start at the upper right. Load roller with paint, then paint a capital W within your imaginary 3- or 4-foot square. Do not overlap the painted border.

Make another W slightly overlapping the first. Repeat until the square is filled.

10. Fill in and equalize the coating by rolling up and down and into the border with a dry roller.

11. Work completely across the room, then do a second strip across the wall. Repeat until the wall is covered. You can stop painting before starting the next wall, but never stop in the middle of the wall.

12. When finished, remove the painter's tape before the paint is thoroughly dry.

13. If you started with a coat of stain kill you probably will not have to apply a second coat of finish paint. Just to be safe, seal the paint cans and wrap the brush and roller in plastic wrap. Wash out the roller pan. Next day, inspect the job and see if it requires a second coat. If it does, unwrap the brush and roller and get started. If it doesn't, clean the brush and roller and fold up the drop cloths.