Painting Tips, paint a room, paint a home, Matt Fox and Shari Hiller from HGTV's Room By Room

Need a change in your home? Want some new energy or just a new look? Well, there is no better—or cheaper—way than with paint. We asked Matt Fox and Shari Hiller from HGTV’s Room By Room for tips on painting, from the gear to creative ways to dress up your walls. Here’s what you need to know before picking up that paint brush.

What tools do I need to paint a room?
Drop cloths
A paint roller and frames
A 1” paint brush (for those hard-to-reach places)
A paint bucket opener
Paint tray and liner
Flush spackle (for any holes in the wall)
Painter’s tape (the blue stuff, not masking tape, which is too sticky)

I’m so confused by the different paints: gloss, semi-gloss, flat. What do I use to paint a room?
The type of paint you use depends on what room you are painting. Here’s a breakdown:

Gloss: The shiniest and easiest to clean. It’s good for painting bathrooms and other high traffic areas.
Semi-gloss: The next step down in sheen. Good for painting high-traffic areas, like kitchens and hallways.
Satin: Hiller and Fox’s favorite, they use it almost everywhere because it’s easy to clean and moderately shiny.
Flat: Basically no sheen, it’s good for painting large wall and ceiling areas. It’s also good at hiding cracks or blemishes.