Learn to... DIY

In the last part of our 'Learn to…' series we teach you some basic DIY decorating techniques. Here to offer you their tips and advice are experts Paul Langdon and John Brook.

Before you start…

Plan what you want to do: Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you're going to do it.

Have the right tools: Jobs get bodged when people use the wrong tools. The correct tools for the job will make life easier and ensure a professional-looking finish.

How to decorate a room

Step 1: Clear the room, put down your dust sheets, and mask off (using masking tape) any areas that need doing like windows.

Step 2: Dust the walls and clean them with a sugar soap solution - which you can get in any DIY store - and wash it off with clean warm water. Let the walls dry.

Step 3: Lightly sand the skirting boards and window frames. Having a good ladder, like the Telesteps Red Line ladder, will make life easier and safer.

Step 4: Cut in around the windows. This involves using a small paintbrush to paint around areas, like window frames, that you couldn't paint accurately with a roller. The Accubrush is excellent for cutting in.

Step 5: Start painting. Give the room an undercoat of emulsion. While that's drying, apply a coat of gloss. Do your second coat of paint, followed by the second gloss coat. Start from one corner and work around in the same direction. Always cut in first.

If you're changing the colour of the walls, you might need three coats, otherwise two is fine.

Use your gloss brush and emulsion brush to touch up areas so that everything looks neat and crisp.

Wallpapering

The saying 'measure twice, cut once' definitely applies to wallpapering. Here are some pointers:

Paste: 'Size the wall up' - take some of your wallpaper paste and roll it over the area you're working on. Paste sticks to itself better than anything else, so put a layer on and wait for it to get to the tacky stage.

Mark up: Meanwhile, you've got time to mark your line down the wall. You'll be lining the paper up against this mark, so make it absolutely vertical.

It's good to mark a line in the middle of the room, so you get at least half a roll of wallpaper to spare at the end of the cut. This avoids the problem of putting in a thin slither of wallpaper in a corner.

Cut paper: Cut the paper a good two feet longer than you need. Get your first two pieces of paper lined up against the vertical mark. The rest of the papering will work off that.

Decorating tips:

• If you're painting but need a break, wrap-up your paintbrush in cling film or a plastic bag to stop it from drying out. It's good for at least a few hours.

• Don't overload your paintbrush and roller, less is definitely more. Otherwise you'll have drips and runs everywhere.

• Three thin coats of paint or gloss will always give a better finish than one thick coat.

• Always wear the correct safety gear. When you're doing ceilings, a pair of safety goggles is always handy. 

• If you have sensitive skin, always wear gloves and a protective barrier cream when cleaning your brushes, especially when you're dealing with oil-based paints and white spirit.

Check out our range of DIY products.