Looking for an easy and inexpensive way to give instant appeal and lasting value to your home? Just pick up a can of paint and get rolling!

Any amount of time or money invested into your home will pay off, not only in the value of the property, but also in your personal satisfaction. With paint, you can get instant gratification in both areas. Updating the interior and exterior of your home with a fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive way to get both a new look, and a long-term increase in value.

The following tips will help you to get the job done faster, and smarter:

Shake Things Up

Even though paint colors are professionally mixed when you buy them, they will need to be fully stirred before painting. If the paint is not completely mixed, you can end up with uneven tones on your newly painted walls. Mixing paint with a stir stick, however, can be a tiresome task. Here's a fast and easy way of mixing your paint, not maxing out your pain: let your electric or portable drill do all of the work!

Try cutting a plastic clothes hanger into a long "J" shape, and insert it into your drill for a quick mix up. It saves time and conserves your energy for the big job ahead.

Avoid Drips

Most people get the excess paint from a brush by scraping it against the edge of the can. This can cause drips and waste valuable paint. Try tapping or slapping the brush instead. This will keep more paint at the end of the brush, where you want it, and the excess will fall into the can instead of dripping down the sides. You'll also be able to cover more area between dips, which is an important tip if you're traveling up and down the ladder.

Keep in Code

Painting your porch and fence bright red might seem like a good idea, but can be an exercise is wasted time and money. Check into any existing building and decorating codes and restrictions before you start the job. For example, residents in your neighborhood or housing complex may be restricted to using neutral tones for any outdoor decorating. The size, height and color of outdoor structures such as fences may also be under code.

Lead by Lead-Free Example

Hundreds of thousands of children in the United States have been affected by lead poisoning caused by paint. Old, deteriorating lead-based paint in your home can lead to this type of injury. Strip and replace all old paint in your home with new lead-free paint. Lead poisoning can lead to learning difficulties, and that's a chance that no one wants to take.

Prime Time

Priming is a step that many people skip, but it can actually save time and money in the long run. With a base layer of good quality primer, the top coat goes on easier and more evenly. You may even find that you need fewer coats of color after using a good primer.

Look for other ways to save money by doing basic tasks. Taking an existing fence and giving it a new look beveling the edges with a rotary saw is a free and easy way to create a whole new look. Of course, a fresh coat of paint will complete the effect.

Painting made easy is really just a matter of preparation. Get all of the materials you'll need before you start, follow these tips and you'll be on your way to getting more enjoyment (and more money) out of your home.

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Writer Sadie Bedgegood loves writing for several well-known Internet sites, on home decor and home interior subjects. Click here for other unique home improvement articles.