Our First Place: Painting your Hive

Hello Hive! It's been a long time. I hope everyone is doing well. I've been a busy bee renovating our hive, being a worker bee and buzzing about the garden this summer. Like many of you who are moving into new hives yourselves, I thought I would revisit a question that I get often. One of the most exciting things about moving in together or getting a new place is making it your own. One of the most inexpensive ways to do that is by painting.

Materials:
Painter's Tape ($5), 3 roller covers ($10), roller extension pole ($12), primer ($16+), ceiling paint ($18+), synthetic bristle paint brushes ($5+) , plastic drop cloth ($1.79), paint can key (.89c), Paint ($25-55/gallon), paint can lids with spout ($3), wooden stirrers (free at the store), ladder, shop vac ($40), misc dry rags, paper towels, trays or cardboard to lay tools on.
"I LOVE YOU" on the wall - PRICELESS

For those of you who have moved into new construction, it’s always a little easier to work with. If you’re like us who are just starting out (poor), bought a lovely (old) home with lots of character (things to patch up), then it may need a little finessing. Here are some things that I’ve learned along the way.

Preparation – Vacuum any dust and loose dirt particles. Unscrew wall outlet and switch plates. With a damp rag, wipe dust and grim off window ledges, trim and above windows. In very old homes, Mrs. Onion found that she had to wash her walls to clean the dirt and grease that accumulated over the years.
Fill in any holes or cracks with spackle or joint compound. For a small job, there is a lighter weight spackle that comes in a tube or small container. Using a spackle knife, apply a glob into the hole and scrape across the hole while applying some pressure. The idea is you want to fill the hole and then scrape off the excess. For a demonstration, watch this video.
Allow to dry over night. Then using a sanding block or sandpaper, lightly sand the area so it’s flush to the wall. Don’t use an electric sander or sand too aggressively. Vacuum with a shop vac or wipe up the dust from sanding the spackle. Lay a drop cloth down.
Paint the spackled spot with primer. Most people say you’re “Priming your wall.” This is an important step that cannot be skipped because spackle will absorb paint differently and will swell leaving you a bump on the wall which is the opposite of what you wanted.
Prime your walls – Most of the time, you have to do this especially if the previous wall color was an oil based paint or a very dark color. This clears the canvas for you and lets your new paint adhere to the wall and show off it’s true colors.
Paint your ceiling - If you plan on painting the ceiling, you should do so before painting the walls. Give it 2 even coats. Allow it to fully dry before deciding whether it needs a 3rd coat. Some ceilings and some ceiling paints will absorb or adhere differently.
Tape - Using 2" painter's tape, tape around the ceiling, moldings, and anything else you're avoiding. If you have a steady hand, you can "edge" freehand, but it's can't hurt to tape. Especially around the ceiling because your eye immediately draws to the ceiling. Clean lines are greatly appreciated here.
Edge - With a 2 1/2" angled brush, paint (called "edging") along all the corners, around windows, doors, molding, floors and around below the ceiling. Edge at least 3" in because this is the area that your roller won't reach.
Then the easy part! Paint! Thoroughly stir your paint first. Pour some paint into a paint tray lined with a disposal liner. Roll your roller into it a few times coating it evenly. Then roll the paint onto the walls. Depending on the color and conditions of your existing wall, you may need a second coat. Make sure you have plenty of light while you paint.
Clean up - Dispose of paint cans properly. Call your local sanitation dept and ask them to pick them up. They should not go out in regular trash! Wash paint brushes in warm water immediately! Allow to dry flat. Roller covers can be reused if you take the time to wash them. Cover unused paint cans and hammer it down.
Order a pizza and enjoy your new walls!

Before and After: Paint color is "Rain Washed" by Behr - Home Depot

Tips and FAQ -

My favorite references are This Old House because they show you images of all the tools you need. They are also very thorough. For a simplified version, ehow is a nice guide. HGTV is okay. They're a little more difficult to search through and their projects are often too big for us or don't apply.
When I start a new project that I've never done before, I ask all my friends, family and coworkers what they think. Often times, they will tell you something that you wouldn't know until you tried it and can save you a great deal of time and effort. Also, I read several online tutorials and COMPARE what they've said. Then I come to my own conclusion and way I plan on proceeding.
Give yourself enough preparation time especially to spackle. If you don't get it all done, don't fret or get frustrated. Don't feel pressured. The prep can be a pain in the stinger, so give yourself ample time. Mr. Snow Pea and I will alternate in processes. ie. I'll vacuum and tape. He'll paint the ceiling. I'll paint the walls. He'll order the pizza and I'll...you get the idea.
Pay for the "higher end" rollers and brushes. If you can afford to, pay for the higher end paints. They go on so much smoother and have more complex colors.
Avoid bumping the ceiling with colored paint which is why you do Step 8. Wipe immediately with a dry rag. Touch it up with a small brush. Ceiling paint is a different consistency, so often you can see the touch up marks. Don't wait.
To easily dispose of a roller cover, put a plastic bag around it and then pull. Discard the whole thing.
Saran or plastic wrap is a quick and easy way to cover door knobs.
Down the road, if you put a hole in the wall, you can go back to Step 2 through 4.
I DO NOT recommend this paint can spout. The one I like is no longer available. Looks similar to this, but with an aluminum lid that you hammer into the can. This is useful if you know you can't use the entire can of paint.
I've tagged and dated on my paint cans for reference.
Borrow as much as you can. If you're never going to paint again, borrow your rollers, ladder and extension poles.
If you own a house, it's not a bad idea to purchase your very own shop vac. It's a very useful thing. Spackle dust will ruin your regular vacuum filter.

Let's hear some of your home improvement stories. What advice would you give newbees? Have you painted? If you can't, how have you personalized your new hive?