The hardest part about painting a room is the prep work - patching holes, sanding and scraping, removing hardware, etc., etc.  Before you get out your paintbrushes, spend some quality time prepping the room.  It is the secret to achieving professional results.

Move any furniture in the room, if possible or cover it with plastic.  Make sure the room is free of dust and dirt for it may get on the walls and ruin the project.  Put down a drop cloth to protect the floor from any paint splatter.

Now you are ready to paint, right?  Start by selecting the colors you want to paint the room as well as the surface type (gloss, semi-gloss, eggshell or flat).  Generally ceilings are painted flat white. Walls are frequently painted eggshell or flat.  However you might choose a semi-gloss for a kitchen or a child's room - it is usually easier to wipe off.  Be advised that the shinier the surface type the more noticable the wall imperfections will become.  Test a small area first and let it dry, before you paint the entire room.  If you wall has defects you will have to spackle and sand those areas, first.

Woodwork is usually painted with an oil-base semi-gloss, which tends to have better expansion and contraction properties. When you go to the store to get your paint, don't forget the primer. You will need to prime any new construction or patched areas.  Primer is considered the base coat that the paint will adhere to.  Here's a tip: To decrease the amount of paint being applied, have the primer tinted to the same color as the paint.

If you are painting a room with all new materials (drywall and woodwork) you need to start with a coat of primer on everything.  This will seal the surfaces and provide a more thorough coverage of the final coats of paint.  If you are painting over a previously painted surface, you only need to prime patched or repaired areas, for example drywall patches or woodwork repairs.

Remember that wet paint is one color, but will dry to a slightly darker color.

Take your time and good luck.