Clean dirt off your painting surface. If you have young children that have colored on the walls with marker or crayon you will want to stop the stains from bleeding through to the new paint. Hardware and paint stores carry stain blocking products you can spray or brush on. The sheen determines the brightness the paint will exhibit on your walls or ceiling because the lower the sheen, the minimum amount of light the paint will reflect. Minimum sheens can help reduce glare and hide small surface imperfections but the sheen you choose can also create more difficulty in cleaning and maintenance.
Flat paint is the lowest sheen available.
It is often used on the ceiling because it does not draw attention to the paint and does not require more cleaning than an occasional removal of cobwebs. They have a slight sheen and are easier to wash than flat paint. They are a good choice for hallways. Semigloss paint is the perfect paint for children's rooms, kitchens and bathrooms because of their durability. You can also purchase a specially formulated paint additive to add to paint used in areas with high moisture content to prevent mildew growth and formation.