Summarize the following:
This job is very messy. You will have drywall and paint everywhere, so you need to make sure everything is well covered. You can drape furniture in old sheets, drop cloths, or tarps. You may also want to cover vents so it doesn't spread throughout your house. You can tape plastic over them to prevent dust from going through. If you're worried about damaging your furniture, it's best to just move it out of the room. You should definitely move any fragile or antique pieces out of the room, if possible. If you want to minimize your cleanup, put tarps or drop cloths on the floor. That will help contain the mess, so you can pick it up and take it elsewhere, away from your floors. Tape the tarp down around the edges using painter's tape. Don't forget to wear safety goggles and a dust mask to protect yourself from the debris. If you're worried about lead paint, consider wearing a respirator instead of just a dust mask. You may also want gloves when applying the joint compound. If you have an old house, you'll likely be dealing with lead paint. In that case, you'll need to take extra precautions, such as removing everything from the room, or covering it up with 2 sheets of plastic, each one 6 millimeters thick. You should also wear clothes you can throw away or disposable coveralls, along with gloves, goggles, a HEPA respirator, and a hair covering. Vacuum any dust off you with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner.
Cover the furniture in the room. Move furniture out if you're nervous about dust. Put tarps down on the floor. Protect yourself with safety gear.