WHEN it comes to bargain paint, it's all in the preparation, says Renee Couper from Inspirations Paint in South Tweed.

And Renee knows what she is talking about when it comes to the colourful world of paint.

She was happy to give some useful tips on saving money in the long term.

The first step to a good paint job is to clean - washing down the surface to be painted using sugar soap and then rinsing it off again, and that was the key to a good result.

"A job is only as good as the preparation, so it is important to get this step spot on," Renee said.

Secondly, any holes or imperfections need to be bogged and filled using the correct materials for the application.

If you can't afford an electric sander, it is definitely a good idea to use a sanding block...remember the finer the grit paper, the better the finish.

Sanding the surface is the final step before your undercoat goes on and is one of the most important stages in the process.

To get a good finish, you need to use good quality sandpaper and buy yourself a sanding block.

"If you cannot afford an electric sander, it is definitely a good idea to use a sanding block to save your hand from the pain," Ms Couper said.

"Remember the finer the grit paper the better the finish."

Now that you are ready for the primer or first coat, it is important to have a good quality brush and roller, because the finished product will be affected by a cheap applicator.

And then, once you are ready to start painting, it is important to remember paint runs down not up.

"Always start at the top and finish at the bottom, otherwise, runs could be a problem and can result in having to sand the surface back and start again," Renee said.

The old saying you get what you pay for applies to paint and the lifespan of your finished product.

"It is best to buy good quality paint for long-term savings and remember, the lower the sheen, the less imperfections show up," Ms Couper said.

Specific paints should be used for specific applications - use an interior paint inside while an exterior paint will handle weather exposure.