Decorating a room isn't as easy as you think. But there are some simple tricks of the trade you can follow to make sure the job is easier.

Whatever type of surface you're going to tackle it must be clean, dry and smooth - preparation is the secret of a good-looking finish.

Preparing a room for a new coat of paint or paper will take at least half a day, including filling and smoothing old plaster.

Scrape off any flaking paint with a flexible filling knife and smooth the surface with a sanding block.

Sometimes patches of old plaster become loose or cracked. Pick out the loose areas with a filling knife and repair the areas with plaster filler.

Work methodically over the whole room to make sure you have treated all the damaged areas.

When the filler is dry, use an electric sander or sanding block to smooth any rough areas of plaster and blend in the new repairs.

Cracks around the skirting boards and door frames will spoil your new finish. Rake out any chipped paint and fill the gaps with a flexible decorator's sealant.

The next step is cleaning.

Wash off any black mould with a solution of household bleach and leave to dry. Heavy mould or tobacco stains should be covered with a sealer coat of paint.

Decide if the exposed walls need covering with lining paper. If the walls have large repair patches or lots of tiny hairline cracks, covering with plain lining paper will provide a smooth base for paint or wallpaper.

Hang the paper just like ordinary wallpaper and leave overnight to dry.

Finally, remove any dirt and grease with sugar soap or hot water and washing-up liquid. Don't forget to wash the ceiling as well if it's going to be decorated. Now all you have to do is pick your paper or paint and you should be ready to go.