This week saw the contestants renovate one of the largest and most important rooms in their houses — their living rooms. Even though Dale was unexpectedly rushed to hospital, the Block teams rallied around Sophie to help her finish her living room.

Follow our mighty helpful hints below and check out our factsheets to see how you can instantly revive your living room with a fresh coat of paint.

Remember, the secret to a great paint job is good surface preparation, using the right tools and the right paint.

For top tips on painting winning rooms in your home, check out these instructional videos by The Block's chief tradie, Scott Cam.

Learn how to prepare interior surfaces.

Use colour to create a feature in your room.

Learn how to paint interior surfaces.

For detailed instructions on how to paint the interior of your home, download our Mitre Plan project planner.

Mighty helpful painting hints

• When buying any paint or stain, record the maker's name, type of paint and any colour mix details in a handy place — like the bottom of the can. Then when it's time to touch-up or re-coat, you'll be able to accurately re-order the right stuff.
• If you're using several cans of the same colour, thoroughly mix them together first to make sure the overall colour is consistent.
• If you're simply taking an hour or two's rest from painting, wrap your brush or roller in a plastic bag or cling film to keep it moist and ready to be used again. For longer breaks, clean up completely.
• When removing old, unstrippable wallpaper, paint on a mixture of eight parts hot water to one part methylated spirits. Let this soak for 20 minutes, keeping the surface damp. The paper should then easily scrape off in small pieces.
• Remove all door handles, cupboard handles and other removable fittings from wood work — it avoids getting paint on them and permits easier and better painting.
• Don't try to make a can of paint go too far — the result can be a coat that's too thin and which offers inadequate protection.
• Store paint tins upside down to prevent paint skinning on top.