When you’re painting a room, do you struggle to cut in a clean edge? I’m going to share my tips for painting a room quickly with clean lines and no tape!
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I am not a professional painter, and a professional may give you completely different advice than I’m going to give you, but this technique works for me and it works well. I actually had a professional painter come in to paint my two story foyer and he asked who I had hired to paint my kitchen because they did a great job. I didn’t hire anyone to paint my kitchen. I did it myself using the techniques below!
The first and most important step is to get a good brush. Fortunately, good doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. This is the exact brush I use, and it’s just a little over 10 bucks. I’ve been using this same brush for all my trim work for years. Two important things that make this brush perfect for trim work: 1) the angled edge. 2) the 2″ width. If for some reason you can’t find this exact brush, make sure you get a 2″ angled brush that’s made to be used with interior paint.
Next, you need a paint trim cup. I’ve used this one and this one and I like them both. When you fill your trim cup with paint, don’t over fill it.
I always start by dipping the brush into my paint cup and dragging the paint off both sides of the brush. I do this a couple times just to make sure my brush is evenly coated. You’re only dipping your bristles about an inch deep into the paint.
Now we’re ready to start painting. Dip your brush into the paint, then when you lift your brush out of the cup, drag one side against the edge all the way out. So you’re removing the paint from one side of the brush.
Now with the paint filled side of the brush facing the wall, paint a short, downward stroke about a quarter to a half inch away from the edge. Your stroke should be about 1-2 inches long, and this is just to unload some of the paint.
Now you can paint your edge. I start right above my downward stroke. I’m a lefty, so I always go in a right to left direction. I start my stroke just a smidge away from the ceiling, then as I stroke to the left I’ll go up until I’m right where the wall meets the ceiling, then straight to the left.
Once you’ve gone a few inches, remove the brush from the wall. You’re now going to feather out that line you just painted. I do this by using short downward arching strokes. Once you’re done, if your edge line doesn’t look like it’s fully coated, reload your brush and go over it again and feather it down again.
Now continue those 3 steps: A short downward stroke to unload some paint; a slow, steady stroke at the ceiling edge; then feather it down.
Before long you’ll be able to do this without even thinking about it, and you’ll be trimming out rooms faster than ever. I took a couple pictures of the edge I had just painted in the photos above, just to give you an idea of what it looked like when I was finished. (In some of the pictures, it looks like there’s a white line just below the ceiling line. That’s actually just where the wet paint was reflecting the light.)
A couple tips for painting the corners:
I paint my edge like normal as far into the corners as possible, then I’ll flip my brush over and paint an edge in the opposite direction. At this point there should only be a small section right in the corner that hasn’t been painted yet. I use the longest bristles only of my angled brush to carefully get into the corner and cut it in.
I hope you find these tips helpful! If you have your own tips for painting a room, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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This is an amazing tutorial! I’m pretty good at furniture painting…when I paint walls – lets just say there’s more paint where it’s not supposed to be. Definitely bookmarking this!
I don’t have much experience painting furniture yet. I’m actually gearing up to paint the end tables in my family room. I may be emailing you for help if I screw it up!
You won’t screw it up 🙂 We are always available to help!
Awesome! I am definitely going to be putting this to work!!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Kristi!
We needed this awesome tutorial two years ago, Amy! Great o know :)) Thanks for sharing and hope you have a great day!!
Thanks, Kendra!
Wow! Great tutorial! I’m so nervous about painting without tape. Thanks for sharing! Also wanted to let you know about a new linky party starting this Saturday at 8pm called “Found & Foraged” Can’t wait to party with you at http://www.houseofhipsters.com
Thanks Kyla! I’ll be sure to check out your new party 🙂
Awesome! Can’t wait to see what you share!
Thanks for the great tutorial! Going to refer back to this tutorial next time I paint! Thank you!
Thanks Tara!!
What a great tutorial! I am a HORRIBLE painter.. but I know in the next house we are going to have to paint. Maybe I can talk my hubby into painting everything…
Just get the right brush, and I promise you won’t be horrible!! I do not have a steady hand at all and I can cut in a room like nobody’s business.
p.s. move closer and I’ll help you 🙂
Great tutorial! I love those little buckets because they are so much easier to cart up the ladder than the other options. We also use them to soak the brushes if need be to get the excess paint off.
I never thought to use those buckets to soak my brushes!! You’re so smart, Rachel! But I totally agree, they’re way easier than trying to paint straight from the can!
Awesome!! I do something so similar to this!! And I agree, it’s all in the brush. The angled works so great! Pinning, everyone needs to know this technique! 🙂
Thanks Amanda!! For sure the brush is the most important step!! Thanks so much for pinning, friend!!
OK this post could not have come at a better time! I am painting my son’s “big boy” room this weekend, and was dreading the thought of taping. I think I will give this a try and see what happens. Thanks!
Have fun painting!! You can totally do this without tape! Let me know how it goes!! 🙂
Great tip!! We’re hoping to move soon and may have a lot of painting to do! Thanks for sharing and linking up with us at the Motivational Monday link party! Happy Sunday!
Danielle
SewMuchCrafting.com
Thanks for stopping by, Danielle!! 🙂
Great tutorial. Thank you for sharing! I’ve learned that not taping is easier for me, but this tells me how to do it like a pro! I’ll be featuring it on my blog for Think & Make Thursday! Cheers~!
Yay! Thanks Karisa!!
Great tips! We are getting ready to paint our inside walls and this will come in handy! Thanks for sharing at On Display Thursday, come join us again tonight at 9:00!
Thanks Leia!
The last picture the ceiling looks a brighter white about an incharound theb edge.I phave been painting for over 30 yrs.You did a pretty good job for not painting for a living.One thing that I always do after I cut in..When I walk in a house I have a bad habit at looking at the paint job,especially where people cut in.You can see where the paint is smoth because it was done with a brush.I cut in with a brush ,then right away I have a 2′ roller with the sae size nap that I will be painting the wall with.I roll over the cut in as close as I can without hitting the ceiling.You can tell the difference I a not picking on your work,but the 2nd to the last picture,there is a white line.is that wet paint or caulking. a lot of people will use caulking.My Father was a painter & he made me do all the cutting in.We used coffee cans.I used a 4’angled brush,I would dip in the paint 2 to 3′ & tap the brush on the inside of the can a couple times on each.My Father would tell me as soo as you put the brush on the wall,hold your breath & drag the brush nice & easy.When you can’t hold your breath anymore,take the brush off the wall.Then I would roll as close as I could to the ceiling so you coulsn’t see where it was smooyh from the brush.I was watching a documentary on The Making Of An American Sniper.It is the same with the sniper,once he got his target in sight,he would take a few breaths & then hold his breath before he pulled the trigger.My Father told me about holding my breath before I started to move the brush,he said it made you calm & not shakey.It works for me.I am not puting you down or telling you you are doing it wrong.If that’s what works for you & you feel comfortable doing it the way you do,GO FOR IT. Thank You
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Hey Dan, you’re not hurting my feelings at all, I appreciate your comment! That white line you see is the light reflecting off the wet paint and my poor photography skills. Thanks so much for leaving your tips! They’re good ones and will be helpful to anyone else reading this article!