Doing so will ensure a smooth, seamless finish after you’ve rolled the walls.Ĭontinue to work your way around the room, gently overlapping sections to keep a wet edge. Once you’re satisfied that you have a cleanly painted edge or corner, again turn your paintbrush horizontal to the floor and ceiling, and gently sweep back over the area to erase brush marks and feather the outer boundaries of the painted area. This time, using long, even strokes, cut in a thinner line of paint that gets right up to the trim or wall corner. Now that you’ve used up some of the paint on your brush, turn your brush 90 degrees so that it angles into the wall, and go back to the beginning of your stroke. Holding the brush horizontal with respect to the floor and ceiling, paint a roughly 12-inch stripe on the wall, using a downward stroke if you’re painting at a corner, or a sideways stroke if you’re working along the ceiling, baseboard, or other trim. Now it’s time to get some paint on that wall! Begin about an inch away from the area you’re cutting in, whether you’re working along the trim or down a corner. Gently tap the brush against the side of the bucket to remove any excess. Dip the brush into the paint, but be careful not to load more than 2/3 the length of the bristles with paint.

Hold your brush with a pencil grip, with the longer side of the brush bristles in line with your pointer finger. Pour about 2 inches of paint into the bucket. Otherwise, avoid taping-it takes extra time, and unless the tape is properly applied, paint can seep underneath it or dry on top of it, creating a real mess upon removal. Use painter’s tape to mask only those awkward or tough-to-reach spots where you know you won’t be able to guarantee clean results without taping. Always use a drop cloth, and move it as you work through the room. So, begin by prepping the room, making sure that floors and other surfaces are protected. Even when you’re dealing with the small amount of paint required for cutting in, drips and spills can happen.

Best paint brush to use for cutting in