Interior painting can be a satisfying, but daunting task — especially when you’re brand new to doing it on your own. If you’re wanting to paint like a professional painter without the cost, the best method to follow is that of cutting in, which is a technique that uses an angled brush and a steady hand to freehand straight lines of paint without the parameters of tape. Here are some best practices and painting tips to cut in like a pro in no time.
Fill a Bucket
Have a bucket that you can carry with you that contains a ½ inch of paint to dip your brush into. This will assure you don’t overload the brush or spill paint.
Load the Brush
The key is to not have too much paint on the brush. You want to go slow and steady with this process. Simply dab the dry angled brush into the paint, and wipe off any excess on the edge of the bucket.
Applying the Paint
If you’re brand new to cutting in, apply painter’s tape on the tops of door frames or baseboards. This can help you gain confidence within your painting abilities as you get used to the method.
Hold the brush close to the bristles, and apply the bristles to the surface. This forms a wedge. Use the pointed edge to start the line, and begin drawing the path. Remember, the outermost bristles are drawing the line, not the entire brush, so keep a light hand on the brush to avoid any accidental large deposits of paint on the surface.
Slow and Steady
Paint each line slowly, and remember to breathe. Until you’ve mastered the concept, taking each line and coat of paint slowly can help avoid large mistakes.
Make Larger Cut Lines
If you’re going to use a roller to paint a surface near the cut line later on, make sure the cut line is wider than an inch. This will give you space to not bump into the wall or unpainted surface.
Correcting Mistakes
Keep a damp rag on your person or close-by to wipe up any paint mishaps that end up on a surface you didn’t intend to paint. The quicker you’re able to wipe the paint away after it overstepped its bounds, the easier the paint will come off.
For more tips and tricks on interior painting, contact Texas Professional Painting for advice from the professionals themselves.
