How to Cut in a Wall

It doesn't take a lot of time to paint a simple interior room. Before painting your walls, however, you must cut in the paint around ceilings, baseboards, doors, windows and any electrical sockets.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Painter's plastic
• 3-inch masking tape
• Canvas drop cloth
• 3-inch brush

1. Remove all accessories and small furniture from the room you plan to paint. Move larger furniture to the room's center and cover it with painter's plastic.

2. Tape down any carpet to the baseboards with 3-inch masking tape, covering about 1/2-inch of tape onto the face of the baseboards. Press down firmly to avoid any holes where paint may seep through.

3. Unscrew all switch plate and outlet covers and cover exposed electrical areas with tape. Cover all hardware, such as hinges and doorstops with tape.

4. Cover all furniture and flooring with canvas drop cloths.

5. Use a 3-inch brush to cut in. Begin by painting up to the edge of ceiling on one wall and a full brush width onto the wall. When you reach a corner, paint each corner's side with a full brush width down to the baseboard. Continue cutting in around any woodwork, along doors, windows, baseboards, chair rails and electrical sockets.

6. Even out, or lap up, all the obvious brush strokes, marks or extra paint along your cutting-in path. Catch all runs and be sure to smooth out all previous strokes for a professional, polished job.