So today I am teaching you how to paint a perfect line so that your home can look like it has been professionally painted. :)
No matter how well you tape it never works to just tape! This is what you will get with just taping:
That's a lot of touching up to do!
So here's how to get a perfect line:
Step 1: Tape. Take time and tape well because it does make a difference.
Step 2: Paint along the entire seam of where the tape meets the wall/molding. The color you'll use is the original color that you want to protect and that you don't want to change. Here's what it will look like:
As you can see, I have white crown molding and baseboards so after I taped I painted the matching white color over it.
The reason you do this is because when you paint it always bleeds under the tape in spots (as seen in the pictures above). So when you paint the original color over the tape that is the color that will bleed through, not your new color.
Step 3: Allow the paint to dry (I'm impatient so I usually only give it 30 min or so) but it's really important that you wait long enough for the paint to dry completely.
Step 4: Paint your new color.
Step 5: Wait. This is the HARDEST part for me because once I'm done painting I always want to see the results right away! It's important that you allow the paint to COMPLETELY dry though before you remove the tape. I usually can't wait until the next day but if you aren't as impatient as I am I'd give it a good 12 hours, 8 hours minimum (that's usually as long as I can wait).
Step 6: Slowly remove the tape and always remove it at an angle. I forgot to take a picture of that but it's important to remove it at a slight angle, pulling up and to the right (or left, your choice).
This is what your perfect line will look like. Isn't it lovely? :)
No touch up painting here! Who has time for that!? On to my next project! :)
I know this is kind of a confusing process so if you have ANY questions please don't hesitate to email me, or leave a comment here {make sure you leave your email address}.
Here are a few more pictures to give you another example:
I wanted to paint the wall around my window white--to match the trim.
I taped it off.
Next I painted the gray wall color (that I wanted to protect) over the tape's edge.
After that dried I painted white over it (the new color for my window surround).
Then I let it dry completely, wait...wait...wait...
Once it was dry I pealed the tape off, revealing my perfect line!
I love it! The new white surround is SO much better then the old beige color.
You can also see how I used this technique to paint my entryway stripes. They are pretty awesome!!!
Have fun painting!!!
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Pretty cool. I hate the paint that leaks under the tape and that always happens to me. We will be painting my grandsons room this spring so this will come in handy!!
ReplyDeleteDiana
great tip! I always hate that when we paint. I will definitely do this next time we paint :)
ReplyDeleteA very cool trick. I will try on my next painting job.
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much! Painting that 1st coat of paint is not anything I've ever thought of. I'm so excited to try it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled on your blog after slapping on some more white trim paint, sans painters tape, to go over later. I'm at the end of my rope, honestly. The space is huge and my lines are horrible. So, question: can I still do this even though I've already painted the wall slightly with my paint I want to protect (white trim paint)? Meaning, will this still work if I tape, then paint a bit more white paint on the other edge of the tape THEN paint the gray wall?
ReplyDelete*sigh* Great tip, either way! Thanks for sharing!
Bee- I don't have your email to write you back! Email me directly from your email address at askannamoseley@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteAnna
www.askannamoseley.com
Wow, what a helpful tip...I will definitely use this tutorial for my next big project: paining my living room walls!!
ReplyDeletekatieshowto.blogspot.com
Do you have any suggestions for corners that are rounded or "bull-nosed"?? Thanks...
ReplyDeleteTo the anonymous PP please email me your email address so that I can send you an answer. My email is: askannamoseley@hotmail.com.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Anna :)
great tute! I KNOW what to do, but do I always do it? nah!
ReplyDeletesilly me!
gail
Im sending your link to my husband. He is painting for me this week while Im on spring break at my friends. :) Thanks for linking up.
ReplyDeleteTOni
A bowl full of lemons
Good tips! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!
ReplyDeleteThank you for these tips. Very timely as I'm about to paint the ceiling one color and the walls another.
ReplyDeleteMoni
I featured you today here: http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com/2011/04/time-to-shine-features-no-12.html#comments
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteBeing an anal retentive painter myself, what I normally do is paint a thin coat of clear polyurethane after taping to ensure that the color I am painting with doesn't "bleed" onto the wrong side. The poly helps to seal off where the paint would normally seep through. Works like a charm!
ReplyDeleteYou've got your talent I think. And I'm so glad that you have shared it with us not just to inspire us but also to let us learned from you. I'm so glad to have read your article.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great tip and I will definetely try it next time I paint. I would however like the suggestion to painting the rounded corners as well. My email is junglebuddies(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks!
It is so much easier if you buy Painters Caulk. I have found it at Home Depot and Lowes. You tape then apply a thin bead of the caulk and spread it out with your finger tip. Let it dry(usually an hour or so) then paint like normal. It gives you the straightest line and you can not tell where the caulk has been. It is only 3-4 dollars and a little goes a long way.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing this....found it on Pinterest (which is an addiction that I best keep under control or I'll NEVER get to painting that bedroom!!!). Cheers!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting... I have lots of painting to do. I'll have to give this a go :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!! (and thank you pinterest for leading me here :) ) I am always changing up the colors of my rooms and always wind up just a tad frustrated with the edges of the wall. I can't wait to try this!
ReplyDeleteIngenious! Can't wait to try this. House hunting now so I imagine I'll have lots of opportunities soon. Thanks so much for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteHave you had any experience with with new (I think) Frog Tape? I have heard it completely blocks the bleeding but I don't know of anyone who has tried it
ReplyDeleteAnna, Do you have any advice about taping off wood trim and the paint leaking on it? I don't know what else to do besides take off the trim, and my husband doesn't like to do that because there is a possibility of cracking the trim.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Angie
@Angie (previous comment)- please contact me with your email address, I have no way of contacting you to answer your question.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Anna
askannamoseley@hotmail.com
Here's an additional tip if you don't have the original paint color to seal the tape with first...much like the poster above who uses polyurethane, I run a VERY thin layer of paintable caulk over the edge of my tape....works great! I like the idea of using the original paint if it's handy though....much quicker than caulk!
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteWow! Thank you! I'm always so frustrated with my messy lines, I will try your tip. Would the same tip apply for the corner between wall and ceiling? Also, I have the same issue as Angie with wood trim. I have lot of issues with wood edges, as I have a log house. When I texture the walls, you can always see the white texture under the paint at the choppy lines next to the wood trim. It looks ghastly. Suggestions???
Thanks!
Molly
sjranch6@austin.rr.com
Great tutorial. I actually usually paint lines this way, but a few times I've run into the paint peeling off some with the tape. So, I tried to remove the tape prior to it being completely dry. That helped some... Any suggestions on how to avoid the dried paint peeling off with the tape when you remove it since it's attached so to speak? (Email me if you can.)
ReplyDelete