How To Cut In Paint without Painter's Tape - Making Manzanita (original) (raw)

Want to learn how to cut in paint? In this step by step tutorial, we'll teach you the whole process of how to cut in paint at ceiling and along the edges of trim and baseboards without tape (even if you're a beginner)!! We will also teach you how to select the best paint brush for cutting in!

Painter’s tape is great…we agree. It’s perfect for things like crafts with spray paint, painting abstract shapes like we did on this giant pegboard wall and getting straight lines on two tone walls. We even recently shared all of our painter’s tape tips in this article. But what you shouldn’t be using painter’s tape for is cutting in paint on trim, baseboards or at the ceiling.

What? No painter’s tape on trim or between wall ceiling? How in the world do you paint straight lines without painter’s tape?

Well, that’s what we are going to teach you in today’s article. Learn how to cut in paint at ceiling and along trim and baseboards without tape – and see our recommendations for the best paint brush for cutting in. Let’s dive in!

Man on top of a ladder holding a brush painting the edges of the ceiling with gray paint with text overlay that says how to cut in paint without tape

Table of Contents

This how to cut in paint tutorial contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly. Read my full disclosure here.

Related: Other Interior Painting Articles

FAQs about cutting in paint

Before we get into the specifics, let’s go over some basic frequently asked questions about cutting in paint.

What does it mean to cut in paint?

Cutting in paint is the action of painting a straight line in a corner, around trim, baseboards or where the ceiling meets the wall without painter’s tape.

Do you cut in before or after rolling?

You should cut in paint before rolling the paint on the walls. Rolling after you cut in helps even out the texture of the paint brush used when cutting in.

Is it OK to cut in one day and paint the next?

Technically, you could cut in one day and paint in the next, but we recommend rolling the paint on the walls right after you cut in before the paint has had time to cure. This helps even out the texture and blend.

Do I need to cut in twice when painting?

Cutting in twice when painting is not usually necessary because paint goes on heavier with a paint brush than a roller.

What’s the best paint brush for cutting in?

In our opinion, the best paint brush for cutting in is the Wooster short cut with a tapered edge (meaning that there is a dome shape to the edge of the bristles when you look at the brush edge wise – which is called the filament). We typically use either the Wooster Ultra/Pro Firm Shortcut Angle Sash 2″ brush or the Wooster 2″ Shortcut Angle Sash brush with Chinex bristles. Both of those have that tapered filament that make it perfect for getting a nice clean line for trim.

Cutting In Paint Tips – Video Tutorial

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How To Cut In Paint at Ceiling

Before you begin cutting in paint in any room, here’s a little warning the art of cutting in paint takes practice…like a lot of practice. It’s not going to be perfect the first time, so give yourself grace and time to get it down.

But I promise you that it is well worth it to pick up this skill if you’re renovating or you do a lot of painting projects. Just think about ALL of the time you’ll save putting down that painter’s tape (which takes forever) and then dealing with the paint that inevitably seeps under the painter’s tape – ugh.

Man holding an angeled paint brush with a short handle pulling out of the paint bucket with gray paint

Step 1. Select the right tools for the job (the best paint brush for cutting in)

One of the most important aspects to painting a straight line between wall and ceiling is simply using the right kind of paint brush. When you are cutting in, it’s important to use a brush with an angled sash and a tapered filament. We prefer a brush with a shortcut style handle.

Graphic Charcoal color Gray paint in the Behr Paint Ultra scuff defense can

Step 2. Prepare paint material.

We usually just dip the paint brush directly into the paint can when cutting in paint. However, you want to make sure you shake the can well and stir before starting with a paint stick because the ingredients and colors separate.

Hand holding The Handy Craft Cup small red cup filled with white paint which makes is easy to hold in your hand and move around the room as you cut in paint

The Handy Craft Cup is easy to hold and move paint around the room as you cut in paint.

If you wanted a smaller cup for paint that is easier to hold and bring around the room with you, we recommend the Handy Craft Cup, which is small and very easy to hold with one hand. If you wanted something a little bigger, you could try the Handy Paint Cup that has a magnet to hang your brush on as well so it doesn’t get all messy in the paint, genius right?

Man holding an angeled paint brush painting the ceiling edge with a straight line with gray paint without using painter's tape

Step 3. Slowly cut in paint where the wall meets the ceiling.

Dip the bottom 1/2 of the paint brush into the can and brush the backside of the brush on the edge of the paint can to get rid of the excess. Don’t get rid of too much paint though, you want to have a full paint brush when you bring it up to the wall.

Using the side of the paint brush that is full of paint, brush off the excess paint along the wall near the ceiling line, but not right up against it yet. The key is to off load most of the paint off of the brush so it’s not a dripping mess.

Then you can hold the paint brush up to the line where the wall meets the ceiling and using the angle of the bristles slowing make a straight line with the paint. Since the excess paint is already on the wall right there from when you off loaded, you are simply spreading that paint out with the paint brush.

Once you’re done with that section and ready to fill up the paint brush again, brush over the wall area to make sure there’s not droopy edges to the paint. This will help blend the paint later better when you go over it to paint the walls.

Man standing on top of a ladder wearing blue shirt holding a trim paint brush and painting a straight line with dark gray paint where the wall meets the ceiling

It helps to get as high as you can on a ladder so you have a straight view of where the wall meets the ceiling. This way you can get really up close and personal with where those bristles are are painting. You want to be able to see the top corner of the paint brush clearly.

Hand holding an angeled paint brush with a steady hand cutting in paint on the wall with gray paint where the wall pieces the ceiling corner

Tips for a steady hand while cutting in paint

As much as you can, try to keep your hand as steady as possible. If it helps, you can hold out your pinky finger and rest that on the wall to give you a guide for steadiness. If you feel like your hand start to get shaky, you’re probably tired (especially when you’re lifting your arm up to cut in paint at the ceiling), so take a break and come back to it.

Make sure you’re fully hydrated and have a full stomach before cutting in and avoid coffee or caffeine. This will help keep your hand nice and steady.

Pro Tip – Wrap your paint brush up in a plastic shopping bag or Ziploc and put it in the fridge while you take a break so you don’t have to wash out the painting brush while you’re resting.

White window and door trim edges painted with gray paint that have already been cut in

How To Paint Edges of Trim and Baseboards Without Tape

Now the process of how to paint edges of trim and baseboards without tape is very similar to the way you cut in along the ceiling!

You will use the same type of paint brush that is designed for cutting in and will also need to mix up your paint can before beginning (Steps 1 and 2 above).

hand holding an angeled cutting in paint brush painting the edges

When you are cutting in along the edges of trim, you’ll want to:

When you’re cutting in along the edges of baseboards, you’ll want to:

Hopefully by the end of this tutorial on how to cut in paint, we’ve convinced you that taking the time to practice the skill of cutting in is well worth your time. With a little bit of patience and practice, you can totally cut in WITHOUT painter’s tape.

But I understand that there’s probably still a few of you that are stuck in your ways (#stubborn) and want to still use painter’s tape to cut in.

Here’s the best way to cut in with paint using painter’s tape:

Hopefully we’ve convinced you that even a beginner can cut in paint without using painter’s tape! With these simple steps you can learn how to cut in paint at the ceiling and how to paint edges of trim and baseboards.

It all starts with using the right tools for the job so be sure you’re using the best paint brush for cutting in. Armed with time to practice and a whole lot of patience, you can create beautiful straight lines between the wall and ceiling and edges when you’re painting a room.

Did you learn something new in this tutorial of how to cut in paint?

Let us know in the comments below!

Man holding a paint brush dipped in a bucket of gray paint with text overlay that says the best brush for cutting in paint

Tools

Instructions

  1. Select the right tools for the job. It's important to use an angeled sash brush with a tapered filament when cutting in paint.
  2. Pepare paint materials. Shake can well and stir with paint stick before starting.
  3. Slowly cut in paint where the wall meets the ceiling. Only dip the bottom h1/2 of the brush into the can and brush the backside of the brush on the edge fo the can to get rid of excess. Using the side of the brush that is full of paint, brush off the excess paint along the wall near the ceiling. Then hold the brush up to the line where the wall meets the ceiling and using the angle of the bristles, slowly make a straight line with the paint. Since the excess paint is already on the wall that you off loaded, you are simply spreading that paint out with the paint brush. Once you're done with that section, brush over the wall area to make sure there isn't a droopy edge to the paint.
  4. To cut in the on edges of trim and baseboards, repeat the same steps.

Notes