DIY Painting Walls and Ceilings with a Brush

Known as "cutting–in" or "cutting–out" by professional painters, painting with a brush is required around trim molding and ceiling and wall corners. When the project requires a straight line between two paint colors, use the process on this page. See Painting Trim for help painting a straight line between walls and trim molding.

Painting Rooms One Color

When painting walls and ceilings the same color, Use a 2 or 2 ½ inch brush to apply about a 3 inch swath of paint around room corners and trim molding. Brush two coats of paint if necessary for good coverage. Using a sash brush for cutting–in, rather than a straight brush, will provide added control.

When the brush work is done roll the large spaces using these paint rolling techniques. It's best to roll shiny paints like eggshell and semi–gloss while the brush work it still wet to blend the two areas. In these cases it may be best to cut–in and roll one wall at a time so the paint doesn't have time to dry. Whenever possible, use flat latex paint for painting walls and ceilings. Flat latex paint is very forgiving and won't show brush marks and re–touched areas like shiny paints will. In addition, flat latex paint can be rolled after the brush work is dry without noticeable marks. See Paint Touch-Up for more.

Painting Rooms Two Colors

When painting rooms two colors, paint the first color as described above. Allow some of the paint to overlap onto the adjacent surface. See Painting a White Ceiling for more details. Let the paint dry for a couple of days before proceeding. Tape a straight line around the newly painted surface using painter's masking tape at least 1 ½ inches wide. Apply short strips of tape for better control in keeping the line straight. Press the tape down tight with a putty knife. Overlap the ends of each piece of tape by an inch or so. Apply a second strip of tape to create a 3 inch barrier.

Use good quality paint and begin brushing a swath about three inches wide, around the perimeter of the wall or ceiling. Use two thin coats of paint rather than one thick coat to avoid paint bleeding under the tape. More coats may be required to cover deeper paint colors. Give each paint coat time to dry before applying the next. Roll the remainder of the surface using the Paint Rolling Techniques. Wait at least a day for the paint to dry then run the tip of a putty knife along the edge of the tape to break the paint film and slowly peel the tape off.