This post is all about how to save you time when painting your next room. I am going to share some easy method painting tips and tricks. The biggest time saver is no taping when you paint your trim. Yes, you read that right, no taping! Not only is no taping a time saver, it is a money saver too.
I confess, I always taped before I painted the trim. I never felt like I could hold a steady line when I was painting, so I painstakingly taped a room before I began to paint. Fast forward to today and I can paint a room without taping. I wish I had a picture of me doing the happy dance for this one. Mr. DD taught me how to paint a room without using tape.
Here is a quick video on no tape trim painting
Start by dipping your brush about 2 inches into the paint. I like to drag the brush against the edge of the can to clean off one side.
Place your brush close to the edge and begin to drag your brush to make a good pointed tip, once you have the brush at an angle, move closer to the trim and begin your line. Move very slow and steady as you keep a good eye on where your brush is going. Once you seem to run out of paint, pull your brush away from the trim line. Go back and spread the paint above the section you just completed, this will spread out any drips and extra paint. Make sure you paint above the trim line 3 to 4 inches so that you don’t come close to the trim line when rolling on the wall paint.
Now for working in the corners. Once you run your trim line, you will have a dip in the corner where you had to pull your brush away, as in the picture above.
Fill your brush back up with paint, place brush on the wall, close to the trim edge line. Press on your brush to get a nice flat edge on the tip of your brush. Once you have a flat edge, slowly move the brush evenly to the ceiling. Once the trim line is even and filled, pull the brush down to paint under the trim line.
Painting trim with Carpet. Here is my trick for painting trim that is next to the carpet. I use a large 4 or 5-inch scraper(or larger) to hold down the carpet while I paint above it. Once I paint the small section, I wipe off the blade using newspapers that are lying next to my work area and move to the next section. I like using this method since I can push down the carpet with the blade and get below the carpet line.
This is me and my best helper sitting and waiting for Mr. DD to finish the trim painting so I can start to roll.
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The trim is complete and the wall is ready for paint using my new favorite painting tool, PaintStick EZ Twist by HomeRight. A few weeks back we used it to paint the ceilings in the guest bedroom. Stopover to read how simple and easy this paint stick is to use for all your paint rolling needs.
I love the PaintStick Ez Twist and I will be using it in a few other hard-to-reach areas of my house. Here is a quick pros and cons list I created from the first time we used the paint tool.
How about you, do you tape when painting? Leave me your answer in the comments section, I would love to know.
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Vicky says
We’ve tried that (the cutting in) but we don’t have steady hands. I still prefer to tape mainly for the fact that I’m a perfectionist. I love the straight crisp lines we get from using tape. If paint tends to bleed a little under certain areas where the tape may not have been pressed firmly in place, I come back with one of those artist’s #2 fine line brushes and clean up the imperfection, cutting in like you’ve described with that brush. Also, I do use the longer bladed drywall knife to put between the carpet and baseboards like you to paint the baseboards, but because of past experience of the carpet fibers bouncing back, adhering to the wet paint once the blade is carefully slid out of the way sideways and it drying with carpet fibers sticking, now we mask the carpet at and slightly under the baseboard with painter’s tape, too. We take a utility knife to break (score) the dry paint away at the tape line and baseboard before taking up the tape. Also, on the walls when removing the tape, we score certain areas with a utility knife first to break the dry paint with the tape then carefully pull the tape off at a 45 degree angle, never pull straight down. Pulling straight down runs the risk of pulling paint off the wall where scoring may have been missed.
Nancy says
first, love the color you used! Also, I just hate EVERY PART OF PAINTING–this tool would really make it a bit better!
Nicole says
I HATE trim work but I’m way too lazy to tape, so I usually just “eyeball” it. 🙂 I’m loving that no mess roller!
Designed Decor says
Nicole, I love the roller! I cant wait to use it again! I know, I am strange to be excited about a paint roller.
Shanna Gilbert says
You have a much more steady hand than I do my friend! I will always have to be a tape girl since I am impatient and always in a hurry. I am definitely going to have to try that paint stick one day!
Designed Decor says
Shanna, I think you hit it on the head by saying impatient! I know when I hurry that is when I mess up, just like on my furniture pieces!
Emily says
I use tape sometimes, but it mainly depends on what needs to be painted and the challenges of the area. I do tend to tape window paints. However, I loved your tips!
Emiy says
I usually try the no taping method, but often make a mess, yours looks great!!! Love that color too! Pinned!
Designed Decor says
Thanks Emily!
amy @ one artsy mama says
Hooray for painting! Thanks for the great tips!
Crystal says
Great tips! I quit taping two years ago. It sure does save a lot of time.
Boonie says
Painting can be a huge hassle. Any tips are appreciated! The images are especially helpful with understanding how to apply your tips. Thank you.
Nikki says
Great tips! I’ll have to pin it so I remember to do this next time I have to paint.
Joanna Sormunen says
Great tips! I’m a really bad at painting, always get a huge mess done. Really needed these tips, badly, lol
Designed Decor says
Joanna, I understand about the mess! Practice helps, but since you probably don’t paint often, you have a mess each time!
Kath Rivera says
First up, I like the color you chose GRAY! Wow, you’re so good I mean there’s no mess at all. I’m sure the job is pretty easy after this kind of painting. Job Well done!
Designed Decor says
Kath, I had one drip mark that I need to sand done and touch up! Ugh!
Aisha Kristine Chong says
Awesome way to do things yourself – I find it hard though, lol.
Phillip Dews says
Awesome Tips and I use the same method!
I remember a few years back as a pub manager in Slough, UK! I took over the pub from a couple of 2 girls who had painted the pub a baby pink!
That was not to do in my eyes! So the first think i decided to do was redecorate in a more manly color!
I decided to unscrew all of the pictured dotted all over the pub and was shocked to see loads of squares where the picures had been painted around and not took off when the girls decided to redecorate the pub in pink!
Anyway good tips DD, Have a great Day!
– Phillip Dews
Designed Decor says
Lol! What a great story! I got a good laugh out of it, because I find people cut corners all of the time. You can only laugh and shake your head in disbelief!
Roch says
I saw that our carpenters also used tape when they painted our room. I can’t imagine doing it myself.
Designed Decor says
It is so much easier without tape, you just need to slow down and take the time to do it right with a steady hand.
Julie Tucker says
LUV the tip about saving the carpet! This has always been my biggest pain when painting. Thanks for the tip!
Designed Decor says
Julie, you are welcome! Have a great weekend!
Ronnie says
No taping?! I never thought that was even a possibility… I’m super surprised!
Maria Oller says
I cant do this but my husband never uses tape he does almost the same you guys did I guess it’s practice after all
Amanda says
It looks really good! I don’t think I would have the guts to even try and pull this off though, I always make a mess with the paint, even with the tape! Lol
Designed Decor says
Amanda, if you do tape, I would re come the Frog Tape! It is a great painters tape. I have used it and love it!
lisa jones says
You Make It Looks So Easy Awesome Job!