Along with great coverage and a smooth finish, neat edges are vital if you want to feel satisfied with your DIY painting and decorating. The most important thing is to use a paint brush that’s been specifically designed for ‘cutting in’ (painting edges). Look for a brush with tapered bristles that create a thin, blade-like edge. This will give you more control and an improved finish.
How to paint wall edges
Marcus Jarvis, In House Painter & Decorator at decorating tools brand, Harris, explains how to paint super-neat edges with ease.
Published: August 1, 2022 at 10:53 am
Step 1
Start painting by placing the wide tip of the brush against the edge and pulling the paint along in segments around a metre at a time. Then, using the brush as you normally would, thicken the edge by another 5–10cm.
Step 2
With the edge complete, switch to a roller to fill in the outlined block. Start about a foot from where you’ve cut in and apply the paint in a W motion. Overlap as much of the brush-painted area as you dare, remembering to avoid painting over the actual edge. This technique will blend the brush-painted edges in, preventing a ‘framed’ look.
We recommend using masking tape as well for extra protection along a skirting board or window frame. Masking tape is also ideal if you are creating a feature wall, with blocks of different colour or even curves or patterns.