Are you starting a painting project? You’ve already selected your favourite paint colour and collected all the tools you need for that perfect paint job. But before you grab that roller brush, learn how to cut in paint, which is an important first step. Knowing how to cut in paint neatly ensures a superior and smooth finish.
Beginners may struggle with the technique, so learning how to cut in paint is important before starting a project. Try a few practice strokes before working on the actual wall.
In this cutting-in-paint guide, Ooh Paint explains everything you’ll need to know about cutting in when painting walls and ceilings. And, as experts on all things paint, we’ll also give you some pro tips for cutting in paint to help you master the technique for your project.
What Does Cutting Mean in Painting?
Cutting in paint is a technique used to paint the nooks and crannies of a wall using consistent lines. This includes the edges around electric sockets, doors, and windows. Since a typical paint roller can't reach these areas, cutting in paint with a smaller brush is recommended.
What Tools Do You Need For Cutting in Paint?
Before you begin, make sure you have the following paint cutting in tools:
- Cutting in paint brush - we recommend a 2-inch angled sash brush
- Painting tape
- Cut bucket (a paint can that doesn’t have an inner lip and won’t collect excess paint)
How to Cut in Paint: 5 Easy Steps
Before beginning any painting project, ensure you follow all of Health Canada’s recommended safety rules. How do you cut in when painting? Follow these 5 easy steps:
Step 1: Pour Your Paint
The first step of cutting in is pouring your choice of paint into your cut bucket. Fill the bucket with only half an inch of paint. This helps to avoid overloading your brush with paint and gives you more control over the application.
Step 2: Prepare the Area
Cover sockets, edges, or trims you don’t want to colour with painter’s tape. This allows you to work without worrying about getting paint on the wrong surface. Once you’re done cutting in paint, you can remove the tape.
Step 3: Dip the Brush
Next, load your angled paint brush with paint by dipping it into the cut bucket. The best size brush for cutting in is a 2-inch sash brush. Drag the brush's bristles against the bucket's wall to remove excess paint. This prevents paint from bleeding down the walls when you cut in.
Step 4: Paint the Line
Hold your paint brush near the bristles like you would hold a pencil. Apply light pressure to the wall surface. Excessive pressure will widen the bristles too much, making it difficult to paint a straight line. Note that you don’t have to paint close to the edge from the first stroke. Go as near as you can and then slowly paint closer to the edge. Move your entire arm as you paint to keep the paint brush steady.
Step 5: Clean Any Mistakes
The last step of cutting in paint is cleaning. Once you’re done creating the line, use a damp rag to clean any extras. Make sure to clean mistakes while the paint is still wet. Otherwise, you’ll have to use more aggressive techniques to remove the dry paint.
Once satisfied with the line you’ve made, you can remove any decorative tape you used.
Tips for Cutting in Paint
Now that you’ve learned how to cut in paint, master the art with Ooh Paint’s pro tips.
How to Cut In When Painting a Ceiling
Do you cut in first when painting a ceiling? Yes, Ooh Paint recommends cutting in when painting ceilings.
A ceiling line paint tool is a handy alternative to painter’s tape. To use it, pour some paint into a paint tray or paper plate. Then, lightly dip the pad of the tool in the ceiling paint so it is thinly coated. Remove the excess using the edge of the tray and place the pad flat on the surface under the ceiling.
Now, use the wheels of the tool to slowly drag it along the ceiling and paint a straight line. If one coat isn’t enough, repeat the steps for a second coat. If the edger misses any areas, touch them up using a small paintbrush.
Painting Corners
One of the best tips for painting a room is cutting in the corners first. To do this, dip the brush in the paint and saturate the corner. Wiggle the brush lightly to really get the paint into the corner. You might get some colour on the adjacent walls, but that’s OK. That’s why we paint the corners before the rest of the wall.
Once you’ve saturated the corner, use brushstrokes to spread the paint away from the corner. Dip the brush in the paint again to go over the previous strokes to even the colour out. Once you’re done with one surface, move on to the adjacent one until the corner is complete.
How to Cut In Edges When Painting
To get the perfect painted edge, use a painting kit with a new brush. An old brush or a poor-quality paint brush makes cutting in paint more difficult. Another great tip for a smooth paint application on the edges is to use a conditioner or a paint extender.
Add about one tablespoon of paint conditioner to every cup of paint you use and mix it thoroughly. This will help you paint crisp lines along the edges.
Can You Let Cut In Paint Dry Before Rolling?
No, we never advise letting paint dry before rolling. Always roll paint on a wall right after you finish cutting in the edges. Painting immediately after cutting in produces a more consistent and smooth look due to improved colour blending. If you cut in all the edges of the room first and then paint the walls after it dries, you’ll find noticeable brushstrokes.
Learn How to Cut In Paint With Ooh Paint
Learning how to cut in paint may seem hard at first. But now that you know the right tricks and tools, it won’t take long to master the technique. The key is to practice a few lines before working on the actual project.
When cutting in painting, always paint the corners and edges first before the rest of the wall. Try to extend the colour at least 2-3 inches outward of the line you paint. This allows a safe margin to work with when painting the rest of the wall with a roller brush.
Always use high-quality paints for the best results. For the best paints on the market, contact Ooh Paints. With Ooh’s Colour WhizⓇ, easily find the right colour paint for your room decor and style. We have all the tools you’ll need, from rollers to brushes and everything in between, to take your DIY painting job to the next level.
