How To Paint Trim Like A Pro
We actually get a lot of edging, cutting in, and trim-painting questions so we figured we’d share our secret… this amazing little short handled 2″ angled brush:
Whipping it out to clean up the baseboards and paint a crisp line where the walls meet the ceilings in our recent bathroom striping project reminded us just how stellar this little guy really is. Things were so smooth and fabulous that I ended up touching up nearly every baseboard in the house while I was at it. It’s kind of addicting when things are so easy.
So here’s the scoop: it’s available at Duron and Sherwin-Williams stores and it’s called the Premium XL Tight Spots 2″ Angle Short Handle Brush (with comfort grip- ooh la la). I should also clarify that we don’t work for Duron or Sherwin Williams, nor are they paying us to write about this magical little brush, we’ve just tried a ton of products and approaches to cutting in, edging, and painting trim and this baby is by far the easiest to control. In short: the short handled easy-grip design makes staying in the lines like loving Nate Berkus (read: super easy).
Before we discovered this miracle worker we tried painter’s tape (time consuming and not as crisp), cutting in by hand with a regular angled brush (better but still a bit nerve-wracking and not at all error-proof). Enter this lifesaver, stage left. Rooms that once would have taken a full day to paint the baseboards, trim around the windows and crown molding with tongue-sticking-out-intensity can now be completed in less than two hours (and my tongue remains in my mouth). Really. It’s awesome. And it’s only… wait for it… $4.99.
Life is good.
So there you have it, our secret to avoid getting wall paint on the baseboards, trim paint on the walls, wavy ceiling edges, and everything else that threatens to sabatage a good paint job. What about you guys? Do you have any secret home improvement weapons? Do tell.
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Comments
Woo hoo! This is so exciting! My fiance and I are going to paint our breakfast room and there are lots of windows and baseboards and doors to cut in around. Thanks for the tip!
I’ve seen that brush – but never bought one – now I will! One tip we’ve found that works to get really crisp lines is to paint the trim first(which is pretty easy when you don’t have to worry as much), then when its dried and safe to put blue painter’s tape, put the blue painter’s tape on the trim line and quickly paint over the edge of the tape, so that if it bleeds, the trim color bleeds through… Then, it is easy to paint the walls to the trim and because of the painted over tape – it won’t bleed through – and before the wall paint dries – pull the tape. The Green “Frog tape” might work just as well, but have never tried it….
I am a huge fan of using brushed with short handles (and cannot stand taping off trim). I picked some short-handled brushes that were not exactly like this when my husband and I first bought our house about a year and a half ago. The brushes I bought were on clearance at Lowe’s and I wasn’t sure if I would like them or not, but they are much easier to control than paint brushes with longer handles.
I am going to have to go and buy one of the ones you mention here… We are about to start some repainting.
You saved my sanity today with this recommendation! Thank you. ThankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouTHANKYOU.
YAY!
This helpful hint has changed my life!
My husband and I just bought our first house and I am now OBSESSED with this paintbrush (which I bought for HIM for Christmas-hahah).
The Benjamin Moore stores now carry an identical brush (under a different name).
Thank you! You guys are SO inspiring!
Best with your Babe….
So glad to hear that it worked for you (and that BM stores carry something extremely similar). Who knew painting trim could be so exciting?!
xo,
s
Thank you for your wonderful blog and telling us about this divine little brush. I’ve hated cutting in my entire life until now. We’re in the beginning phases of a massive whole house remodel and started painting our guest room on Saturday. I stopped in the middle of the project and went to Sherwin-Williams to buy this brush out of crazed frustration and because I remembered you said it was good. Despite the assistant store manager’s repeated warnings that it was cheap and that I should only buy Purdy, your advice, as always, was better than the so-called experts. This brush is wonderful and I’m going to buy more of them because we have about six miles of windows and trim to paint before we’re finished. Thanks guys!
That’s so great to hear! I’m still using the very same brush from this post (which was created a while back) and it’s still just as good. So glad it worked for you too!
xo,
s
Wahoo! So happy to hear that it helped.
xo,
s