Cutting in can mean the difference between an average paint job and a great one. But what does it mean and how do you do it? Our experts share their top cutting in painting tips.
How to cut in paint: pro tips for a perfect finish
It’s a skill every home decorator needs, so brush up on your technique and take your room from DIY to to-die-for with these cutting in painting tips.
What is cutting in?
It might sound technical but it’s just decorator jargon for painting the nooks and crannies of a room where a roller can’t reach: the edges and corners; around windows, doors and light fixtures; against the skirting board. The purpose is to create a narrow outline of paint that you can fill in later with your roller.
When do I cut in?
You should always cut in before you paint with your roller but don’t be tempted to do the whole room at once. If the outline is dry when you come to fill in, you’ll get a line where the dry and wet paint meet. Cut in on one wall at a time and, if you’re using two different colours, tackle the lighter wall first. This way, you can cover up splashes with the darker shade and it won’t show through.
What are the best tools for the job?
Masking tape: For professional decorators, cutting in can be an alternative to masking but, for most of us, it’s a good idea to use masking tape to avoid any slip-ups, and to help create straight lines at the edges. Masking is about covering up the areas you don’t want to paint, so use it to tape around the wall you’re painting and to protect sockets, switches, skirtings etc.
Brushes: Synthetic or acrylic brushes are perfect for cutting in with water-based paints (natural bristles are better for oil-based products). You can use any standard, good-quality paintbrush but a small brush with angled bristles (often called a ‘cutting in brush’) can be useful for getting paint into tricky areas, such as intricate moulding.
and let it sit for 24 hours. Once the paint has sunk to the bottom, tip the remaining cleaner back in its bottle ready for next time (strain it through coffee filter paper to catch the bits). Once the paint residue in the jar is fully dry, throw it away in the bin.
Top tip: if you’re using both water- and solvent-based products for your paint job, select one set of tools for each. This will make your rollers and brushes last longer and make cleaning easier.
What's the best cutting in technique?
Dip your brush into the paint but don’t overload it. Apply the paint to the wall a few centimetres away from the join. Then, holding your brush at a 45-degree angle like a pen, slowly spread the paint towards the edge. Try not to push the paint; press just firmly enough so that the bristles glide up to the edge. This way you should stop the paint pooling and get a nice straight line. Paint to and fro a few times to make sure you’ve got even coverage.
While the paint is still wet, ‘feather’ the edge of your outline with your brush. Don’t add more paint; just stroke the bristles from the outline inwards. This helps avoid an obvious cutting-in stripe when the paint is dry. You can also use a small roller to go over the cut-in section. This will give it a rollered texture like the rest of the wall and help the two sections blend together.
As soon as you’ve finished cutting in, fill in the rest of the wall with your roller. Overlap the painted outline with your roller to avoid join lines.
er possible so it’s less likely to dry out. (Keep a few jam jars in the shed or cupboard for just such an occasion.) Label with all the info you need – the colour, the finish etc – so you’ll know what it is when you come back to it, and store somewhere dry.
Any unwanted paint must be disposed of responsibly (not poured down the drain). Contact your local authority for guidance.
Any cutting-in painting tips for a textured ceiling?
It can be more challenging to cut in next to a stippled ceiling as masking tape won’t stick to the surface. One solution is to remove some of the texture with a clean putty knife. Run the blade along the edge of the ceiling to create a small channel (make sure to remove any dust afterwards). Then, when you come to paint, the bristles of your brush should slip in neatly.
on’t add more paint; just stroke the bristles from the outline inwards. This helps avoid an obvious cutting-in stripe when the paint is dry. You can also use a small roller to go over the cut-in section. This will give it a rollered texture like the rest of the wall and help the two sections blend together.
As soon as you’ve finished cutting in, fill in the rest of the wall with your roller. Overlap the painted outline with your roller to avoid join lines.
er possible so it’s less likely to dry out. (Keep a few jam jars in the shed or cupboard for just such an occasion.) Label with all the info you need – the colour, the finish etc – so you’ll know what it is when you come back to it, and store somewhere dry.
Any unwanted paint must be disposed of responsibly (not poured down the drain). Contact your local authority for guidance.
