One of the first painting steps after prep is cutting in. Cutting in is using a brush to paint the edges and corners of your wall, and it’s usually done before rolling. When cutting in, there are a few techniques to help ensure clean lines.

Using a 2″ to 3″ angled brush, make sure the brush is saturated with paint – this will give you the cleanest edges. Hold the brush with your thumb on one side and four fingers on the other to give you the most flexibility when cutting in.

Start by placing the brush about 1/2″ from the edge you are working on, and slowly creep the brush to the edge. Then you can begin your cut-in with a slow, short brush stroke. Extend the painting about 3″ to 4″ from the edge, so you’ll be able to roll over your brush strokes. After painting about 12″, go back in the opposite direction to cover any spots missed. Do this for the entire length and height of your walls. Then, you’ll be ready to roll.

One of the first painting steps after prep is cutting in. Cutting in is using a brush to paint the edges and corners of your wall, and it’s usually done before rolling. When cutting in, there are a few techniques to help ensure clean lines.

Using a 2″ to 3″ angled brush, make sure the brush is saturated with paint – this will give you the cleanest edges. Hold the brush with your thumb on one side and four fingers on the other to give you the most flexibility when cutting in.

Start by placing the brush about 1/2″ from the edge you are working on, and slowly creep the brush to the edge. Then you can begin your cut-in with a slow, short brush stroke. Extend the painting about 3″ to 4″ from the edge, so you’ll be able to roll over your brush strokes. After painting about 12″, go back in the opposite direction to cover any spots missed. Do this for the entire length and height of your walls. Then, you’ll be ready to roll.

Next to brushes and rollers, a 5-in-1- or painter’s tool is one of the most important tools for any painting project. As the name suggests, it’s highly versatile, with five tools built into one unit.

The painter’s tool can easily squeeze out excess paint from rollers, which helps since rollers can hold almost half a pint of paint, even when you’re done using them. After washing the roller cover, you can also use the tool to squeeze out excess water.

Other uses include opening and closing paint cans, scraping away old paint, corner gauging, and spreading spackle. You’ll want one of these in your back pocket – literally.

Next to brushes and rollers, a 5-in-1- or painter’s tool is one of the most important tools for any painting project. As the name suggests, it’s highly versatile, with five tools built into one unit.

The painter’s tool can easily squeeze out excess paint from rollers, which helps since rollers can hold almost half a pint of paint, even when you’re done using them. After washing the roller cover, you can also use the tool to squeeze out excess water.

Other uses include opening and closing paint cans, scraping away old paint, corner gauging, and spreading spackle. You’ll want one of these in your back pocket – literally.