Hot take: I think everyone overcomplicates painting trim with all that tape and careful cutting.

I just finished painting all the window trim in my 1950s bungalow, and after the first two windows took me forever with tape and a tiny brush, I said forget it. On the third window, I grabbed my regular 2-inch angled brush, loaded it up with Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane, and just cut in freehand against the wall. I kept a damp rag in my other hand and wiped any tiny slip-ups right away. It was way faster, and the line was actually cleaner because the paint didn't bleed under the tape like it did before. I finished the whole room in an afternoon instead of a weekend. Maybe my hands are just steady from work, but I think people get too scared to try it. Has anyone else ditched the tape and been happy with the results?

3 comments

3 Comments

simon_coleman14d agoMost Upvoted

That damp rag tip is a good one, I had to learn that the hard way. But yeah, totally agree with the main point. I painted all my baseboards freehand last year and it was a game changer. Tape always left a weird ridge or some bleed, and pulling it up took forever. With a good angled brush and just going slow, I got a line that looked way more crisp. It just takes a little practice to trust your hand.

reesemoore1d ago

Totally get where you're coming from. I had the exact same fight with tape on my old place, it just made a mess and wasted so much time. Switched to a good brush and freehand cutting in and never looked back. That damp rag trick is key for fixing little mistakes before they dry. It feels scary at first but you get a way cleaner line once you trust yourself.

johnson.daniel14d ago

Just be careful with that damp rag, it can leave a water mark in the paint if you don't let it dry fully first.