TIL my old way of painting trim was costing me hours

For years, I would tape off everything, cut in with a brush, then roll the wall. Last month, I watched a video where a painter in Austin said to reverse the order. I tried it on my living room baseboards. I painted the wall first, let it dry, then cut in the trim color freehand. It took me 2 hours instead of 4 because I wasn't fighting the tape. The line is just as clean and I saved a whole Saturday morning. Has anyone else switched up their painting steps and been surprised?

2 comments

2 Comments

grantcooper1mo ago

Yeah, the part about not fighting the tape is so real. I did my whole kitchen the old way and it was a nightmare. Switched the order for a bedroom and it felt like a cheat code.

the_amy1mo ago

Wait, did you find it easier just because it was a smaller room? Honestly, I tried the new order on a big wall and still messed up the corners, @grantcooper. Sometimes the old way just works better for me.