How to Paint Lines on Furniture

Mark off the starting point of each line you'd like to paint on the piece of furniture, using a pencil and a tape measure or ruler.

Lay one end of a piece of painter's tape on the starting point you marked off, then lay the rest of the piece down slowly in a straight line in the direction where you want the line to go. Working slowly and pressing down firmly on the tape as you go prevents bubbles or creases, which can make your line look uneven. Once the tape is down, use a ruler to make sure the line is straight or at the angle you want it to be.

Measure the width you want your line to be from the edge of the first piece of tape and mark this point with a pencil. Apply a second piece of painter's tape on this side of the line to be painted, again making sure it does not have any creases or bubbles and that it is straight.

Sand the area between the two pieces of tape lightly with fine sandpaper. Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and let it dry.

Apply one coat of primer to the area between the two pieces of tape. Depending on the width of the line, you may be able to use a small paint roller for this; however, a foam detail brush or small paintbrush is typically best. Let the primer dry according to the manufacturer's directions.

Paint the area between the two pieces of tape with a color of your choice using a small roller, foam brush or paintbrush. Apply as many coats as necessary, allowing the paint to dry between coats according to the recommendations on the paint can. Once you have an even color, let the paint dry for several hours, preferably overnight.

Remove the tape slowly, starting from one end and pulling straight back toward the point where the tape stops. Avoid pulling to the side, as this can cause some of the painted line to peel off, resulting in an uneven finished product. If the tape is too difficult to remove, carefully run a sharp razor blade over the edge of the tape to loosen it, making sure you do not cut into the furniture.