How to Get a Sharp Paint Line at the Ceiling

Getting a sharp paint line between the ceiling and floor does not take a professional painter's assistance. A beginner can achieve a clean and straight line separating the ceiling and wall paint by using a few tools the professionals use. Whether you are painting the wall, the ceiling or both, you can leave a sharp paint line between the two.

Painter's tape
Paint
Paint rollers
Utility knife

Instructions

- 1
  Lay painter's tape at the edge of the ceiling that meets the wall with the adhesive side against the wall and ceiling. Force the tape into the ceiling/wall edge with your fingers or paint stirrer's edge so that there is no space between the tape and the point where the ceiling and wall meet.
- 2
  Paint the wall. Use strokes the entire length of the wall with a roller to paint the wall.
- 3
  Paint the surface next to the tape with a small brush. While the paint is still wet, paint over that part of the wall with a smaller, 3-inch roller, to cover the brush marks.
- 4
  Allow the paint to dry at least 24 hours before removing the tape.
- 5
  Cut the tape in the corner of the wall and ceiling with a sharp utility knife. Peel the corner of the tape on the ceiling away from the ceiling's surface.
- 6
  Pull the tape on the ceiling away from the corner at a 45-degree angle as you cut the tape until the entire length of tape fixed to the ceiling has been removed to reveal a straight and clean line of paint.

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