Tricks to Painting Around Popcorn

5-In-1 Tool

• A 5-in-one tool is a multipurpose paint scraper with a hooked, sharp end. The tool comes in handy for straightening a ceiling line for a paintbrush. Stand on a ladder and hold the hooked end of the tool into a popcorn ceiling corner. Lightly pull the scraper across the ceiling line to remove an even line of popcorn texture. The hook on the scraper removes only a small amount of popcorn and creates a straight corner to cut-in with a paintbrush.

Tape

• Not everyone can cut-in a popcorn ceiling line by hand, even after removing texture from the corner. Attach painter's tape along textured ceiling lines to effortlessly apply paint with a brush. First, clear the ceiling edge using the sharp corner of a painter scraper or 5-in-one tool, then attach strips of blue painter's tape along the edges. After removing popcorn from the corner, the edge of the tape will stick to the bare corner.

Edging Tool

• Edgers and paint pad tools are used to cut-in ceiling lines without the use of a paintbrush or tape. Edging tools include a shield for keeping paint off a ceiling and a pad underneath for holding paint. Dampen the edging tool with paint and carefully slide the tool along the popcorn ceiling corner to form a paint line. Keep the shield free from paint accumulation, otherwise the paint could go over the edge of the shield onto the ceiling.

Sprayer

• Paint sprayers apply paint quickly, reducing painting time. Sprayers are recommended for larger painting projects in remodeling or new construction. If you have decided to spray-paint the walls in a home, but not the popcorn ceiling, mask off the ceiling to prevent over-spray exposure. Run tape along the popcorn ceiling edges and attach painter's plastic to the tape to act as a shield while spraying. If the ceiling is the same paint and color as the walls, skip masking and lightly spray-paint into the corners.