I'm still working on the painting my kitchen from hell (started as totally wallpapered) and need advice again.

My wife wants to have one accent wall which would naturally be a different color than the two adjacent walls.

My problem is that I have never painted different colors that meet on a inside corner.

So I have two questions;

1. How do I insure I have a very straight line in the corner where the two colors meet without having either color leak into the other color?

2. As shown in the photos I've attached, one adjacent wall ( right side ) only has 1" of wall surface from the inside corner to the edge of the door trim? Is this corner because of the limited wall space handled differently than the other corner?

I would appreciate some guidance on how to get this done.
Thank you

 

If I was doing it I would lightly scuff sand the walls with a pole sander, wipe the dust off, and then paint the walls on the left and right of the accent wall first (2 coats usually, but if you are using a very similar color, one coat often covers) ... you don't have to be neat as you cut the inside corners... and assuming your door and window trim is the same as the left and right wall color you paint that too. If the door and window trim and baseboard is NOT wall color, I would paint it first. Or if it's not getting painted at all, you will be carefully cutting around it. ("Cutting in" is when you carefully paint a straight line, such as with a small sash brush so that about 2-3" of wall is painted.) Some people who don't have a steady hand like to use a paint shield. If you use it, you must wipe it with a wet cloth each time you move it. I'm not a fan of them.

So after your left and right walls and trim are completely done and dry, you would cut in with your accent color. (New roller, and a clean brush) Carefully cutting along the baseboard, window trim, inside corners and ceiling corner with your accent color paint. As you cut, you just simply can NOT get any paint on either the trim or the other wall. Until you get a good feel for it, stay 1/8" away... 1/8" away is better than going TOO close and going onto the other surface. You would then roll the wall... top to bottom, using a paint pole on your roller cage. Don't hit the ceiling or trim.

Then give it a 2nd coat. If there was any debris in the paint, you might need to lightly sand those spots again. For your 2nd coat you will need to cut in everything again and roll it again.

Before you use any new roller, delint it. Rub it vigorously with your hand and pull anything loose off the ends, combing it with your hand or using duct tape to delint it. I like Purdy rollers... don't cheap out and get a $1-$3 roller. A good roller will cost you $5 or 6. The nap on the roller you pick out depends on how much texture you want to leave on the wall. I generally always use 1/2" nap. 3/8" rollers don't hold enough paint and tend to leave lines off the ends of the roller.

 

I agree .... and remember it isn't rocket science. If you get some of the accent paint on the adjoining wall it's not a big deal to go back and touch it up with that wall's color. Many diyers like to use a 2" sash brush [angle brush] A quality brush is a LOT easier to use than a cheap brush!

 

Thank you XSleeper and marksr for your quick responses.

However, XSleeper, I need to reread and think about your detailed description before I dare attempt it. In fact, I may need to ask for some clarification once I think I really understand the approach.

Btw, even though I'm a diyer, I only use Purdy roller covers and paint brushes along with Benjamin Moore's best paints. I've always believed in having good tools and good products.

 

Very simple, get yourself a Sure Line Edger and after prepping the wall you simply cut in the wall with color.

Takes a little practice but it will give you a straight edge about 1/8" away from the corner and you just roll up to the paint.

One thing that I do, even though the pad has a stop, I pull it back 1/16" and tape it in place, it give a little more gap and keeps paint from bleeding into the corner.

Once you get the hang of it you can edge an entire room, corners, around window, and above baseboards, in no time and it's perfectly straight!

 

Pretty much practice makes perfect.. as the saying goes...and a steady hand. It's kinda fun cutting in, to see how close you can go. I usually use a 2 /12" tapered brush and lay on some paint about 3/8" away from the corner and work it in, into the corner, then run the line down, then feather out what was left behind..for about a 2" tie in for the roller. With the narrow wall at the door/casing, I would use a narrower sash brush. Same procedure as the accent wall, but it'll be painted by brush...I'm a carpenter not a 'pro' painter, but I paint a fair bit of casings/base,crown etal..