The Viral Hack That Gives You Flawless Paint Lines Every Time (Without Leaks)

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Painter's tape (which may be known as "blue tape" in your home) guards your trim against neighboring wall paint, and makes painting straight lines a breeze. However, it doesn't always work as advertised. Painter's tape's other job is to protect your current paint by pulling off easily — meaning it isn't super sticky. Paint can bleed through areas where the tape isn't fully stuck to the wall, leaving a rough edge. This might be unnoticeable between the wall and ceiling, but if you are color blocking a room or creating a striped effect, you want those lines incredibly clean. 

One mistake everyone makes when painting their home is not making sure the painter's tape is fully adhered to the wall. To keep lines clean, you need to seal the painter's tape to the wall with something that won't ruin your current wall paint or leave a noticeable mark. Using your original paint color to seal your painter's tape is a viral hack that gives you flawless paint lines every time without leaks. Using the same paint color currently below the tape means any bleeding during the sealing process won't be noticeable. This is an excellent fix for textured surfaces like venetian plaster, where the tape may not lay completely flat.  

Before you begin, make sure the wall is clean of dust and debris, and fully dry. Dust or moisture can interfere with the tape and cause it to pull away from the wall. Apply tape gently, without stretching, and press down firmly as you go. Use a high-quality painter's tape like FrogTape Multi-Surface Painter's Tape with PAINTBLOCK, which forms a micro-barrier between the tape and wall for added protection against seepage. Once down, use a smoothing tool like a credit card to secure the tape and release any bubbles. Wait at least 30 minutes before painting. 

Seal the side of the tape where you'll be applying new paint with the original paint color. The paint will act as a glue and hold the tape firmly in place. Wait until it has dried completely, then apply one or two coats of the new paint color, overlapping slightly on the tape line. Pull off the tape at a 45-degree angle before the last coat is completely dry.  Otherwise, the paint could bind to itself and pull off with the tape. Following these tips for painting your home will ensure perfect lines without leaks.