Prepare Edges with High-Quality Tape and Caulk

What happens here

For clean, straight lines around baseboards, door jams, window trim, sinks, and other fixtures, use a high-quality painter's tape, such as FrogTape (available in multi-surface or delicate surface variants). Apply the 1-inch tape precisely along the edges where the new paint color will meet existing trim or surfaces. To achieve 'laser-straight lines' and prevent any paint from bleeding under the tape, apply a thin bead of clear caulk along the entire edge of the tape that meets the surface to be painted. This creates a tight seal. For extra protection against splatter, especially around sinks, you can run 9-inch masking paper with a hand masker over larger areas, tucking it against adjacent surfaces.

Goal: Carefully apply painter's tape to all trim and adjacent surfaces, then seal the tape edge with clear caulk to prevent paint bleed-through, ensuring razor-sharp paint lines.