How to Paint Baseboards with Carpet (Step by Step)

Instructions

Step 1. Tape the Carpet With Painter's Tape

When painting baseboards with carpet, you need to protect the carpet from getting any paint on it. By using 2-inch painter's tape you protect the carpet, and the extra width gives you more room for error. The wider the tape, the safer the carpet.

Take the 2-inch painter's tape (or any thick masking tape) and roll off a couple of feet. Apply the tape to the carpet area along the baseboard which you want to protect from the paint. Start in a corner and work your way around the room.

When sticking the tape onto the carpet, the key is to ensure that a little bit of tape (1/4-inch) sticks to the bottom of the baseboard. The tape only needs to touch the baseboard; it doesn't need to stick like glue.

Important Tip: If you're a messy painter by nature, worried that 2-inch painter's tape might not contain your painting effort, put some additional protection down. Cloth or plastic drop cloth can form an additional protective barrier when placed underneath the painter's tape.

Step 2. Tuck the Painter's Tape Underneath the Baseboard

After applying a couple of feet of painter's tape to the carpet, it's time to take the 5-in-1 multi-tool and make your way to the corner where you started the taping process.

What you want to do now is use the tucking tool to push the carpet down while tucking the tape underneath the baseboard. Be careful not to damage the bottom part of the baseboard while maneuvering the painter's tape underneath.

Important Tip: If you have a paint guard lying around, don't be afraid to use it. There's no such thing as being too protective-minded regarding paint and carpets. Put the edge of the painter's guard on top of the painter's tape, and slide it underneath the baseboard by pressing down on the carpet.

Step 3. Pick Your Painting Method

You can choose between two methods when painting a baseboard. One method is to paint the baseboard first and the adjoining wall after (should the wall require a fresh coat of paint.)

With this method, you won't be required to tape the wall with frog tape first, as you will paint and cut the wall nicely and straight to the baseboard's top edge after painting the baseboard.

Cutting in when positioned so low on the floor is a difficult task. You will have to tape the edge and top of the baseboard with some frog tape to save you time and, ultimately, your back, as even professional painters will tell you it's a difficult paint job due to the cutting in angle.

The second method is the one we're discussing in the article. The wall is painted first, and then the baseboards are painted. This method should be followed if the wall doesn't require a new coat of paint, or when the wall has been painted.

The method involves horizontally taping the wall above the top edge of the baseboard and focusing solely on painting the baseboard without getting paint on the wall or the carpet.

You will find it much easier to lay down tape on a flat wall with a baseboard's edge as a guide than to cover a baseboard and its angles with tape to separate it from the adjoining wall in need of a coat of paint.

Step 4: Frog Tape Hack

The most efficient way to paint a baseboard and not get paint on the wall above it is to tape frog tape against the baseboard's edge.

To save money, use the following frog tape hack, as you don't need to apply an inch of this tape to the wall; half an inch will work perfectly.

Take a half-inch piece of plywood, and place a utility knife on it. Take the frog tape, and roll it against the point of the utility knife, splitting the roll into two, leaving you with two strips of half-inch frog tape.

The frog tape will now last twice as long.

Step 5. Tape the Frog Tape Along the Top Edge of the Baseboard

After following the hack mentioned in step 4, take one strip of the frog tape and tape the wall along the top edge of the baseboard. Take your time with this step, as the overall painting result will depend on how accurately you tape the wall.

You can take some solace that it doesn't need to be 100% perfect for producing an aesthetically pleasing finish. Focus on getting the frog tape as straight, and as close to the baseboards edge as possible.

Step 6: Sand the Baseboard

The carpet is covered with painter's tape, and the wall above the edge of the baseboard is covered with frog tape, forming two paint protection barriers. It's time to turn your attention to the baseboard.

Before you paint the baseboard there's a little prep work involved. Take a piece of sandpaper (120-150 grit) and give the baseboard a light sanding. The sanding prepares the surface for better paint adhesion, and gives the baseboard a uniform look and feel by removing any surface anomalies.

Should the baseboard require further repairs, ensure that you do them now. When you're done with the light sanding, use a vacuum to suck up the sanding dust.

Step 7. Wipe the Baseboard Clean

Take a damp cloth or damp paper towel and wipe down the entire baseboard, ensuring that the top part is extra clean, as this is typically where the most dust and grime gathers. Give the baseboard a couple of minutes to dry before you start the painting process.

Step 8. Add Paint Conditioner to thePaint

The time to rejuvenate the baseboard is upon us. Pour some paint into a paint bucket and add some Floetrol paint conditioner.

Adding paint conditioner to the paint helps with paint adhesion to the surface its applied to. Additionally, the paint conditioner helps to spread the paint while minimizing visible brush marks. The paint will be slow to dry, so keep that in mind when applying a second coat.

Important Tip: When painting the interior of your home, it's recommended that you open up windows, or use a fan, to create a draft to help disperse of the paint fumes. Many homeowners opt for semi-gloss paint when painting baseboards.

Step 9: Paint the Baseboard

Time to paint the baseboard. A 2 ½ inch soft (thin angle) wall and trim paint brush work best when painting a baseboard as it allows for a flat cut at a 45° angle. The 45° angle is ideal when painting the bottom of the baseboard. Use long even strokes when painting, covering the whole baseboard evenly.

Be careful not to let paint pool on the painter's tape, as when it's time to remove the tape, it could lead to an unnecessary mess.

Too much paint on the top tape could lead to the paint bleeding through, which is not ideal, so be careful to wipe up any excess paint blotches from the two sets of tape.

Using a top tape layer to protect the wall allows you to paint the whole baseboard with the same thickness of paint across the whole baseboard. You can probably get away with applying one thick coat only.

Important Tip: If you should, despite your best efforts, get some paint on your carpet, you need to act quickly. Take a damp cloth and dab the paint on the carpet, removing as much as possible. A soapy water mix (dishwashing soap and water) can be applied to remove the remaining paint.

Step 10. Use a Putty Knife to Detach the Paint From the Tape

When the paint is dry, take a putty knife and use one of its sharp edges to run it along the bottom edge of the painted baseboard.

The putty knife's edge will detach the dried paint from the laid-down tape, ensuring there's no chance of paint coming off when removing the tape from the carpet.

Step 11. Pull the Tape From the Carpet and Wall

The final step is slowly pulling the tape from the carpet and wall area. You should be left with a beautiful baseboard and exact paint lines to be proud of.