'If you've not tried this painting hack yet, thank me later' – the game-changing buy that will only cost you £3
Need to paint plinths and skirting boards? No problem
You know at Ideal Home we love a good hack, especially if it involves making DIY home improvements even easier and stress-free – and this acetate sheet paint hack was too good not to share.
If you've ever been on the task of learning how to paint skirting boards, then you'll know that (albeit a simpler feat than other more difficult paint ideas) avoiding the floor can sometimes be a challenging task.
'If you’re a new DIY'er home improvement jobs like painting skirting boards and plinths can seem daunting, especially with the risk of staining the floor below,' starts Nick Ee, product and training manager at home improvement specialists, Black + Decker.
'To avoid this happening most people would resort to using old curtains or unused material to lay down and catch any paint, but this method isn't always foolproof.'
Therefore, this paint hack might just be the trick to keep in your back pocket.
Acetate sheet painting hack
Interiors and DIY enthusiast, Georgina Raine (@georginaraineinteriors), took to Instagram to share the ultimate paint hack. The video went viral, gaining over 18.5 million views and over a million likes on the social media platform.
In the caption Georgina writes, 'If you've not tried this painting hack for plinths & skirting boards yet, thank me later.'
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
The hack demonstrates Georgina fitting an acetate sheet where the bottom of her cabinets meet the floor to create a shield as she paints the plinths of her kitchen cabinets (in the most gorgeous green colour, might we add).
A post shared by Georgina Raine (@georginaraineinteriors)
A photo posted by on
While we're aware of the existence of decorator's tape, paint shields, and even just a trusty old piece of paper to help us paint edges, plinths, and skirting boards, the fact that the sheet of acetate is clear so you can see exactly where your paint isn't going really just does it for us – and millions of people on social media seem to agree with us as well.
Georgina ends the video by saying that the hack helps you 'get a perfect finish every time.'
The beauty of the hack also lies in its price, as acetate sheets are affordable and easily accessible. You can buy a pack of acetate sheets for as little as £3 on Amazon, which may also be helpful if you tend to crack on with multiple painting DIY projects to flesh out the many skirting board colour ideas you have brewing in the background.
Commenting on the efficacy of this paint hack, Emma Bestley, co-founder and creative director at YesColours says, 'An acetate sheet is a handy solution for DIYers as it provides a protective barrier that is easy to work with.'
'Its smooth and non-absorbent material prevents any paint from seeping onto the floor, while also providing a surface that is easy to glide on for getting right to the bottom of those skirting boards.'
Not to mention, it can be particularly helpful if you're preparing yourself with the task of painting skirting boards with carpet.
Sarah Lloyd, paint and interiors specialist at Valspar Paint adds, 'Unlike decorators tape, using an acetate sheet can be much more time efficient as you don't have to spend time sticking the tape down and can just quickly slide the acetate sheet underneath the skirting boards as you paint.'
However, she does warn, 'If the acetate sheet struggles to fit comfortably underneath the skirting boards, it's important that you don't force it, as it could cause damage to the end result.
'If this is the case, then it's better to use decorator's tape instead.'
Jullia is Ideal Home’s Junior Writer. She’s always loved all things homes and interiors, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Nottingham where her love for writing blossomed following her internship at ArchDaily. Now focused on home tech and cleaning, Jullia works on writing features and explainers to help people make the most of their home appliance investments, putting the newest launches through their paces. When she isn’t writing, she loves exploring the city, coffee shop hopping, and losing hours to a cosy game or book.
-
I'm seriously surprised by the quality of ProCook's indoor pizza oven - here's why it's a fun family buy
You don’t need a garden to enjoy cooking in this pizza oven
By Helen McCue
-
Should you remove ivy from your house? Experts reveal that you don’t need to, but you must follow these guidelines
The classic plant isn't exactly the pest you think it is
By Kezia Reynolds
-
The £10 M&S candles that are set to be the buy of the season – and they're selling out fast
The light up city candles we can't get enough of
By Thea Babington-Stitt