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[Antony Dilan]

I’ve decided that my living room needs a bit more “drama,” so I’ve bought some incredibly bold, dark navy paint for a feature wall behind the fireplace. My partner thinks I’m crazy because the rest of the room is light gray, and they’re worried the lines between the colors will look jagged and messy. I’ve tried cutting in with a brush before, and I always end up getting the dark color on the white ceiling. Does anyone have a trick for getting those perfectly straight lines, or is it a skill that only comes with years of practice?

[Frank Sinatra]

Deep colors like navy are beautiful, but they are incredibly unforgiving if the line isn’t 100% straight. I’ve seen homeowners struggle with masking tape for days, only for the paint to bleed underneath it anyway. When I wanted a similar bold look, I called in some pro decorators in London to handle the high-contrast areas. They have a steady hand that comes from doing this every day, and they can “cut in” freehand with a precision that looks like it was done by a machine. The contrast between the navy and the gray looks stunning when the transition is sharp.

[Antony Dilan]

There’s definitely an art to it! Dark pigments also tend to show every brush stroke if they aren’t applied with the right technique. A professional will usually use a specific type of roller and a high-opacity paint to ensure the color is deep and even without needing five different coats. It’s those little details—like the crisp line against the ceiling and the lack of “flashing” in the paint finish—that make a feature wall look like a deliberate design choice rather than a DIY experiment gone wrong. It’s worth the help to get that high-end interior designer look.

[Author]

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