How to Paint a Bullnose Corner

Clean the bullnose corner with unscented dish soap, water and a sponge. Dish soap removes dirt for better paint coverage, and simple unscented soaps are benign enough to avoid potential reactions with paint. Don't oversaturate the wall as you clean; just get the surface barely moist.

Protect any trim with painter's tape. Stick the paint directly onto the trim so everything but the wall is covered with tape. The tape's edge should come right up to the bullnose wall surface without actually touching it.

Paint the bullnose corner with a foam paintbrush and latex paint, moving with the curve. Unless you're painting a bullnose ceiling corner, the curve runs horizontally and so should your brush. Painting vertically will create visible brush marks. Painting into a curve still can leave marks, but foam brushes reduce the likelihood of brush marks. When working on a curve, brush marks are a major concern as the brush doesn't always unload paint evenly across a curved item. Globs and drips of paint are reduced with thinner, even foam brush strokes.

Apply a second coat of latex paint once the first coat dries. A foam brush reduces brush strokes, but it also provides thinner coverage. For a bullnose corner, you'll need several thin coats of paint to get professional-looking results. Drying times vary depending on the latex paint brand you're using. Consult the container for the most accurate information about your chosen paint. Most interior paints are dry enough to accept another coat after about one hour.

Paint a third coat if needed after the preceding coat dries. Continue to wait for each coat to dry, and apply new topcoats until there are no bare patches on the wall.

Roll the main wall surfaces as close to the bullnose corner as possible without actually moving the roller into the corner. This makes for a seamless paint job with fewer visible brush marks.

Remove the painter's tape only after the entire paint job is finished and dried for 24 hours.