Use quick-release painter’s tape (masking tape is gummy and can pull paint off) to mask baseboards, crown molding, casings, and built-ins. Apply the tape in long continuous strips to minimize seepage areas. Press along the top edge of the tape, then go over it with a plastic tool to make a tight seal.

For drip protection, adhere a lightweight drop cloth to the bottom of the tape as you mask off baseboards. (For an easier, though less effective, drip-blocker, attach the top edge of the tape to the top of the baseboard and leave the bottom edge unattached, so it forms a narrow “roof” over the trim.

Now, it’s time to start painting—that’s the easy part!