You can buy the most expensive paint, but if you don’t have high-quality tools for the task, it’s likely that the results won’t be as good as you hoped. Marcus Jarvis, in-house painter and decorator at Harris, agrees, saying, ‘whatever you spend on paint, you won’t get great results unless you use quality decorating equipment’.
However, with the abundance of tools and terminology out there, it can be difficult to sort the trash from the treasure, so we’ve put together a round-up of must-have painting tools.
For home décor enthusiasts, having the right paintbrush to hand that is comfortable to use for a prolonged period of time is essential. Expert painter Marcus advises you on which type of brush is best: ‘Ergonomic handles with angled brushes or ones that have extra reach will help you enjoy painting for longer as they’ll prevent your hands tiring and make the job easier.’
Likewise, it’s important to check that you have the right tool for a particular task. For example, an angled brush head will enable you to get behind tight spaces such as radiators or give corners a neat finish.
Marcus explains more about what tools to look out for: ‘You’ll find specific decorating tools for different tasks, which are worth investing in. For instance, a Harris Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Blade Brush is great for cutting in neat edges, around sockets and window frames where precision is of utmost importance. Whereas, a Harris Ultimate Flat Brush or Powercoat Roller can be used for painting large areas quickly.’
Aside from brushes, some other painting tools we’d recommend you have in your stash are a tape measure, window scraper, socket shield and masking tape.
Plus, with reusable supplies like a tape measure, you’ll only need to purchase it once, making it a worthy investment.
Jargon, busted
Can’t tell your primer from your stabiliser? We’re here to unscramble this terminology.
No-loss brushes
This means that the brush is guaranteed not to lose any bristles, so you won’t end up with them stuck on the wall while painting! Harris has a great selection of no-loss brushes.
Cut in
If you’re a decorating aficionado then you’ve most likely come across this phrase before. It means to paint the edges and corners of a wall or ceiling and it requires a smaller brush as it’s a place where a paint roller can’t reach.
Low-tack
Did you know you can get different types of masking tape? This means that it has a low adhesion level so it can be removed without damaging a surface or peeling paint away.
Primer
This is a paint used to seal a surface prior to applying the main colour. There are different types for various surfaces like wood and metal.
Stabiliser
If a surface is flaky or dusty, then you can apply a liquid stabiliser to bind and smooth out the surface before decorating it.
Best painting tools for 2024
ROLLINGDOG 50mm paintbrush with versatile combination brush heads
At a glance
- Ergonomic handle
- Interchangeable brush heads
- Easy to clean
- Great for tight spaces
- Minimal brush marks due to its solid round tapered filament
This innovative painting tool allows you to switch between different brush heads. Change between a 50mm flat or angular brush or combine the two with a 25mm brush head to paint around corners. This also makes for efficient painting as you can switch between paint colours without having to constantly wash your brushes.
You can also use the brushes on their own, without the handle, for those particularly tight spots - ideal for when you're upcycling smaller furniture pieces such as cabinets and drawers.
Discover how to upcycle a writing bureau and revamp your office!
Stanley window scraper
At a glance
- Heavy-duty blade
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Ideal for removing paint or stickers
- Slot-on guard for safe storage
This nifty, inexpensive painting gadget is just what you need to remove excess paint from around the windows and doorways.
Flat brushes
- Buy now from Homebase (£11.00)
At a glance
- Small brush: 3 x 23cm; large brush: 6 x 26cm
- Advanced synthetic fibres will give a smooth finish on your projects
- Designed to hold a large amount of paint
- Applies paint evenly
- Minimal brush marks
If it’s painting tools for furniture rather than walls and ceilings that you’re after, then a flat brush from Annie Sloan is a worthy purchase. The small brush is sure to come in handy for those tricky corners and drawer handles.
For more paint brushes, browse the best chalk paint brushes for your upcycling projects.
Five-piece paint pad set
- Buy now from The Range (£5.49)
At a glance
- Fast, professional finish
- Interchangeable 19.5cm paint pad
- Includes a corner tool, paint tray, lockable handle and a sash wand
- Suitable for use with most paints
- Provides even coverage on walls and ceilings
For a fast and effective way to paint your walls and ceilings, this paint pad is an essential tool. It includes a lockable handle that will help when painting at an angle.
Unibond multi-surface masking tape
At a glance
- It can be left for up to three days before being removed
- Gives sharp edges to paint jobs
- Suitable for brush and spray painting
- Strong adhesive
To prevent paint or primer getting onto the skirting board or door frames, this ultra-sticky masking tape is your best friend! This can be used on multiple surfaces including wood, plaster, glass and metal.
If you're feeling creative and want to add geometric shapes to your wall - check out our decorating techniques guide for inspiration - this tape is perfect for helping you achieve your look. It can also double as labels for jars, or moving boxes, so it's a useful tool to have around.
Harris The Ultimate Powercoat Roller Frame and Sleeve
- Buy now from Wilko (£12.00)
Harris The Ultimate Powercoat Roller Frame and Sleeve
At a glance
- Quick and easy to use
- Smooth finish
- Extra-long handle
- 30% more coverage
- Made from microfibre to minimise paint splatter
Reaching up to paint high ceilings or walls is made ten times easier with the extendable pole from Harris, which gives you 30 per cent more paint coverage than a standard roller.
Umi by Amazon retractable tape measure, 8m
At a glance
- Moveable hook
- 8m-long extension
- Water-resistant
- Lock mechanism
- Easily portable
Before you splash out on paint, you’ll need to measure up the room to check how much you’ll need. So, for accurate measurements, this trusty tape measure is your go-to tool.
Seriously Good Multi Tool
- Buy now from Ebay (£4.79)
At a glance
- Ideal for cleaning rollers
- Can open handleless doors
- Has a flat-head screwdriver
- Lid opener
- Can measure short lengths
This painting tool is a nifty all-rounder with many functions. As well as removing excess paint from a roller sleeve, this tool functions as an embossed ruler, a flat-head screwdriver and a lid opener (for paint or a cool beverage!) – you won’t regret this purchase.
Socket paint shield tool
- Buy now from Wilko (£2.75)
At a glance
- Gives a neat finish
- No masking tape needed
- Easy to use
- Simple to clean
- Time saver
To improve your paint finish and save yourself the hassle of masking tape, simply fit this painting tool against the corner of a socket or switch.
And if you do find you've gone over the lines, cover up any paint with a trusty light switch cover, easy!
3x long reach radiator paintbrush, 50mm
At a glance
- Useful for hard-to-reach areas
- 50cm length
- Angled head
- Flexible handle
- Three per pack
For places that are difficult to get to, such as tight spots behind radiators and above kitchen cupboards, this little tool is a must have for your DIY bag.
Looking for colour inspiration for your next decorating project? Take a look at Lick's paint colour palette and Farrow & Ball alternatives.