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Painting is a skill, a trade that takes many years to perfect. It’s also one of the home improvements that DIYers are willing to undertake themselves rather than hiring a professional, perhaps because there’s little chance of catastrophe—no floods, no fires, no structural problems—should the paint job not go as planned. In our view, the best way to ensure that you get quality results when you paint a room is to use the right tools. If you have a room refresh on the horizon, fill your toolkit with these essentials and, of course, the paint and primer of your choice, and you’ll be good to go.
Paint Brush
Purdy XL Swan 3-inch Paint Brush
Buy NowPaint brushes are ideal for painting smaller areas and detailed edging. Natural-bristle brushes are used for applying oil-based paints, while polyester brushes are best for latex paints. Choose an angled brush to make it easy to paint trim. Flat-headed brushes are best for filling in larger, even spaces.
Painter's Tape
ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
Buy NowPainter’s tape is used to protect surfaces that you don’t want to paint, and is particularly useful for protecting trim from wall paint and vice-versa. There are a variety of painter’s tapes for different surfaces, so choose best painter’s tape for your project. Wait until the paint is completely dry before removing, but don’t leave it longer than needed. If latex paint begins to pull away with the tape as you remove it, use a utility knife to make a small cut where the tape meets the paint.
Paint Tray and Liners
Bates Paint Tray and Liners
Buy NowIf you’re using a roller to apply paint, a paint tray is a must. Your best bet is to buy a sturdy metal paint tray, and use disposable plastic tray liners for different colors. Dip the roller into the paint well, and then roll it back and forth on the ribbed, slanted surface to distribute and remove the excess paint before rolling it on your walls.
Paint Roller and Covers
Bates Paint Roller Covers
Buy NowIf you have a lot of area to paint, nothing beats a paint roller and cover. Natural roller covers made of materials such as wool are best for oil-based paints, while synthetic roller covers, like those made of nylon, are best for latex paint. The shorter the roller’s nap, the smoother the finish will be on the wall.
Paint Edger
Shur-Line 2006559 Edger Plus Premium Paint Edger
Buy NowA quality paint edger can be used instead of painter’s tape to keep paint from transferring to areas where you don’t want it to go—at the seam between a wall and a ceiling, for instance, or on window molding. Hold the palm-sized edger against the area you don’t want painted and apply the paint along the outside edge. Clean the edger with a rag before moving it along to make sure you don’t accidentally drag paint where you don’t want it to go.
Drop Cloth
Green Lifestyle All-Purpose Canvas Drop Cloths
Buy NowDrop cloths are key to protecting floors and furniture when you’re painting. Canvas cloths are the most expensive, but they’ll last long and absorb paint when it spills. Plastic drop cloths are lightweight and inexpensive, but if paint spills on them it’ll pool—and potentially make a mess.
Painter's Tool
Red Devil 4251 6-in-1 Painters Tool
Buy NowYou may see painter’s tools labeled as “5-in-1,” “10-in-1” other multitasking numbers depending on how many tasks the tool purports to do, but the idea is the same: This is the gadget you’ll need for opening paint cans, cleaning paint rollers, applying putty, and even scraping paint-shut windows.
