Does your home “improvement to do list” have painting on it? Then you’re in the right place.
As a house flipper, landlord, contractor, blogger, and DIYer I am always painting. Like always. I’ve spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours painting interiors, exteriors, trim and ceilings. You name it, I’ve probably painted it.
So below I’ve provided a list of the essential items you might will need to get those painting projects crossed off your to-do list. Yes, there are affiliate links in this post but don’t worry, every single item listed is something I own, use and love and have given two thumbs up on (and would give three if I had a third!) So get to painting and start crossing projects off your to-do list.
You should also check out my extensive step by step tutorial on how to paint a room from top to bottom, including spackling, caulking and priming! Check that out here.
Essential Painting Supplies
My Favorite Brush
If painting is in your future I highly recommend a Purdy brush. They are a bit on the expensive side, but if you take care of them, they can last for years and years! And trust me, it makes a big difference having a good paint brush, especially when cutting in. The brush below is my most absolute favorite brush I have ever tried (thanks to the manager at Sherwin Williams for recommending it). The size, 2″, is a great size for cutting in and the “stiff” brushes are perfect for painting a perfectly straight line when cutting in.
A Paint Pail
If you’ll be doing a lot of cutting in, especially if you’re up on a ladder, this paint pail will really come in handy (check out the liners too). Instead of having to carry around the entire can of paint, just pour some into this guy! Inside the paint pal there’s a 1″ square magnet that holds your paint brush, as long as you don’t overfill the paint pal it keeps your brush up and away from your paint and frees up a hand to do whatever. Obviously, this only works with brushes that have a metal band (usually connecting the bristles and brush handle.
Paint Tray
If you plan on painting, you will definitely need one of these. I prefer the plastic trays to the metal ones just because I scratched a wood floor with the bottom of an old metal tray one time but that’s up to you. Another reason I prefer plastic paint trays is because if you get some paint on the tray, after it dries, you can easily pull it off.
Paint Pail Liners
I love these things! They are made for the HANDy Paint Pail and make clean up so easy! These aren’t a necessity because you can just clean out the paint pail when you clean your brushes, but I definitely recommend getting them if you want easier cleanup. Because let’s be serious, who actually wants to rinse out the handy paint pal? Just buy this and you’ll be happy you did, trust me.
Extension Pole
If you’re painting the ceiling or extra tall walls, this extension pole will really come in handy. This specific one is incredibly sturdy because the inner pole is made of aluminum (which prevents twisting) and the outer pole is fiberglass. The threads are universal so you can attach almost any brand roller. It stretches all the way out to 8′ meaning I can do a 12 foot ceiling with no problem (except for a little shoulder soreness). My favorite thing about this pole is the way it locks. Instead of a twist lock like I’m used to, this one has a push button system which is incredibly easy to use and locks instantaneously.
Shorty Brush
Another great paint brush brand to buy is Wooster. This specific paint brush is awesome for those tight spots where a longer handle would get in the way, because believe me, you will come across those hard to reach spots (like tight corners). It’s a full size brush head with a handle that measures only 2-1/4″ long. You can also use it with almost any type of paint (latex, acrylic, oil, polyurethane, chalk paint, etc.) and as long as you take care of it properly, it WILL last for years.
Handy Roller Cup
This roller cup is perfect for smaller jobs that require a small roller. Until I found this, I was using a large tray liner for my tiny 4″ roller. Can you say overkill? This thing is perfect, it holds about a pint of paint (more if you don’t need the room to roll off the excess paint), accommodates mini-rollers up to 6″ and you can either put it on a flat surface or hold it while you paint. I would recommend getting the Roller Cup Liners
Mini Roller
I use this 4″ roller frame for doors, trim and molding. It’s about 12″ long and holds a 4″ roller, is lightweight, cheap and easy to use. I’ve had mine for at least 5 years and unlike my other old rollers, it still doesn’t squeak. What else can I really say about? Not much except not to forget to buy the actual rollers and a tray!
Handy Ladder Pail
The funny thing is I don’t own this yet but it’s on my list to purchase next… I am in love with everything HANDy makes and this is going to make an awesome addition to my painting tool collection.
Drop Cloth
You cannot forget drop cloths!!! I highly highly highly recommend getting a heavy weight drop cloth if you’re doing it over floors or carpeting you don’t want to get ANYTHING on. Believe me, if you buy lightweight or even medium weight and you get some drips of paint, it sinks right through and onto the floor! So purchase a heavy weight drop cloth.
Painter's Comb & Wire Brush
This is on my list to buy… I just purchased a comb but it doesn’t also have the wire bristles which I’m realizing are extremely helpful (especially when you accidentally let the paint sit on it for too long.)
5-In-1-Tool
I also highly recommend a 5-in-1 tool! I usually just carry one of these around with me on my first round of paint in case I come across anything that just needs a quick scraping.
This list may seem a little long, but believe me, I tried to cut it down to just the necessities. There are so many useful products out there to help with all types of painting projects, you just have to find the right one for the job. It truly makes a difference in how quickly you can get the job done and how much easier it is to do it right when you have the right tools.
What’s your favorite tool for painting?
