It’s a DIY task that most people think requires no skill, but paint a wall badly, and it’ll be all you can see.
There’s more to it than loading up a brush with your favourite colour of emulsion and advancing upon a wall. A good paint job requires time, patience and technique: in other words, not something you want to attempt in a rush.
Before you even think about prying open a tin of paint, the first step is to clear the room of clutter and any bits of furniture or homeware that you can. For the heavier, bulkier items, wrapping them securely to protect against paint splatters and drips is the inevitable next move.
Next, clean the wall and dry it thoroughly. Painting over dust, dirt and cobwebs, and entombing them forever in paint is a look that’s never in vogue. Sugar soap is a good choice for priming walls for paint.
Once that’s done, you’ll want to cover all switches, sockets and skirting boards with masking tape - Frog Tape is the decorator’s choice - to protect them from paint and ensure you’ll get a sharp finish.
Now you’re ready to crack open that tin of paint. Use a stick to stir the solution thoroughly before you dip in a brush or roller. Pick up enough paint so your tool is covered, but not so much that the colour is dripping everywhere, then stroke the wall in a ‘M’ or a ‘W’ motion, repeating until the whole lot is covered.
It’s important to note that not all paint brushes are created equal: swap to a smaller option for getting around awkward bits like light switches and door corners. When you get to the edges, don’t swamp the masking tape with emulsion - you should have barely any left to spare by the time you get there. A cutting-in brush is an excellent innovation that can help you get clean lines without prodding at peeling masking tape.
Traditional wall painting brushes are good for covering a relatively small area, but if you’re trying to makeover an entire room, you’re best off reaching for a roller. Not only do they push an even amount of paint over the wall but you can reach high corners without clambering onto a chair or ladder too. Foam brushes give less chance of streaks and you can get paint pads to cover the ceilings without the room looking as though it’s raining paint.
Pumped to paint? You should be. Once you’ve picked your colour, you’ll want to get your hands on a good set of brushes or wall painting kit next. If you’re at this stage, good news - we’ve done the legwork and found the best options for you.
Scroll on to see the best paint brushes to cover your walls.
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Harris Seriously Good No Loss Paint Brushes for Walls and Ceilings, 5 Brush Pack
This pack of five brushes from renowned DIY expert Harris has all bases covered, whatever paint job you have on your hands. With thousands of five-star reviews, the brushes offer a premium finish on everything from trailers to interior walls and ceilings, making them a great addition to your DIY kit - especially when they’re on sale. The only downside is that unlike their title claim, some bristles can be lost when they’re at work but the sheddage is minimal compared to other similar brushes.
Buy now £8.00, Amazon
Coral 10501 Paint Kit with Headlock and Mini Roller Frame and Hybrid Brush, Set of 12 Pieces
Need a roller set to rely on? This paint kit comes with eight rollers of varying sizes as well as a tray to pour paint into for less mess and an even spread. The cheat’s way of keeping it clean(ish) is to wrap the tray in a plastic bag first, so you can dispose of it easily once you’ve painted your project - a particularly helpful hack if you’re painting murals or want to do walls with a couple of different colours. The rollers also feature Headlock technology for more efficient painting and heightened control.
Buy now £13.07, Amazon
Harris Seriously Good Walls & Ceilings Twin Sleeve Set 9
For walls and ceilings with old plaster, this twin set of rollers will make painting over the cracks an easier job than usual. In fact it’s been designed for working over semi-smooth surfaces quickly and easily, but for best results, rinse the roller sleeves off first to get rid of loose fibres and ensure a clean finish.
Buy now £7.50, Sainsbury’s
Harris Trade Big box Micropoly Roller set, 19 pieces
If you’re redecorating entire floors, it’s best to get one painting kit to see you through the entire job rather than nipping to Amazon or B&Q every five minutes to get a fresh set. Harris has it in the bag with its Big box roller set that comprises an astonishing 19 pieces.
They’ll work well with both gloss and emulsion paint and there are roller extension poles to help you reach all the way up to the ceiling.
Buy now £35.00, B&Q
Harris Essentials 9 Inch Wall & Ceiling Roller Pole
Decorating the ceiling is one of the top interior trends of the moment. If you want to dip into it, there’s no need to erect scaffolding to reach those heights: simply add Harris’ 9-inch roller to your basket now. Comes with a removable roller sleeve.
Buy now £10.50, Argos
Black & Decker Electric Speedy Easy Paint Roller No Drip Easy Clean BDPR400-XJ
No need to faff around with a paint tray. This option gets paint onto the walls quicker by allowing you to inject paint into the handle and rolling it on for easy, simple application. The pivoting head makes it easy to reach tricky spots like under stairs, eaves and as close to the ceiling as possible.
Buy now £36.95, ManoMano
Clean Cut Paint Edger Brush
Get right up to the edge of walls and sockets without going outside the ‘lines’ with this clever edger brush that takes colour right up to the walls. The soft bristles help emulsion to get on streak-free, while the wider handle makes it easier to grip. It’s also an excellent cleaning tool, allowing you to reach parts where a regular duster just can’t.
Buy now £13.26, Amazon
ROLLINGDOG 7" (180mm) Paint Pads for Walls and Ceilings
A paint pad is ideal for covering ceilings, offering an even balance of paint to work with. It also means that the tool is much lighter than a bristle brush, so you should have no trouble holding it for prolonged periods. The handle is adjustable through five positions and the head can be attached to a pole for even easier painting.
Buy now £11.99, Amazon
Robert Dyas Dekton 6Pc Paint Tool Kit With Pole
If your renovation budget is getting tighter by the day, this excellent budget option should have enough to see you through a modest project. The kit comes with six pieces to paint and finesse decor in interior rooms, with a roller, edger, corner pad, paint jug, resting tray and a telescopic extension pole all part of the mix. The self-contained kit keeps mess to a minimum and ensures clean-up is quick and easy.
Buy now £12.99, Robert Dyas
