The 8 Best Tools For Painting Interior Walls and Ceilings

Painting a room is a big project. Crooked edges, drips on your lovely carpet, or a smear on the trim can be frustrating and make you want to throw in the towel. The secret to a successful painting project lies in choosing the perfect color, thorough prep, and having the right tools.

Getting Started Painting Interior Walls and Ceilings

The first step in the process — get a Virtual Color Consultation with Three Bears Home Staging and decide on the perfect color! The next step is to assemble some high-quality, reliable professional painting tools and equipment. To help you out, we’ve put together a tried and true list of the best tools for painting interior walls and ceilings.

Our Handy Painting Equipment List: The Best Tools for Painting Interior Walls and Ceilings

Each painting project in your home will have its own specific requirements. The type of paintbrush you need for cutting in or the particular nap thickness on a roller brush will depend on things like the texture of your walls and the type of paint you’re using. However, other painting supplies are consistently useful across many types of projects. These are some of our favorite, must-have tools for interior painting:

1. Spackle

The first thing you’ll want to do is do a little prep work, like patching up nail holes. We love how this all-in-one tool makes the process a breeze! This compact tube from 3M features a spackle with primer, a convenient putty knife on one end, and a sanding pad on the other. Apply the spackle, use the built-in putty knife for a smooth finish, let it dry, sand until flush with the wall, and you’re ready for a fresh coat of paint.

3M Patch Plus Primer 4-in-1 (2 Pack)

2. Painter’s tape

A good painter’s tape will protect areas you don’t want to be painted, like door and window molding. When it comes to versatility and performance, we love ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape. With moderate adhesion, it effortlessly applies and removes, making it ideal for smooth to lightly textured walls, baseboards, trim, tile, and glass. We prefer the slightly wider 1.88-inch width variety.

ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape

3. Drop cloths

One of the best painting tools for beginners and pros alike is a stack of quality drop cloths. Shielding your floors and furniture from paint splatters is a must, and drop cloths are the go-to solution. When deciding between canvas and plastic, we recommend opting for canvas—it may be a bit more expensive, but it’s less slippery and effectively absorbs paint spills (unlike plastic tarps, where paint tends to pool). We love the Green Lifestyle All Purpose Canvas Drop Cloth for its absorbency, durability, and washability. Plus, it comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate almost any home painting project.

Canvas Drop Cloth Sheet for Floors and Furniture

4. Paint edger

What’s the best tool for edging paint? A professional painter. Those guys are amazing, and we amateurs just can’t duplicate their skill level. The next best thing, though, is this handy paint tool for edging. A paint edger is especially useful in tight spaces where it might be awkward to apply tape. We think the Shur-line Paint Edger Pro is the best paint edger for DIY projects. It’s perfect for getting crisp lines and a polished, professional finish, especially around doors, window trim, and low-profile molding. Its ergonomic, mouse-like handle swivels for easy guidance and is threaded for compatibility with extension poles for reaching tricky areas. A simple button push releases the used pad, for a swift, hassle-free cleanup.

Shur-Line 2006562 1000C Paint Premium Edger, Professional, Red

5. Large paint bucket

If you’re painting any space larger than a tiny bathroom, you’ll likely need more than a single gallon of paint. That means you’ll want to invest in a sturdy five-gallon bucket. Why? Even when you’re using the same color, there can be subtle color variations between different cans. To achieve a more uniform appearance, paint pros recommend mixing all the paint in one large bucket and mixing thoroughly (a technique known as “boxing”). Boxing helps ensure these minor color variations are so well blended that they become virtually unnoticeable.

5 Gallon Paint Bucket

6. Touch-up pens

This may be one of our favorite paint tools! Sometimes it’s tricky trying to get small paint touch-ups on walls or furniture to look just right with a paintbrush. The Slobproof refillable pen is a much handier tool for the job. Simply fill this pen with paint using the included syringe, and the paint remains fresh for up to seven years!

Slobproof Refillable Paint Brush Pens 5 in 1 Pack

7. Ladder

A good ladder is one of the best tools for painting interior walls and ceilings. They’re indispensable for accessing high edges and corners. The Little Giant Ladders Flip-N-Lite Stepladder is one of the best ladders on the market and is particularly well-suited for painting tasks. With a capacity of up to 300 pounds, wide rungs, and a spacious, robust standing platform (also doubling as a handy spot for a paint tray), it’s the perfect choice for DIY paint jobs.

Little Giant Ladder Systems Flip-N-Lite, 5-Foot Stepladder

8. Paper towels

It probably goes without saying, but you’ve got to keep a few rolls of paper towels around when painting. They need to be strong, absorbent, lint-free, and relatively inexpensive. Blue shop towels are certainly a respectable choice, but we also like good old Viva. Viva paper towels are thick and cloth-like which means they hold up well with continual use. They’re also a bit looser which we’ve noticed seems to give them just a bit more absorbency than blue shop towels.

Viva Multi-Surface Cloth Paper Towels, Task Size – 12 Super Rolls

The Bottom Line on Interior Painting Tools

Having the right painting tools for walls and ceilings is the safest way to ensure a seamless and professional finish. From top-rated painter’s tape to the best paint edgers and essential drop cloths, each tool plays a crucial role in achieving your desired look.

Looking for expert advice on color selection and design? Take advantage of a Virtual Color Consultation from Three Bears Home Staging. Whether you’re gearing up for a home sale or simply aiming to refresh your living space with a new color palette, our consultation reports provide valuable insights and guidance, helping you set the tone for a successful and visually stunning transformation. Happy painting!

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