8 Surprising Paint Supplies That Will Save Your Sanity

Painting a room doesn’t have to be a hassle! Try adding these paint supplies to your next project to make the job a little easier!

Are you thinking about painting a room in your house? Are you looking forward to the end result but dreading the process?

Painting doesn’t have to be a hassle. Besides the basic paint supplies (rollers, brushes, trays, etc.), there are a few surprising extras you need to make painting a lot easier and maybe even fun!

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When we bought our house, we knew we’d be doing a lot of painting…as in every square inch. The whole house came with deep, dark colors. Most of it dark brown. (It’s been nicknamed the “chocolate house”.)

Well, we love light and bright. So we almost feel like we’ve become pros when it comes to painting rooms. (So much painting!)

Check out the difference paint made in our living room!

We’re almost done with the house now, and let me just tell you…it’s been so gratifying to see each room change as we brighten up the place. Each newly painted space becomes our new favorite room in the house.

But I’m not going to lie. It’s a chore.

I know so many people who LOATHE painting. But it doesn’t have to be a dreaded project. Here are some semi-unconventional paint supplies we use to make the process easier and get to the end result faster!

BUT FIRST!

Quick PSA…before you get to the beautiful paint color you’ve picked out, don’t forget to prep your walls! You absolutely cannot skip this step. It’s annoying, I know. But it’s vital.

Ok, now that you’ve filled in or repaired any holes, taken off take any outlet covers or light fixtures, and done anything else you need to do to prep, it’s time to get to work.

Here are the 8 paint supplies we can’t go without:

1. DROP CLOTHS

We used plastic for years when we’d paint. But it always made the room hot and was annoying to store.

In this house, we knew we’d be painting a lot so we picked up a couple of these drop cloths and they have been a game changer! I will never paint with plastic again.

Here’s why we love them:

• They stay in place. (No more taping plastic to keep it in place!)
• Paint drips/spills don’t smear.
• They’re not noisy.
• They don’t trap heat.
• They fold up nicely, making them easier to store and reuse.
• Oh, and did I mention they STAY IN PLACE so much easier?? Yep, that’s my favorite part.

2. BABY WIPES

Weird. I know. But baby wipes are the best for the accidental bumps. If a little bit of paint gets on the ceiling, trim, or wherever, grab a wipe and get it while it’s fresh. It will usually come off just fine.

Wet paper towels or even a wet washcloth will work too.

3. EDGER

I know there are people that can cut in with a brush. I am not one of those people. I have accepted that and moved on…to this edger. I love it!

I can now successfully paint around ceilings, trim, doors, windows, vents…anything! And the best part is that I’m left with clean, straight lines around the ceiling. Now I hardly ever have to use painter’s tape!

On the off-chance that I get a little on an edge, I have my baby wipe so I’m usually ok. I also use it to wipe off the wheels in case I’ve gotten a little on them.

4. ART BRUSH

One brush I love to keep is a small artist brush with a flat, straight edge. I’ve also used a cheap, flat makeup brush.

These brushes are great for small, awkward areas or touchups. And if I ever end up with a spot I didn’t catch on the ceiling or trim, or an edge I don’t love, I can quickly correct it.

5. CAULK

If there are any areas you need to use painter’s tape, don’t paint without this! This is the KEY to perfectly straight lines.

After taping, simply run a line of caulk along the seam. This will seal it. Then, when you peel off your tape, you will be left with a beautiful, crisp, clean line!

This works for trim, ceilings, accent walls or fun designs.

Bonus tip: If you don’t want to use caulk, you could also seal the tape with a quick layer of the OLD paint color. Once it dries, paint as usual with the new paint color.

6. GOOD LIGHT

This isn’t a “supply” per se. But it is necessary! Especially if you are painting with light colors. It’s ok to paint at night, but make sure you check the next day for any missed spots!

I once thought I was completely done repainting my ceiling, only to see shiny primer poking through the next day. And this was after 2 coats! Oops.

So double-check everything in good light.

7. GLAD PRESS ‘N SEAL

Ok, just trust me on this one. This is a LIFESAVER when it comes to painting breaks. If you only take ONE thing away from this post, let this be it!

There are so many tips and tricks for saving your paintbrushes, rollers, and trays. And a lot of them include water. Yuck. I don’t like dealing with sopping brushes.

Press ‘n Seal is seriously the best. And doesn’t slide around or smear paint like other non-water options either!

We have wrapped brushes and rollers in this and they have still been perfect to use days to weeks later. Seriously! And we didn’t even put them in the freezer.

When we’re waiting between coats or when life gets in the way, we wrap each thing up and label it with a permanent marker. This seals all the moisture in perfectly.

Then when we’re ready to paint again, we carefully unwrap and save the wrap until we need it again. Because the paint doesn’t smear everywhere, it can be reused every time!

We also use this to cover up paint trays that still have paint in them as well as our edging pad. But we only do this for quick breaks in-between coats.

8. MUSIC

This last one is a must-have. Pick your favorite playlist, audiobook, podcast or comedian and turn up the volume! Believe me, it makes the job so much more enjoyable.

Do you listen to anything when you paint?

And that’s it!

Painting does wonders to a room and it definitely impacts the mood. So figure out how you want to feel in a room, find some paint, and have fun changing up your space!

What unconventional supplies do you use when you paint? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

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