Top 10 Essential Decorating Tools You Can’t Do Without!

They say that a bad workman always blames his tools, so we’ve decided to give you a helping hand at the outset so you have no excuses! Our low down on the top 10 essential decorating tools will give you a professional’s insight into the things you need to ensure your DIY project goes smoothly. One important thing to bear in mind when shopping for decorating provisions is that budget isn’t always best! There are certain decorating peripherals that are well worth spending a little more money on – especially if you’re planning on an ongoing project covering several rooms. Our top 10 tools and accessories for DIY

1. Dust sheets, rags and cloths – Decorating can be dirty work, and it’s much better to be concentrating on the job in hand rather than constantly worrying about the mess you’re making – there’ll be time for clearing up at the end of the day. Old sheets, quilt covers, towels and curtains can all be used as a substitute for proper decorating dustsheets if you have some spare and don’t want to stick your hand in your pocket. These items are imperative if you want to protect floors, furniture and other items – just make sure you’re happy for them to end up covered in dust, paint and paste.
2. Quality paint brushes and rollers – While you can pick up some real bargains when it comes to brushes, we’d always recommend going for a mid range or higher quality paintbrush where possible – this is especially important for glossing, as you don’t want to end up with loose strands in your paintwork! Invest in a good set of varying sizes, from half an inch up to 4 inches so that you can choose the right brush for the area to be covered. Cheap paint rollers are okay if you’re covering a flat wall, but it’s definitely worth considering paying a little more for a higher quality product if you’re painting over embossed wallpaper or really want to get a smooth and professional finish.

   

3. Masking tape – When you’re painting skirting boards, door frames, window frames or architraves, masking tape is definitely the decorator’s best friend! Use it to cover the edges around the area you’re going to paint to ensure clean, neat lines and to save time tediously painting inch by inch.

   

4. Scrapers – Scrapers were not all created equal, so make sure you have a couple of different sizes to suit different purposes. Use a narrow bladed scraper for opening and clearing out cracks in plaster and applying small amounts of filler, and use a wider blade for wallpaper scraping and cleaning off old paste once wallpaper has been removed, or for filling larger holes.
5. Stanley knife – You’ll be surprised how often this handy little addition to your decorator’s kit comes into play! You can use it for opening packets, cutting off the ends of silicon tubes or decorators caulk and for cutting away or loosening stubborn bits of wallpaper along skirting edges and door frames.
6. Pliers (and a screw!) – Both of these items are incredibly useful when preparing your walls before papering. Pliers can be used for pulling out nails and picture fixings and that screw will come in handy for extracting embedded rawl plugs before you start hanging your paper.
7. Soft brush and sponge – If you’re hanging wallpaper, then these accessories should be a standard part of your decorating kit. Use them to smooth out lumps and bubbles from your wallpaper without damaging your hard work.
8. An old dining chair cushion or gardeners knee pad – Anyone who’s spent any length of time kneeling on the floor to paint those dastardly skirting boards will vouch for the fact that it’s not a very comfortable experience! Having a small cushion or pad to rest on can really take the strain off your poor joints, and can double up as a seat on your tea break if you’re working in an unfurnished area.
9. Steamer– Stripping wallpaper isn’t much fun, but it’s made eminently easier by using a steamer rather than a wet rag and willpower! A steamer will help you clear the walls in super-fast time so that you can get on with the fun part.
10. Empty tubs – Having a couple of spare plastic tubs or empty tins will make painting and pasting much easier for you. It’s better to carry a portion of your paint in a smaller receptacle than heaving around a monster can of emulsion. It will reduce the possibility of spillages and you can also use one for a small amount of paste to leave at the top of your ladder while working on seams and edges.