The right brush or roller is as important as the paint you choose. Go for the best quality you can afford - you'll get a better finish and need fewer coats.
Rollers and pads are best for walls and ceilings. Pads come in different sizes and can be angled for a neat edge. If you prefer rollers, choose the right sleeve for your walls: short pile for smooth plaster; medium for uneven or lightly textured walls; long pile or sheepskin for rough textured or external walls; foam for satin, eggshell and gloss. Look out for mini rollers for woodwork - plus long-handled ones for reaching.
Brushes are vital for ‘cutting in' along the edges before using a roller or pad. You'll also need brushes in different shapes and sizes for woodwork. Match your brush to the paint you're using: for water-based choose synthetic bristles - they don't absorb paint, leaving no brush marks; for oil-based paints, go for natural bristles which will stand up to repeated cleaning in white spirit. If you'll be doing a lot of brushwork, try Dulux's Perfect range with soft-grip handles, built-in tin opener and special ‘neck' that allows you to lay it down flat without picking up dirt.
Dulux PaintPod isn't cheap at £59.98, but is worth it if you have a lot of rooms to paint. It's about the size of a vacuum cleaner and plugs into the mains. You insert the ‘pod' of Dulux emulsion (34 to choose from) into the unit and press a button on the handle to make the paint flow through a tube to the roller. It also has an auto-cleaning system.
With the new battery-powered PaintPod Compact (£34.98), you simply plug the tube and roller into the pod. It's smaller and easier to store
but doesn't have the handy self-clean function.
DECORATOR'S TOP TIP
Carefully mask off windows and skirting boards with low-tack tape before you start decorating - it will save you time and bother the long run.
For everything you need to know about decorating with paint, check out THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE OF PAIN...
Rollers and pads are best for walls and ceilings. Pads come in different sizes and can be angled for a neat edge. If you prefer rollers, choose the right sleeve for your walls: short pile for smooth plaster; medium for uneven or lightly textured walls; long pile or sheepskin for rough textured or external walls; foam for satin, eggshell and gloss. Look out for mini rollers for woodwork - plus long-handled ones for reaching.
Brushes are vital for ‘cutting in' along the edges before using a roller or pad. You'll also need brushes in different shapes and sizes for woodwork. Match your brush to the paint you're using: for water-based choose synthetic bristles - they don't absorb paint, leaving no brush marks; for oil-based paints, go for natural bristles which will stand up to repeated cleaning in white spirit. If you'll be doing a lot of brushwork, try Dulux's Perfect range with soft-grip handles, built-in tin opener and special ‘neck' that allows you to lay it down flat without picking up dirt.
Dulux PaintPod isn't cheap at £59.98, but is worth it if you have a lot of rooms to paint. It's about the size of a vacuum cleaner and plugs into the mains. You insert the ‘pod' of Dulux emulsion (34 to choose from) into the unit and press a button on the handle to make the paint flow through a tube to the roller. It also has an auto-cleaning system.
With the new battery-powered PaintPod Compact (£34.98), you simply plug the tube and roller into the pod. It's smaller and easier to store
but doesn't have the handy self-clean function.
DECORATOR'S TOP TIP
Carefully mask off windows and skirting boards with low-tack tape before you start decorating - it will save you time and bother the long run.
For everything you need to know about decorating with paint, check out THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE OF PAIN...
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