What Supplies Do I Need to Paint a Room?

Are you well-prepared for your room painting project?

You probably chose the colors, prepared the room for painting, and took a couple of days off to make time.

But did you prepare your painting supplies list?

In the end, you’re only as good as your supplies. High-quality tools will get you the best results and make your job easier.

You also need to be prepared for everything. You don’t want the paint to dry on your brushes while looking for an extension pole you forgot to buy.

Here, we’ll list all the supplies you need and don’t need so you’re 100% prepared for your painting project!

The Complete Painting Supplies List

The last thing you want is to discover mid-painting that you’re missing an important tool. Keep this list in your pocket while shopping, and you’ll be ready to roll!

Painters Tape

Unless you have a super steady hand, painter’s tape is essential for your interior painting project.

If you’re painting a room in two colors, you’ll need it at the wall edges to create clean lines. Likewise, you’ll need it on crown moldings and baseboards to avoid getting any paint on them.

Use high-quality tape that won’t let paint underneath, and don’t be afraid to use it on light fixtures if you want to keep them clean.

Roller Frame

The roller frame is the tool you use to hold roller covers. If you get a high-quality frame, you can use it to paint multiple rooms and start plenty of projects, so make sure to choose wisely.

Prioritize a comfortable grip, or you’ll finish your painting project and end up with wrist fatigue. Make sure the cage is also secure enough for the roller cover to prevent it from sliding off.

On top of that, make sure to get a frame with a threaded end because that’s where you’ll attach the extension pole.

If you’re going to paint small surfaces like baseboards, you may need an additional roller frame. The one used for walls and ceilings is typically 9 inches, so remember to buy a smaller one, too.

Extension Pole

You need an extension pole to paint the ceiling and the higher parts of your wall. You can also use it for the lower parts if you don’t want to strain your arms. It helps you finish the job faster.

Paint Tray

A paint tray is essential for your painting project because it holds your paint and allows you to load your roller in a minute. 

Make sure to choose a tray wide enough to accommodate all the rollers you’ll use, and select one with an edge you can use to remove the excess paint from your rollers.

Pro Tip: buy plastic tray liners to make it easier to switch colors and clean up. Otherwise, you’d have to get multiple paint trays.

Drop Clothes or Old Towels

Unless you want to create an abstract painting project on your floors, you’ll need drop clothes to cover the floor and all other surfaces.

The most durable drop clothes are the ones made of canvas—buy those if you’re starting a series of projects. If you don’t want to strain your budget, you can always use disposable drop clothes or replace them altogether with old towels.

Paint Brushes

You need a paintbrush with an angled edge to create perfectly straight lines.

Now, choosing your paintbrush is trickier than it seems. You’ll want to choose one with high-quality bristles, or you’ll end up with streaks all over your paint.

You must also ensure its handle is long enough to improve control and prevent wrist fatigue.

Roller Covers

Roller covers go on the roller frames and are used to get a smooth paint finish. They’re available in plenty of materials, but wool and microfiber covers are generally favored for their smooth finish. 

Microfiber, in particular, is an excellent choice because it absorbs a lot of paint but releases it gently.

Ladder

Though many people choose to stand on chairs to reach higher places, a ladder is a much safer choice and offers more balance. The best thing is you can keep it around the house, and it’ll come in handy for other projects.

Putty Knife

A putty knife is only important if your wall has small holes or dents that you want to cover up. In this case, you’ll use a putty knife to apply hole fillers. Otherwise, you can skip the knife.

Extra Painting Supplies: Nice to Have, But Not Necessary

You won’t be able to complete your painting job if you skip any of the tools above.

Meanwhile, the tools here are unnecessary and won’t affect your painting job, but they’re nice to have because they’ll make your job easier:

• Roller cover cleaner: Cleaning painting supplies can be a pain. To make the post-painting process easier, buy a roller cover cleaner.
• Paint can pour spout: This is an unnecessary tool, but pouring paint into your tray is much easier without making a mess.
• Stir stick: If your paint cans have been sitting around for a while, it’s better to get a stir stick to stir the paint and achieve a good consistency. If you don’t want to buy the stick, though, you can use any tool for this.
• Primer: a paint primer will hide all imperfections, especially if you paint over old paint. It’s typically applied before painting, but you can skip it if you don’t mind tiny imperfections here and there.

Conclusion

There you have the full painting supplies list for your next project.

Getting everything in one place is easier, so you don’t forget anything. And here’s a pro tip: if you see a tool you like and it’s not on this list, chances are you can finish your job without it, so don’t strain your budget for unnecessary tools. You’re better off buying a rewarding burger with these few dollars!