While it might seem like there’s nothing more to painting than dipping a brush in a can of paint and then putting it on the wall, the process is a little more involved. There are many different tools on the market that can help homeowners get a professionally painted look, even if they’ve never painted before. Here are seven essential painting tools and what they can do that makes them worth their price tag.

1. Painter’s Tape

For painters who aren’t confident in their ability to do edges freehand, painter’s tape is a must. Just put it on the wall, paint, and peel it off. The tape leaves crisp lines that look like they were professionally done. There are quite a few different brands of painter’s tape on the market, and they’re usually either blue or green for easy identification.

2. 5 Gallon Bucket

Extra buckets can be handy when painting, but when painting a large area that requires multiple gallons of paint, a big five gallon bucket is a necessity. Sometimes, whether do to human or machine error, two gallons of paint that are supposed to be the same color may be slightly different. Emptying both gallons into a large bucket and mixing them together will even out any variation in the color so the wall will look uniform once it’s painted.

3. Drop Cloths

No one wants to finish painting a room only to discover that in addition to the walls, they’ve painted the floor as well. Using a drop cloth can protect the floor case of stray drips or if a paint bucket takes a tumble off a ladder. Just be wary of using plastic tarps because they can be slippery and make painting more dangerous than it should be.

4. A Variety of Brushes

Cutting in requires using a brush, and depending on the room’s layout and any moldings around the windows and such, it may be difficult to get into the smaller areas with a large brush. Be sure to invest in a few different sizes of brushes to make painting with them just as easy as it is to paint with the roller brush.

5. Masking Film

Drop cloths aren’t good for protecting everything, and for the things they can’t cover, masking film is here to do the job. The film sticks to surfaces, so it can be placed over things like windows and mirrors to protect them during the painting process, and once everything is done, it can be peeled off easily and thrown away, revealing a perfectly clean surface underneath.

6. Paint Brush Covers

Sometimes painting takes a bit longer than expected, and it can be useful to have covers for the brushes so the paint doesn’t dry and ruin them before they can be used again. Covers can be purchased for both traditional brushes and roller brushes, but in a pinch, plastic bags can do the same job while giving last week’s grocery bag a new use.

7. Extendable Brush Handles

For people who have troubles reaching the ceiling or can’t bend over for a long time to get down next to the floor molding, an extendable brush handle is a lifesaver. These handles will connect to a roller brush to make it easier to make large strokes, and they can be adjusted for both ease of use and storage.

The right gear can make painting easier, and these seven tools can definitely pull their weight in a Hermitage Hills home. It’s always best to be prepared when painting a home, and these tools can help any homeowner be ready for the task ahead.