Decorating looks like the cheapest trade to get into — a brush, a roller and a tin of paint, how hard can it be? Then you watch a good decorator cut in a perfect line freehand, lay off a wall with no roller marks and leave a room cleaner than they found it, and you realise the skill is in the preparation and the hands, not the kit. The tools still matter, though, and buying the right ones early saves you money and makes you look like you know what you are doing. This is the honest list of what a first-year decorator actually needs in 2026.
Everything here is available from UK suppliers — decorating merchants, Screwfix, Toolstation and Amazon UK. Prices are approximate UK street prices and move with stock and promotions, so treat the numbers as a guide for budgeting, not a quote. The goal is to get you on site with a proper working kit for sensible money, then add the bigger gear when the work pays for it.
Brushes — buy good, look after them
Buy one genuinely good brush per size you’ll actually use rather than a cheap multipack. Purdy, Wooster, Hamilton and Harris are all worth paying more for — a well-cared-for brush from any of them will outlast a season of cheap replacements bought to avoid cleaning one properly.
Purdy Paint Brush
A genuine current Purdy brush — the kind of quality that pays for itself the first time you don’t have to fight loose bristles halfway through a wall.
Rollers and trays
A decent roller set with a proper tray covers the vast majority of first-year emulsion work — a medium-pile sleeve suits most standard walls, with short-pile and specialist sleeves worth adding only once you’re working with different finishes regularly.
Hamilton for The Trade 5-Piece Roller Set with Tray, 9″
A genuine 5-piece roller set with tray, ready for standard emulsion work straight out of the box.
- 9-inch roller set with tray, 5 pieces
Preparation tools — where the real work is
Good decorating is mostly good preparation — filling, sanding, masking and cleaning up loose edges before a drop of paint goes on. A filler applicator set, low-tack masking tape, a multi-tool for scraping and opening tins, and a pole sander for ceilings and high walls cover the prep stage properly.
Axus Decor S-Fill Compact Filler Applicators, 4 Sizes
A genuine filler applicator set covering the range of gaps and cracks you’ll meet in a typical first-year job.
- 4 sizes in one pack
ProDec 1.5″ Low Tack Multi-Surface Masking Tape
A genuine low-tack masking tape that won’t lift fresh paint or wallpaper when you pull it off.
- 5-inch, low tack, multi-surface
Purdy 10-in-1 Premium Multi-Tool
A second genuine Purdy product worth having in the bag — this covers scraping, opening tins and cleaning rollers in one item.
- 10-in-1 multi-tool
ROLLINGDOG 9″ Pole Sander, 180cm Extension
A genuine extension pole sander for ceiling and high-wall prep without a ladder for every single pass.
- 9-inch head, 180cm extension
Protection and access
Proper dust sheets protect floors and furniture through the messiest parts of the job, and they’re not worth skimping on — a laminated sheet that actually stops paint soaking through pays for itself the first time you use it.
JMS Bridge Pack of 2 Laminated Cotton Dust Sheets, 12x9ft
Genuine laminated dust sheets that actually keep spills off the floor underneath, not just a cotton sheet that soaks straight through.
- 12x9ft, laminated cotton, pack of 2
What to skip in year one
A paint sprayer, an extensive brush collection in every size, and premium dust sheets can all wait — a good 2-inch and 1-inch brush plus a roller set covers the vast majority of first-year work.
Roughly what to budget
Around one to two hundred and fifty pounds covers everything above.
Looking after your kit
Clean brushes properly after every use rather than leaving them to harden — a well-cared-for Purdy brush will outlast several cheap replacements bought to avoid cleaning one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an expensive brush as a beginner?
One good brush from Purdy or Hamilton, cleaned properly, will outlast a season of cheap brushes bought to avoid cleaning — it’s worth the extra cost from day one.
What roller sleeve should a first-year decorator use?
A medium-pile sleeve suits most emulsion work on standard walls; save short-pile and specialist sleeves for once you’re working with different finishes regularly.
Do I need a paint sprayer to start decorating?
No — a sprayer is a volume tool. Brushes and rollers cover first-year work fine and cost a fraction of the price.
How much should I spend on my first decorating kit?
Around one to two hundred and fifty pounds is realistic for genuine trade-grade brushes, rollers, prep tools and protection.
The bottom line
Buy one good brush per size you’ll actually use, a decent roller set, and proper prep and protection kit. Everything else is a volume-driven upgrade, not a day-one need.
