How to choose the best paintbrush

If you’re planning a decorating project, it’s important to choose the right brush for the job. Here are two helpful questions to ask yourself before heading to the hardware store:

If you’re using water-based paint, it’s best to choose a brush that has synthetic bristles. Synthetic bristles do not absorb water, which means that paint will flow through the brush better, allowing you to avoid heavy brush marks. Made of nylon, they last up to five times longer than natural bristle brushes and also are much easier to clean.

Solvent-based paints work well with either natural or synthetic brushes – but if you’re looking for a very matte finish, we recommend you choose a natural brush. The split ends of the natural bristles will help you to produce a clean, perfect finish.

As a rule of thumb, the larger the area to be painted, the larger the brush you need. Brushes larger than 3-inches (7cm) are ideal for painting large, flat surfaces, such as doors or kitchen cabinets.

Smaller brushes (often called trim or sash brushes) can range from 0.5 to 3 inches (1.25cm – 7cm) and should be used when painting skirting boards, window frames and architectural moldings. If you’re painting a tight space, choosing a brush with tapered bristles will help you get into corners and grooves easily. If you’re using a brush to ‘cut in’, we recommend you choose an angled brush with one side longer than the other.