When you’re interested in doing a bit of decorative painting and need the right and best decorating brushes for painting, it might surprise you to find out how many brushes are available to you.
It might seem a little overwhelming at first, but once you learn which types there are and what they each do best, your decision becomes a little easier to make.
Not that long ago, it was recommended that you buy “the best paintbrush that you can afford.”
This is not a bad rule of thumb to follow, but you’ll soon learn that the most expensive brushes aren’t always going to suit your needs and that not all inexpensive brushes should be thrown in the garbage can.
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Some Basic Do’s and Don’ts
Choosing the right paintbrush for decorating purposes means learning the types of brushes that are now on the market.
Pure bristle brushes are a little pricy, but if you’re using water-based paint, they are going to be a disappointment.
This is because the brushes soak up the water in the paint and go limp on you, making it difficult to do things such as paint sharp edges. If you’re using an oil-based paint, however, a natural-bristle brush is perfect.
When it comes to synthetic brushes, keep in mind that water-based paints do just fine with them, in part because they are non-absorbent and therefore always maintain their shape.
But whether you choose natural or synthetic, a good paintbrush will always have densely packed bristles that taper at the end and snap right back to their original shape if you bend them backwards.
If you find a brush with tips that are flagged – meaning they are split – it will hold more paint than those brushes without flagged tips. Also look for firmly contained bristles that are soft to the touch, because coarse bristles often cause unsightly brush marks.
The handle should also be researched, although your personal preferences might dictate which one you choose in the end.
More often than not, high-quality brushes will have wooden handles; however, many brushes used for large jobs have rubber handles instead. It’s best to avoid the paintbrushes with plastic handles since these usually do not last long.
If you’re curious about which ones to research, below are the ten best decorating brushes for you to consider before you buy.
1. Fastcar Mixed Paintbrush Set
This set of five different synthetic paintbrushes sells for only £2 and therefore allows you to purchase more than one in case you’d like to have a few extras on hand.
The brush sizes include 12 mm, 25 mm, 38 mm, 50 mm, and 63 mm, and they are suitable for any type of paint you intend to use. They have comfortable handles and an attractive design, and best of all, they are perfect for both the DIY enthusiast and the professional painter.
You can use these brushes without fear of losing a lot of bristles, and they are super comfortable to hold and use thanks to their overall design. They are also super easy to clean and an excellent value for the money, making this one purchase you won’t regret making.
2. Nicholas Jack Professional Paintbrushes – Set of 5
Selling for roughly £12 for a set of five, these synthetic paint brushes are great for decorating and so much more. They are perfect for all sorts of decorating jobs, including interior appointments such as walls, skirting, and windows; as well as outdoor jobs such as fences and sheds.
You get one paintbrush that is 2.5 centimetres, two brushes that are 3.8 centimetres, and two that are 5 centimetres in length, giving you a way to utilise both small and large brushes to accommodate all of your projects.
Great for both oil-based and water-based paints, these brushes can also be used for primers, topcoats, and varnishes, making them very versatile paintbrushes indeed.
3. Gaosaili 6-Piece Decorating Paintbrush Set
These are super high-quality paintbrushes made out of PET and PPT materials, which means you won’t be losing any bristles once you get them home.
In fact, the non-slip handles are made to be more ergonomically friendly, which means your hands and wrists will stay comfortable even if you’re painting for hours at a time.
Best of all, you can use these brushes on any type of paint, including oil-based, water-based, stains, varnishes, and acrylics. You can paint furniture, walls, trim, fences, decks, and even use them in a variety of arts and crafts projects.
Priced at just £7 for the set, the paintbrushes are not only high in quality but also reasonably priced, which means you’ll get a great collection of reliable all-purpose paintbrushes without breaking the bank.
4. Harris Seriously Good Wall & Ceiling Paintbrush Set
This set of five different paintbrushes in four different sizes costs just under £10 and is, therefore, a real bargain regardless of how you’re planning to use them.
Their features include synthetic bristles, flexible handles, and no bristle loss thanks to specialised technology. If you need to get in close to electrical outlets and other small fixtures, these are the perfect brushes to use, and they do exceptionally well with emulsion paints.
Lightweight and made out of high-quality stainless steel and plastic, the Harris Seriously Good paint set is likely to accommodate nearly all of the projects in your home or office with no trouble at all.
5. MOCOBO 5-Piece Paintbrush Set
This paintbrush set sells for roughly £7 and contains five paintbrushes in five different sizes. They have attractive black handles that are also comfortable, and they are perfect for a variety of jobs, including decorating, general painting, and numerous arts and craft projects.
They are easy-to-clean brushes with thick bristles that won’t fall out, and the handle is made out of PP material so that you get both comfort and beauty in the same brush.
The brushes also come with a small hole at the tip of the handle in case you’d like to hang it up when it isn’t being used, making the brushes very practical as well as useful.
6. DIY Paintbrush Decorating Set by Cottam Store
With five brushes in three different sizes, this paintbrush set costs around £8, allowing you to buy several sets if you like without breaking the bank.
You can use them with emulsion paint, acrylic, primers, and much more, and the sizes range from 2 centimetres to 5 centimetres, making this a very versatile set that you can use for nearly anything.
These are lightweight and attractive paintbrushes that can be used by the DIY enthusiast and the professional painter, making them a very versatile set of paintbrushes.
Lightweight and easy to hold, these paintbrushes are so well-made that they’ll glide across the surface like they’re doing all of the painting themselves. You get a lot of value for your money with these paintbrushes.
7. Makaku Studio Set of 6 Chalk and Wax Paintbrushes
At around £45, this is not the least expensive set of decorative paintbrushes you’ll ever get, but it will definitely be one of the best ones you’ve ever used.
These are natural bristle brushes with strong wood handles that include straps so that hanging them will be super easy. You also get a pair of tweezers and a pair of black nitrile gloves so that getting started is even easier.
These are sturdy, well-built brushes you count on keeping for many years to come, and the extra-strong metal crimps minimise bristle loss.
8. KINGORIGIN 6-Piece Professional Paintbrush Set
This is a set of six paintbrushes in six different sizes, and the price of roughly £17 is extremely reasonable when you consider what you get in return.
You also get a soft-grip handle that makes painting a lot easier, and the bristles are made to hold more paint than other paintbrushes.
Made for decorating, trimming, or regular painting tasks, these brushes are perfect for both inside and outside use, so you can count on them to paint trim, decks, furniture, and so much more.
9. AXUS Décor 3.8cm Angled Cutter Brush
With unique blue bristles and a sturdy handle, this 3.8 cm brush is angled to make all sorts of decorating tasks, as well as other paint jobs, a lot easier on you.
This is a high-quality brush with tapered filaments and a comfortable handle that makes using it a breeze, and its cost of under £5 makes it affordable for everyone.
It is made to be used by professionals but will make even DIY jobs a whole lot easier, and it is so well-made that you’ll feel like the brush is doing the work for you.
10. Amtech 5-Piece Decorating Paintbrush Set
These five paintbrushes in three different sizes make all sorts of painting projects a whole lot easier, and you even get a choice of colours when it comes to the handles.
At less than £7, this is a real bargain, especially when you consider what you’re getting, and the brushes range from 1 cm to 2 cm.
The soft, comfortable grip allows the paint to glide on all by itself nearly, and you can use them for oil-based paints, emulsions, varnish, and so much more.
So if you are painting your radiators and need to know what is the best radiator paint, and for more DIY advice you can check out my full in-depth guide for home DIY – Our Grant New Homeowners Maintenance Guide
