Paint reviews, guides, and color
Independent paint and tool round-ups. Project step-by-steps. Color references and brand reviews. Every product pick lists a real con — no review without a real weakness.
Best Paint Color Visualizer for 2026
Six paint visualizers tested on real rooms. Top pick: CompositePaint — real BM, SW, and Behr codes plus color recommendations from your photo. Brand apps recolor a chip. They do not tell you what to paint.
Best Paint Sample Test Boards
Five paint sample boards tested in real rooms across changing light. Top pick: Samplize peel-and-stick, two coats of real paint, no wall painting and no cleanup.
Best Paint Touch-Up Pens
Five paint touch-up pens tested on walls, trim, cabinets, and a car door. Top pick: the Slobproof Refillable Touch-Up Paint Pen for exact color matches.
Best Painter's Gloves
Five painting gloves tested across latex, oil, and solvent cleanup. Top pick: Grease Monkey Disposable Nitrile, the cheap box that fits, grips, and doesn't tear.
Best Headlamps for Painting
Six headlamps tested while painting walls, ceilings, and trim. Top pick: Coast FL85R for its wide flood beam, tri-color modes, and hard-hat fit.
Best Painter's Rags and Microfiber Cloths
Painters microfiber and cotton rags tested on spills, staining, and prep. Top pick: Trimaco Wonder Rags for lint-free wiping that doesn't fuzz a 2.5-inch trim line.
Best 5-in-1 Painter's Tools
Five painter's multi-tools tested across prep, cleanup, and roller-squeezing. Top pick: Allway SG1 Soft Grip 5-in-1, the one I keep in my back pocket.
Best Painter's Trousers for 2026
Painter's trousers tested on real repaint days for pockets, knees, and wash durability. Top pick: Stan Ray OG Painter Pant, plus a budget Dickies under 30 dollars.
Best Peel-and-Stick Paint Swatch Services
Six peel-and-stick paint sample services tested on real walls. Top pick: Samplize for two coats of real paint, 9-inch by 15-inch sheets, and overnight shipping.
Best Pole Sanders for Drywall Prep
Five pole sanders tested on real drywall seams, ceilings, and skim coat. Top pick: Marshalltown RPS9H radial sander for a swirl-free 9-inch finish.
Best Pro-Grade Paint Brushes for 2026
Six pro-grade paint brushes tested on walls, trim, cabinets, and rough siding. Top pick: Purdy Clearcut Elite Glide for the cleanest cut line a brush can lay.
Best Roller Trays and Liners
Five paint trays and liner systems tested across walls, ceilings, and cut-in work. Top pick: the Bercom HANDy Paint Tray for the hold-and-carry tray that doesn't spill.