The Handy Tool That Makes Painting Hard-To-Reach Places So Convenient

When you get ready to spruce up your home by painting a wall, you may think you're all set with a standard roller and extendable pole. Surely with a long enough pole and maybe a step ladder, you shouldn't have to worry about painting any awkward spaces like corners, above and below molding, and other trim, right? Sadly, painting these hard-to-reach spots with enough coverage and precision is actually quite challenging, and your basic paint kit isn't going to be enough. A regular, large roller is great for spreading paint efficiently over huge swaths of wall, but isn't the best roller for every paint project, especially when it comes to tight spaces and detail work. You may find yourself carefully pushing the roller up just below the trim of the ceiling or crown molding, only to find it's become splotched with paint in the process. 

Luckily, the solution is simple and affordable. One tip for painting corners and edges in your home is to use a curved paint roller, according to professional designer Joan Gair of House Tastic (via Livingetc). Gair says, "If you're making a mess where your walls and ceilings meet, or around moulding, door and window frames, you may want to consider investing in a curved roller." 

Curved paint rollers should be available at any home improvement store, or you can order one online like this 3-piece Corner Paint Roller set. They work a bit like a pizza cutter, with a fabric-covered, rotating, and slim-profiled wheel. These can work in small spaces for details, the corners of walls, and other difficult-to-reach spaces. Joan Gair says using them is easy, instructing, "Simply remove the excess paint from your curved roller, and lightly roll over any areas that are causing you trouble." Though buying a separate tool for detail work might seem like it will make the painting process take longer, this isn't the case. Not only will you save time by getting the work done quickly and efficiently, you won't have to correct the spots where your paint rolling may have gotten a little over-enthusiastic, helping you to paint like a professional. 

If the short handle that comes with some corner paint rollers isn't long enough for you to reach all of the necessary spots, you can just buy a paint roller extension pole, like this 1.4 to 3 foot roller extender. Many use universal threading sizes to fit most brush handles, and are sure to come in handy in any paint projects to come.