Single-room painting kit

Multi-room painting kit

Making sustainable decisions when it comes to our range of tools was a #1 priority: roller frames with bamboo handles from a managed forest, sugarcane pulp paint trays, and eco-friendly packaging. 

The time has come, you’re finally redecorating. You’ve downed tools after a full day’s painting when it dawns on you: how am I \never\n going to clean these brushes? There are few things less appealing after a day of DIY than cleaning up the mess you’ve made. Fortunately, Lick’s \nwater-based paints\n aren’t just easier on the environment, they’re easier to clean full stop. Meaning you won’t be stuck standing over the kitchen sink.\n\nThat’s because all of our \ndecorating supplies\n are either compostable, biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable. Made from sustainably sourced bamboo, our \npaintbrushes\n and \nrollers\n are designed to have a long lifespan and be easily recyclable or biodegradable once you’re finished with them. As easy to reuse and recycle as they are to use, that’s the idea.

So, if you’re wondering how to clean your paintbrush or how to get your paint roller spotless, read on:\nHow to clean and care for your paint brush and roller\n\nStep 1.\n Remove larger amounts of paint from the brush or roller by scraping it against the inside of the tin. \n\nStep 2.\n Grab your marigolds and prepare some warm, (ideally eco) soapy water in a clean container – rather than in your sink directly).\n\nStep 3.\n Dip the paintbrush or roller into the water, working the soap through the brush’s bristles or roller. \n\nStep 4.\n Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. \n\nStep 5.\n Pat your brush and roller dry with a kitchen towel or clean, old cloth. Store until your next use.\nTop time-saving tip: \nthere’s no need to clean your brushes and rollers if you're using them the following day. Just wrap the bristles or roller head in clingfilm and seal with masking tape to prevent them from drying out. 

So, now you know how to clean your paint roller and brushes – no excuses. You don’t even have to wash out our \npaint trays\n! Just wait for them to dry until their next use.\nHow to store supplies and leftover paint\n\nOnce you’ve finished with your supplies, store them somewhere they won’t get too mucky. If you have any leftover paint use the plastic bung provided to secure the tin. If the metal screw cap has become clogged with paint, the plastic bung alone is enough to preserve it. Or if you fancy getting creative, take a look at some of our ideas for \nwhat to do with leftover paint\n. \n\nOne for wallpapering rather than painting? Why not take a look at Lick’s \nguide to decorating sustainably with wallpaper\n. We’ve got all the \nsupplies\n and know-how you need to hang it like a pro. \n\nSo, whether you’re painting or papering, happy decorating!

Want to do your bit for the planet while painting? Stay eco-friendly with our eco-friendly decorating tools from our newly launched range of \nLickPro Tools\n. Including brushes, trays, rollers, and more - you know, all that essential gear that makes painting possible.\n\nAll the products listed below are made entirely from sustainably sourced materials such as bamboo and sugarcane and are either compostable, biodegradable, reusable or recyclable. They are tools you'll be proud to work with. Plus, they're all super durable–because what's more sustainable than products that last?\n\nRead on for the full low-down:\nEco-friendly decorating tools: paint brushes \nMeet our brand new bamboo brushes, manufactured in Europe using sustainably farmed bamboo. Why bamboo? Well, it grows a couple of feet every day, and you never cut it at the root - which means no deforestation. To top it off, it keeps our air clean by producing up to 35% more oxygen than its alternatives.\n\nIt’s not all just bamboo though. The recycled natural bristles are designed for durability and precise painting, and all the metal used is recycled too.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: paint rollers\nWe've perfected every element of the humble roller, designed to make decorating easier. These \neco-friendly rollers\n have ergonomic handles for your comfort, recycled sleeves to streamline loading up, and quality frames for an effortlessly even finish everywhere.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: biodegradable dust sheet\nYou can’t paint without making a little mess along the way. Protect your floors, furniture and fave things with our biodegradable dust sheet. Not only is it resistant to spills and splodges, this sheet is also oxo-biodegradable. This means that it can be recycled, and if it isn’t recycled, it will biodegrade in landfill much faster than biodegradable sheets. These sheets only need oxygen to degrade, and will disappear to a safe microscopic level, even safe for marine environments. Good for your wallet, great for the environment.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: painters masking tape\nYep, you can even get masking tape that’s better for the environment. Our masking tape can be disposed of in your at-home recycling bin. For the cleanest, crispest edges, this tape will help you paint inside the lines. It won't damage your walls – just be sure to peel off when the paint is slightly wet to the touch for a perfect finish. Perfect for protecting those skirting boards from splatters. Learn \nhow to use masking tape when decorating\n.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: sugarcane pulp paint trays\nFrom farm to front room, our sugarcane \npaint tray\n has actually won an award or two. It’s made from organic sugarcane, a by-product of the food industry, and sourced from a collective in Thailand where they train local farmers to cultivate crops sustainably, creating seed banks for future generations. See why it won those awards?\n\nBonus: the tray is biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable, so you don’t even have to bother with washing it when you're finished. Add paint, use and dry, add more paint, use and dry, add more paint. And it'll stay just as strong after every use until you finally dispose of it, knowing the tray will decompose in no time at all.

But what about your paint and wallpaper? \nGood question. When you buy paint and wallpaper from Lick, we give a little back to try and minimise any environmental damage:\nFor every tin of Lick paint we sell, we’ll remove 18g of plastic from the ocean (the equivalent of 2 plastic bottles), thanks to our friends at \n4ocean\n. \nFor every roll of wallpaper sold, we’re partnering with the incredible \nOneTreePlanted\n to plant a tree.\nNot sure what to do with that leftover paint? Read our guide on \nhow to dispose of paint\n sustainably or even better, all the eco-friendly and creative things you can do with \nleftover paint\n! For more on our sustainability efforts, visit our all-new \nSustainability hub\n.

The secret to achieving a flawless finish for your paint job isn’t just in the technique; you need to arm yourself with the best tools if you want to paint walls that wow. \nFrom brushes to paint rollers, prepare yourself for a professional paint project by gathering the tools below.\nTools for the prep\n
Don’t underestimate the importance of careful prep for a flawless paint finish. Here’s what you need to get to prep like a pro: \nA sharp stripping knife. Painting on a surface with scraps of old wallpaper? Take it off carefully with a stripping knife, taking care to avoid the plaster.\nA piece of fine sandpaper to sand down any bumps or lumps. Make sure your painting surface is as smooth as possible before application. \nSoap, sponge, gloves and a bucket. Get your surfaces ready by sponging them down with a mixture of warm water and trusty soap. Greasy surfaces are no good for painting - a good washing up liquid can be particularly good. Rinse off the soap after cleaning, and leave to dry overnight before getting started. \nProtect skirting boards and switches from splodges by covering them with masking tape (discover \nhow to use painter's masking tape when decorating\n).\nWall filler and a filling knife to tackle any holes and gaps and create a smooth working surface.\nSand down any uneven bits with a piece of fine sandpaper. Prepare for things to get a little dusty with this tool so keep a hoover handy.  \nProtective \ndecorators dust sheets\n to save your flooring and furniture. Opt for canvas for ultimate protection. \nPrimer paint for a solid base and a more intense and longer-lasting finish. Make sure you give your coat of primer enough time to dry before applying any colour.\nA paint roller extension pole if you are painting a high ceiling and need some help reaching it.

(Tip: Using Lick paint? Save time and money by skipping the primer - our paint is designed to ensure you just need a few coats with no need for a primer on most surfaces.)\n

Tools for the application\n
All prepped and ready to go? Here’s what you need to get on with the application: \nA tin of Lick paint (okay, you can get any brand you like). \nPaintbrush. In the paintbrush vs. paint roller debate; we always say, get both. Brushes are much better for tackling edges and corners, as well as dealing with tricky areas such as behind radiators or around frames. \nPaint roller. Rollers are the best application tools for central surface areas. Trust us, you’ll save yourselves a lot of time by investing in a good paint roller rather than attempting an entire room with a brush.  \nSafety glasses and mask. Protect yourself from fumes and dust by getting your painting gear on. Oh, and we would also recommend putting on your least favourite clothes for the task. 

Once you’ve gathered all the above, you’re ready to go. Take a deep breath and reach for that brush. It’s time to start the \npainting process\n...\n

We’re all about eco – eco \npaint\n, eco \ndecorating tools\n, and eco-initiatives. Long gone are the days where sustainability was just a bit of a buzzword; brands all over the world are waking up to the fact that it’s a must-have, and in the world of decorating supplies, it means way more than a line of water-based paint (though it’s a good place to start). So here it is, an eco lowdown on what’s going on in the world of Lick.\nFirst up, facts, figures and setting the sustainable scene\n2020 wasn’t all doom and gloom you know. Searches for the term ‘sustainable brands’ reached its highest peak in five years – if that’s not a beacon of hope and a sign of positive change then we don’t know what is. 32% of adults in Britain state that sustainability now plays a part in deciding what products they buy and which brands they shop from. Half of the adults in the UK have already taken action whether that’s buying less plastic or swapping to speedy showers.

\nHere at Lick, we’ve wanted in on the eco-conscious action from day one. In fact, we’ve made it our mission to influence the global interiors industry’s environmental footprint for the better. To shake it up and to cause a stir, starting with our audit and \nsustainability report \nwhich you can find on our \nSustainability Hub\n.

In the words of our CEO and co-founder Lucas: “We are living in unprecedented times. Deforestation, ‘forever chemicals’, and greenhouse gasses – there’s no denying that the global decor industry is responsible for some damaging effects on the planet – and now we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic. We want to provide stylish interiors without compromising on sustainability, so we bring the decor department to the doors of our consumers, without it costing the earth. From sustainable sourcing and manufacturing to carbon-conscious distribution channels and support of charities that create change, at Lick we are more than just committed to reducing our environmental impact: it is at the forefront of what we do.”\n“At Lick we are more than just committed to reducing our environmental impact: it is at the forefront of what we do.”\nLow VOC paint – say what?\nVolatile Organic Compounds – you can see why they’re referred to as VOCs for short. Aside from choosing \nwater-based paint\n, those with low VOC levels are the next eco box to tick. The fundamental reason \nwhy you should use low VOC paint\n is that it’ll contain fewer harmful substances. VOC solvents create paints that take longer to dry. They’re easier to work with, but their environmental disadvantages far outweigh their plus points. 

Sustainable decorating supplies as standard\nWhen our founders Sam and Lucas set out to create Lick, they were starting from scratch, so why wouldn’t they try to put their best foot forward from the offset? That’s why our line of \ndecorating tools\n is anything but a quick ‘off-the-shelf’ job. Far from it, we work with the first B-corp supplier in Europe.\n\nThat means whatever you pick out from our supplies section will have been manufactured to the highest environmental standards using sustainably sourced bamboo and sugarcane. Everything is either compostable, biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable because we recognise that we could make a difference not just through our paints. \n\nPsst…bedtime \nreading for the eco-conscious decorator right this way\n.

Why go at it alone? Meet our eco initiative partners\nThere are so many completely fantastic organisations out there who put all of their focus and energy into doing right by the planet. We figured, we could do more if we listened and learnt from them to bolster our own efforts. \n\nRight now, we, and everyone in the Lick community is supporting the work done by two environmentally conscious campaign groups in particular – \nOne Tree Planted\n and \n4ocean\n. \n\n“Sustainability has been a key focus for Lick since we launched, which is why we work with 4ocean & One Tree Planted to remove plastic and plant trees each time our products are purchased,” explains Lucas. “We wanted to have a positive impact on our environment and be transparent with our decorating community about the products they use and the supply chains we use, so we created our \nSustainability hub\n on our website, which includes a detailed audit.”\n\n“We wanted to have a positive impact on our environment and be transparent with our decorating community about the products they use.”\n\nOne Tree Planted brings our \nwallpaper\n and blinds collections into the game, because for every roll of wallpaper or every set of blinds we sell they make sure a tree is planted in return. That's right - you can help \nplant a tree with every wallpaper or blind purchase\n. So far, we’ve got 1,666 trees in the ground – that’s roughly 23.5 football pitches – and 26 tonnes of carbon removed from the earth’s atmosphere.\n\n4ocean goes back to the liquid side of Lick, with a pledge to remove 18g of plastic (two plastic bottles to give you a gauge) for every 2.5 litre tin of \neco-friendly paint\n we sell. Read more about \nour pledge to remove plastic from the ocean with each paint purchase\n. Already our customers have helped shift over five tonnes of plastic from the world’s seas and oceans – that’s just shy of 51,000 plastic bottles. \n\nAnd this is just the beginning…

Ready to get decorating? We worked with professional decorators of all shapes and sizes to build kits that get you painting straight away. Planet-friendly and protective painting equipment that tick all the right boxes.

Room painting kits

All tools

For brushing

For rolling

Rollers & trays

Single room painting kit

Multi-room painting kit

Tools with a difference

You might also like

Shop paint

Sample boxes

Exterior paint

Shop wallpaper

Wallpaper samples

Getting started

How to clean and care for your paintbrush and roller

5 decorating tools for the eco-conscious decorator

Tools you need to paint a room

Decorate sustainably with Lick's eco paint, wallpaper and tools