Need To Paint A Tight Spot? Repurpose Your Old Makeup Brush

When it comes to DIY home updates, nothing freshens up a room quite like a new coat of paint. As straightforward as the process may be, it can be tough to get crisp, clean lines in corners, around window trim, or behind tricky fixtures. Standard paintbrushes are often too bulky, and foam brushes can lack the control you need in those narrow spaces. If you're painting your home and are getting frustrated with the tight spots, don't run to the store just yet to shell out a lot of money for new brushes. Odds are, the perfect tool is already sitting in your bathroom drawer. Enter: the humble makeup brush hack. 

Small, precise, and soft-bristled, your old eyeshadow brushes or angled eyeliner brushes are surprisingly perfect for those hard-to-reach painting spots. Even better, using what you already own saves money and cuts down on waste. Just give your brush a good clean before dipping it in paint, and you've got a free, no-fuss fix for those frustrating nooks and crannies. Whether you're touching up baseboards or trying to navigate behind your toilet tank, this unlikely swap is a DIYer's secret weapon. If you have other hard-to-reach spots in your home, try this handy tool that makes painting those spots so convenient. 

If you want to try this hack, first grab a small makeup brush — preferably one with firm, tapered bristles like an eyeshadow, concealer, or angled brow brush. Dip it into your paint and gently tap or glide it along edges, corners, or trim. You'll instantly notice the difference in control and precision, especially if you're working around outlets, light switches, or decorative molding. This hack is also a game-changer for repainting cabinets or flipping thrift finds. Alongside using a makeup brush to get those small spots, you can try out some of these five expert tips for taping a room before painting. 

To go the extra mile, try labeling old makeup brushes by color or finish if you're working with multiple shades (a dab of nail polish on the handle works great). This keeps your brushes organized and avoids messy mixups. Makeup brushes work for more than basic paint, too. You can use your makeup brushes to apply furniture polish, wax, chalk paint, or detailed grout sealing. Basically, if it's a job that requires finesse and needs to have a smooth finish, your retired beauty brushes are up for it. So before you toss that worn-out blending brush, think twice — it might just be your new favorite DIY tool. If you're having trouble with the rest of your wall, try the best way to get rid of brush strokes when painting.