Miniature Painting Accessories: Your First Painting Set Guide

If you thought that you just need paint and a brush to start painting minis… You’re not totally wrong. But there’re a few things you should know — and have — if you want to elevate your painting to the next level. We’re talking about miniature painting accessories. For beginners, the real challenge is understanding what is actually necessary to begin painting miniatures with confidence. A well-thought-out miniature painting set does not need to be complex or overwhelming. It simply needs to cover the essentials and allow room to grow.

This guide was created to help beginners who feel lost when assembling their first miniature art kit. The goal is not to push brands or advanced techniques, but to explain which materials are truly important at the beginning, how they are used, and why they matter.

Shall we?

Essential Paints for Any Miniature Art Kit

Paints are the foundation of every miniature painting set, and acrylic matte paints are the best choice for beginners. They are easy to control, dry quickly, and allow corrections without damaging the miniature. A solid starter selection includes neutral colors like white, black, off-white, and beige, as well as primary and secondary tones such as yellow, red, blue, green, orange, and purple. Skin tones, pinks, and a range of browns are equally important, as they appear frequently in characters, creatures, and terrain pieces.

If you’re not there yet with techniques of light and shade, metallic acrylic paints are another key component of miniature painting accessories, especially gold. Metallics are commonly used for armor, weapons, ornaments, and details that bring visual contrast to a model. With a limited but versatile color palette, beginners can already mix countless variations and learn fundamental color theory through practice.

Primers and Varnishes: Preparing and Protecting Your Miniatures

Priming is one of the most overlooked steps for beginners, yet it is essential. A good primer allows paint to adhere properly to plastic, resin, or metal miniatures. White primers are generally easier for beginners, as they enhance color brightness and visibility, while black primers are useful for darker schemes and high-contrast techniques. If you want a deeper comparison, we have a complete guide on the best primer for miniatures that explains when and why to choose each option.

And once painting is complete, varnishing protects your work. Acrylic matte varnish helps seal the paint and prevent wear from handling, while a matte spray varnish unifies the finish and removes unwanted shine. These products are core miniature painting accessories that ensure your painted miniatures last over time.

Brushes are the Core Tools for a Miniature Painting Set

You do not need a large brush collection to start. A beginner-friendly miniature painting set includes round brushes in sizes 0,2, and 4, which cover most painting tasks from details to base coats. 

Brush choice is a deep topic on its own. The best brushes for miniature painting actually depend on what is the use for them. A medium, soft flat brush, for example, is ideal for dry brushing, a technique often used to highlight textures quickly. Keeping a few inexpensive brushes for mixing paint, applying glue, or rough work will protect your better brushes from damage. 

Basically, you want three types of brushes to start: a precision brush for details, a durable one to mix paint, base coat your minis and so on, and a drybrushing brush, for highlights.

The Rosemary & Co. Series 33 (Size 2) brush is typically seen as a high-performance, slightly more affordable brush to start. They have a fantastic point and great flow. 

For your “beater” brushes, you have a few options: The Citadel Medium Base Brush; The Army Painter Hobby; Da Vinci Nova Series 1570, if you want a “premium” synthetic; and a Golden Maple Detail Brush Set, your bulk-buy option. 

You’ll use them for tasks you know will kill a brush—mixing, applying texture paste, etc.

And, finally, your dedicated drybrushing brush can be simply… Make up brushes. Yes. They’re cheap, dome-shaped, and soft. Perfect for the job. Unless you want to buy an expensive drybrushing brush… Then you could get an Artis Opus Series D, or The Army Painter drybrush set.

Workspace Setup and Lighting for Miniature Painting

Now you have your master tool for painting minis, let’s talk about lightning! 

Good lighting is one of the most underrated miniature painting accessories. A proper desk lamp with a reflector or diffuser and a LED bulb between 3500k and 4500k improves color accuracy and reduces eye strain. This setup makes details easier to see and helps beginners paint more confidently.

Assembly, Preparation, and Model Types

Preparation and assembly materials depend on the type of miniature you are painting. Plastic miniatures often require medium-viscosity superglue, epoxy putty for gap filling, and liquid cement when available (but to be honest, this one is hard to get). Metal and resin miniatures benefit from pinning for durability, using a manual pin vise, micro drill bits, and simple paper clips as pins. We used them for precise drilling of pilot holes for pinning, adding details, or general modification on plastic, resin, or metal models where power drills are too aggressive. 

Don’t Forget the Wet Palette! 

What is a wet palette? Glad you asked.

It is essentially a container that helps keep your acrylic paints moist and workable for longer periods. It’s made up of a shallow tray, a layer of absorbent paper, and a damp sponge underneath that keeps everything hydrated. The idea is simple: instead of your paint drying out on a traditional palette in minutes, it stays fresh and usable for hours or even days.

The main job of a wet palette is to keep paints fresh, but there are a few tricks to make sure it works properly:

• Don’t over-saturate the sponge with water—just enough to keep the paper moist, not soaking;
• Store your wet palette in an airtight container when not in use;
• Refresh the paper and sponge regularly, especially if you notice smells or discoloration.

Recommended Accessories, Maintenance, and Next Steps

As beginners progress, recommended tools like a wet palette significantly improve paint consistency and reduce waste. Brush maintenance using gentle soap or glycerin extends brush lifespan and keeps tips sharp. These elements elevate a basic miniature art kit into a more efficient and enjoyable setup.

Some painters eventually explore airbrushes for smoother base coats and effects. This step requires additional miniature painting accessories, including flow improvers, cleaning tools, and specialized primers. 

Finally, basing materials such as PVA glue, sand, cork, moss, and small stones allow you to finish your miniatures with immersive environments, adding narrative and visual depth.

Final Thoughts

Building your first miniature painting set is not about having everything at once. It is about understanding your tools, learning how they work together, and expanding naturally as your skills grow. With the right miniature painting accessories, beginners can focus less on confusion and more on creativity.

We believe that miniature painting should feel accessible, rewarding, and fun from the very first brushstroke. With a solid foundation and clear guidance, every painter can transform a simple miniature into something truly personal and special.

Loot Studios can help you paint highly detailed miniatures. Choose your favorite bundle from our previous releases or sign up for Fantasy or Sci-Fi to receive a new bundle every month. You can also check out some tips on our YouTube Channel.