How to Prepare Your Home for Interior Painting
Before an interior paint job, clear small items off surfaces, take down wall hangings, and make a path to each room. Your painting crew should handle moving and covering furniture, protecting floors, and all the surface prep.
What to do before the crew arrives
- Take down photos, art, mirrors, and curtains in the rooms being painted
- Clear countertops, shelves, dressers, and nightstands
- Unplug and move small electronics; coil cords out of the way
- Move fragile or valuable items to a room that isn’t being painted
- Make sure the crew can park and reach an entrance
- Plan for pets — a closed room or a day away is easiest for everyone
What the painters should handle
- Moving larger furniture to the center of the room and covering it
- Covering floors with drop cloths or paper
- Removing outlet and switch covers
- Filling nail holes and dents, sanding rough spots
- Caulking gaps along trim and baseboards
- Spot-priming patched areas and any bare surfaces
- Masking trim, windows, and fixtures
- Cleaning up at the end of each day
Choosing colors and sheen
Test colors on the actual wall, in a two-foot square, and look at them in daylight and at night. For sheen, flat or matte suits ceilings and low-traffic walls, eggshell or satin works for living areas and hallways, and semi-gloss holds up on trim, doors, kitchens, and bathrooms. A good painter will talk this through with you during the estimate. See our paint sheen guide.
During the job
You don’t need to be home the whole time. Many homeowners give the crew access and check in by phone. Expect a walkthrough at the end so you can point out anything to touch up before the job is called done.
Common questions
Do I need to move all my furniture?
No. Move small and fragile items yourself; the crew moves and covers larger furniture. Very heavy or delicate pieces are worth discussing ahead of time.
How long will a room be out of use?
Usually a day or two per room, depending on prep and how many coats. Your painter should give you a timeline with the estimate.
Can you paint while I’m living in the house?
Yes. Crews work room by room so you keep use of the rest of the home. There is a short window while a room dries.
Should I wash the walls first?
You don’t need to. The crew cleans surfaces as part of prep, and does a deeper clean in kitchens where there may be grease.
Do you paint ceilings and trim too?
That depends on the scope you agree to. Make sure the estimate says clearly whether ceilings, trim, doors, and closets are included.
Planning an interior repaint?
Wilmar’s Painting handles the prep, the protection, and the cleanup. Get a free estimate for your Oakland or East Bay home.