Repainting the inside of a house sounds like a job that turns family life upside down. Furniture gets moved, rooms close and the smell of paint seems to follow you around.
With some planning, most households can stay at home through the whole job. The trick is to work through the house in a sensible order and prepare each space before the painters arrive.
Perth City Painters is a Perth painting business that has completed interior projects across the metropolitan area since 2010. It works room by room, so homeowners do not need to move out while the job is done.
This guide covers how to plan an interior repaint around daily life, from deciding which rooms come first to getting the house back in order.
Decide which rooms really need painting
Not every room wears at the same rate. Perth City Painters notes that bedrooms and low traffic rooms typically need repainting every ten to fifteen years. Hallways, kitchens and living areas often need it sooner.
Walk through the house and look at each room in daylight. Check for scuffs, marks around light switches, cracks near door frames and fading on sunny walls.
You may find that only half the house needs work right now. That makes the job smaller and easier to live with.
Work out the order
Once you know which rooms are on the list, think about the order. A good plan keeps the parts of the house you use most available for as long as possible.
Many people start with spare rooms, studies and hallways. Bedrooms often come next, one at a time, so everyone still has somewhere to sleep. Kitchens and main living areas tend to go last, or are done in a short, focused block.
The company says a single room is usually one to two days. That gives you a rough idea of how long each part of the house will be out of action.
Set up a temporary living space
While a room is being painted, its contents need somewhere to go. Choose a room that is not on the list for the first stage and use it as a holding area.
Some practical ideas:
- Set up a spare bed or mattress in a room that will be painted later.
- Move everyday clothes into a basket so you are not hunting through covered wardrobes.
- Keep a small kit of kitchen basics in another room if the kitchen is being painted.
- Pick a spot for pets that is well away from wet paint and open doors.
Perth City Painters says its team moves and covers furniture before work starts and returns it to its original position afterwards. Ask any painter how they handle this, so you know what you need to do yourself.
Clear the small things first
Large furniture can be moved into the centre of a room and covered. Small items are a different story.
Take down pictures, mirrors, clocks and curtains before the painters arrive. Pack away ornaments, books and anything fragile. Label the hooks or take a photo of each wall so you can hang things back in the same place.
Empty the tops of shelves and cupboards. Painters need clear access to walls, skirting boards and door frames.
Think about fresh air and comfort
Fresh paint has a smell, even with modern products. Good airflow helps it fade faster.
Perth City Painters says its interiors are finished in low VOC products throughout. Even so, open windows where you can and keep doors to the painted room closed at night if the smell bothers you.
People with asthma or other breathing concerns may want to spend more time in rooms that are not being painted. If you have health concerns, talk to your doctor before the job starts.
Take care in older homes
If your house was built many years ago, there may be old layers of paint under the newer coats. The Australian Government’s guide to lead in house paint notes that houses built before 1970 may contain paint with high levels of lead.
The guide lists doors, skirting boards, window frames and cupboards among the places lead paint is often found. It also warns against dry sanding or scraping this paint. Mention the age of your home to your painter so they can plan the preparation to suit.
Keep children and pets out of the way
Wet paint, ladders and open tins do not mix well with small children or curious pets. Plan each day so they are kept well clear of the room being worked on.
A simple sign on the door can help. So can a quick chat with the painters each morning about which rooms are being used that day.
Plan around your weekly routine
Look at your calendar before you book the job. Avoid weeks with birthdays, visitors staying or big work deadlines at home.
If you work from home, choose a room for your desk that will be painted last, or ask for that room to be done on a day you are out. Let the painters know your daily routine, such as school drop off times, so they can work around it where possible.
Ask the right questions before you book
A few clear questions up front make the job easier to live with.
- How many rooms will be worked on at once?
- Who moves the furniture, and what should be cleared beforehand?
- What products will be used, and how long should each room be left before using it?
- How will floors and fittings be protected?
- What does the quote include, and is there a written guarantee?
Perth City Painters says every quote is fixed price and itemised, and that each job comes with a written 10 year workmanship guarantee.
Getting the house back to normal
Once each room is finished, give it a little time before you move everything back in. Walls can mark easily while the paint is still fresh, so take care with furniture against the walls for the first few days.
Rehang pictures and curtains using your photos as a guide. Keep a note of the colours and products used in each room, along with the date. It will help with touch ups and with planning the next repaint.
Then enjoy a home that looks fresh, without ever having had to move out to get it.