How to Prepare Your Home for Interior Painting

Proper preparation is key to a successful painting project. While professional painters handle most of the work, there are several steps homeowners can take to ensure a smooth, efficient process.

One Week Before Painting

Remove Wall Decorations

Take down all pictures, mirrors, shelves, and wall hangings. Remove nails or fill holes if you won't be rehanging items in the same spots. This prevents damage and gives painters complete access to walls.

Clear Small Items

Remove small furniture pieces, lamps, plants, and decorative items from the rooms being painted. Store these safely in another room or garage.

Protect Valuables

Move valuable or fragile items out of the work area entirely. While painters will protect your belongings, it's safer to relocate irreplaceable items.

Day Before Painting

Move Furniture

Professional painters will move larger furniture away from walls, but clearing what you can helps speed up the process. If you have extremely heavy or delicate items, let your painters know in advance.

Secure Pets

Plan to keep pets in a separate area or arrange alternative care during painting. Open doors, paint fumes (even low-VOC), and strangers can stress pets and slow down work.

Clear Access Paths

Ensure painters can easily access the work area, bathrooms, and water sources. Clear hallways, stairs, and doorways of obstacles.

What Painters Will Handle

At Five Star Painting, we take care of:

• Moving large furniture to room centers
• Protecting floors with drop cloths
• Covering furniture with plastic sheeting
• Taping off trim, fixtures, and hardware
• All surface preparation (cleaning, sanding, repairs)
• Complete cleanup and furniture replacement

What About Outlet Covers and Light Switches?

We remove and reinstall all outlet covers, switch plates, and similar hardware. You don't need to do anything!

Special Considerations

Children's Rooms

If painting a child's room, plan sleeping arrangements elsewhere during and immediately after painting. Even with low-VOC paints, it's best to let paint cure for 24 hours before children sleep in the room.

Kitchen Painting

Clear countertops and remove items from cabinets if we're painting those. You'll have access to your kitchen, but coordinate with painters about timing for meal preparation.

Bathroom Painting

Remove toiletries, shower curtains, and bath mats. We can work around fixtures, but clear counters speed up the process.

Communication is Key

If you have questions about what to move or how to prepare, just ask! We're happy to walk you through the process during your estimate appointment. Our goal is to make your painting project as stress-free as possible.

Ready to transform your space? Contact Five Star Painting at (732) 387-3700 for your free estimate!