How to Prepare Your Home for Interior Painting

The secret to a long-lasting, professional-looking interior paint job is preparation. Professional painters spend as much time — sometimes more — preparing surfaces as they do actually painting. Here is what you can do before your painting crew arrives to help the process go smoothly.

First, remove all wall decorations, pictures, and mirrors. Take down curtain rods and blinds if possible. Move small furniture and fragile items to another room or to the center of the room. Your painting crew will move large furniture and cover everything with drop cloths, but the more you clear out, the faster and cleaner the job goes.

Patch any nail holes, scuffs, or small dents you are aware of before the painters come. While professional painters do surface prep as part of the job, addressing obvious damage beforehand means your crew can focus on a smooth, even surface rather than hunting for every imperfection.

Clean your walls if they are greasy or dirty — especially in kitchens and near doorways. Paint does not bond well to dirty surfaces, and cleaning beforehand avoids having to do it the day of the job. A simple wipe-down with a damp cloth and mild detergent works well.

Discuss paint colors with your contractor in advance so there are no delays on the first day. If you are using multiple colors, label which color goes in which room to avoid any confusion. At PA Painting, we confirm all color selections before the project begins so nothing gets lost in translation.