Repainting the inside of a home sounds simple until you try to fit it around school runs, work, pets and meals.
Suddenly the bedrooms are out of action, the hallway smells of paint and nobody can find the kettle. A bit of planning makes the whole process far calmer.
This guide covers how to prepare, how to keep the house liveable while the work is done, and which choices make the finish last with kids around.
For homes in Perth, Pro Painting Works is a family-owned painting business based in Stirling that works across the city’s western and northern coastal suburbs. Its interior team works room by room where possible, which is the approach this article suggests for any family home.
Start with a room list
Walk through the house with a notepad. Write down every room you want painted and what is included in each one.
Think about walls, ceilings, doors, skirtings and window frames. Note any extras, such as built-in robes, a feature wall or kitchen cabinetry.
Then add a line for how each room is used. Is it a bedroom someone sleeps in every night? A study that is needed for work? A room that can sit empty for a few days?
This list becomes the plan for everything else. It also helps any painter give you a clear written quote.
Work in stages
Painting a whole house at once is quick, but it can leave a family with nowhere to sit.
Staging the job room by room keeps part of the home usable at all times. A typical order looks like this:
- Spare rooms and studies first, while everyone carries on as normal
- Bedrooms next, one or two at a time, with the kids bunking in together for a night or two
- Living areas once there are fresh bedrooms to retreat to
- Hallways and entries last, since everyone walks through them
As a guide, Pro Painting Works says a three or four bedroom home usually takes three to five days for walls and ceilings. Doors, trims and cabinetry add time. Knowing the rough length helps you plan meals, sleepovers and pet care.
Pick your timing
School holidays are popular for painting because families can go away. That also makes them busy for painters, so book early if you want those dates.
Some families prefer the opposite. Booking during term time means the kids are at school for most of the working day.
Either way, think about the weather. Cooler, drier months make it easier to keep windows open and let rooms air out.
Protect what matters
Before the painters arrive, clear small items off shelves and benches. Pack away photos, ornaments and anything fragile.
Large furniture can usually be moved to the centre of a room and covered. Good painters lay drop sheets over floors and furniture and mask fittings, then tidy up at the end of each day.
Take down curtains and blinds if you can. Unplug electronics near the walls and keep cords out of the way.
Have a quick chat with the kids about wet paint. Little hands love to test it.
Choose low-odour paint where it helps
Paint smell bothers some people more than others. Newborns, people with sensitivities and anyone who works from home may notice it most.
Many paint ranges now come in low-odour and low-VOC versions. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, the chemicals that give off that strong fresh-paint smell. Pro Painting Works offers these ranges and suggests requesting them at quote stage.
Ventilation still matters. Open windows where you can and keep doors to freshly painted rooms closed until they have aired.
Match the finish to the wear
Family homes take a beating. Scuffs from school bags, fingerprints on door frames and scribbles on walls are all part of daily life.
Washable finishes are made for this. They are a sensible choice in hallways, children’s rooms and other high-contact areas, because marks can be wiped off without damaging the paint.
Bathrooms and laundries need mould-resistant products. Steam from showers and drying clothes can lead to mould on ordinary paint, so the right product makes a big difference.
Ceilings often look best in a flat finish, which helps hide small imperfections.
Check older homes for lead
If your home was built before 1970, there is a chance some of the old paint contains lead.
Lead dust is a particular risk for babies, young children and pregnant women. Healthdirect lists house paint in older homes as a known source of lead exposure in Australia and suggests testing paint before it is disturbed.
Sanding and scraping old paint can release dust, so mention the age of your home when you get quotes. Ask how the painter plans to handle older paint.
Colour choices with kids in mind
Children often want bold colours in their rooms. That can be fun, but their tastes change quickly.
One option is to keep the main walls in a calm, easy colour and add a single feature wall in their favourite shade. When they outgrow it, only one wall needs repainting.
Always test colours before you commit. Brush sample patches onto the actual walls and look at them over a day or two. Colours can look very different between morning and afternoon light.
Some colour changes need an extra coat, especially going from dark to light. It is worth knowing this at quote stage so the timing and cost are clear.
Keep the household running
A few small steps make painting week far easier:
- Set up a simple kitchen corner in a room that is not being painted
- Keep a bag of everyday items for each child, so nobody hunts for school shoes in a covered pile
- Put pets in a quiet area away from open doors and wet surfaces
- Plan easy meals for the busiest days
Talk to your painter about start and finish times. Some jobs can start early or run on Saturdays, which may suit your routine better.
After the painters leave
Fresh paint feels dry quickly but takes longer to cure fully. Be gentle with walls for the first couple of weeks.
Avoid scrubbing, and hold off on hanging heavy pictures until the surface has hardened. Put furniture back carefully so it does not rub against new paint.
Keep a note of the colour names and finishes used in each room. Store a small amount of leftover paint, clearly labelled, for future touch-ups.
A simple plan to follow
Make your room list. Decide the order. Book your dates early, ask for low-odour products if they matter to your household, and choose washable finishes for the busiest spaces.
With those steps in place, a repaint becomes a few manageable days instead of a week of chaos.