How to Prepare Your Home Before the Painters Arrive

Having your home professionally painted should feel exciting, not overwhelming. A little preparation before your painters arrive can make the process smoother, protect the things you care about and help the work progress efficiently.

You do not need to completely empty your home or prepare the walls yourself. A professional painter will handle the surface preparation and protect the areas being worked in. However, clearing smaller belongings and making a few decisions beforehand gives the painters room to work carefully and helps prevent unnecessary delays.

Here is how to prepare your home before an interior painting project begins:

Confirm Your Colours and Paint Finishes

Ideally, your paint colours and finishes should be confirmed before the starting date.

Choosing a colour from a small card can be difficult because paint changes with natural light, artificial lighting, flooring and surrounding finishes. If you are still deciding, test samples on more than one wall and look at them at different times of day.

You will also need to consider the appropriate finish for each surface. Low-sheen paint is a practical choice for many interior walls, while doors, frames and skirting boards generally require a harder-wearing enamel finish. Bathrooms and other moisture-prone areas may need a more washable, moisture-resistant product.

At Hearth Painting, we can provide practical colour guidance based on your home’s light, existing finishes and the way each room is used.

Remove Small and Fragile Items

Before the painters arrive, remove smaller belongings from the rooms being painted. This may include:

• ornaments and decorative objects

• lamps and small furniture

• photographs and artwork

• valuables and sentimental items

• books and items from open shelving

• toiletries from bathrooms

• small appliances from kitchen benches

  
  

You do not need to clear every large item from the house. Larger furniture can often be moved towards the centre of the room and carefully covered, although this should be confirmed with your painter when the work is arranged.

Fragile, valuable or especially heavy items may require separate planning. If something cannot be moved, let your painter know before the project begins.

Take Down Wall Hangings

Remove artwork, mirrors, clocks and other wall-mounted decorations from the areas being painted.

If you intend to put everything back in exactly the same position, some hooks may be able to remain. If you would prefer a clean wall or plan to rearrange the room afterwards, ask for unwanted holes to be filled.

It helps to decide this before preparation begins. Once holes have been filled, sanded and painted, their original positions may no longer be visible.

Mounted televisions, shelving and other fixed items should also be discussed in advance. Depending on the scope of work, they may need to be removed so the wall can be painted properly behind them.

Clear Windowsills, Cupboards and Benches

Clear windowsills and move belongings away from areas that need to be painted.

If the project includes wardrobe interiors, cupboards or shelving, these spaces will usually need to be emptied completely. If only the cupboard doors or exterior surfaces are being painted, ask your painter how much access is required.

Curtains may need to be taken down, while blinds can sometimes remain in place and be carefully protected. This will depend on the window, the type of covering and whether the frames are included in the work.

Make Room Around the Walls

Painters need enough space to prepare surfaces, position ladders and move safely through each room.

Where possible, move furniture away from the walls before work begins. Smaller pieces can be relocated to another room, while larger pieces may be moved into the centre and protected with appropriate coverings.

Do not strain yourself attempting to move something heavy. Discuss large furniture, pianos, display cabinets or delicate pieces with your painter beforehand so a safe plan can be made.

Leave Wall Preparation to the Painter

Homeowners sometimes assume they should fill holes, sand walls or apply primer before the painter arrives. Unless this has been specifically agreed, it is usually better to leave surface preparation to the professional completing the work.

Different cracks, stains and surfaces require different treatments. Using the wrong filler or painting over an unresolved moisture problem can affect the final result.

Professional preparation may include:

• cleaning affected surfaces

• scraping loose or flaking paint

• filling holes and minor cracks

• sanding rough or repaired areas

• sealing water, smoke or other stains

• priming bare or repaired surfaces

• applying specialised products where required

  
  

If you know about previous leaks, recurring cracks, mould, rust or peeling paint, mention these during the quote. Paint can improve and protect a properly prepared surface, but the source of active water or structural movement may need to be repaired first.

Plan for Children and Pets

Painting equipment, open doors and unfamiliar activity can be unsettling for pets and young children.

Keep pets safely away from the work area and let the painters know that animals are present. Cats and dogs may need to remain in a secure room or stay elsewhere, particularly while exterior doors are being opened or moved around.

Children should also be kept clear of ladders, equipment and freshly painted surfaces. If your family will remain at home during the project, ask which rooms will be worked on first so you can plan around them.

Arrange Access to Your Home

Confirm how the painters will enter the property and whether someone needs to be home.

If you will be away, make arrangements for keys, gates, alarms and any access instructions. Let your painter know about parking restrictions, security systems or areas that should remain locked.

Clear access is also needed to the rooms being painted, along with suitable access to water and electricity. If there are any household routines or time restrictions the painters should know about, discuss them before the first day.

Expect Some Noise, Dust and Paint Odour

Careful sanding and modern equipment can reduce dust, but surface preparation will still create some disruption. There may also be noise from sanding equipment and a temporary paint smell while products dry. If anyone in the home is particularly sensitive to dust or odour, mention this when arranging the work. Lower-odour and low-VOC paint options may be available, depending on the surface and the performance required. Opening windows where practical can improve ventilation, but drying conditions also depend on the weather, temperature and product being used. Your painter will advise when rooms can be safely used again.

Decide How the Project Will Work Around Your Household

A single room is usually straightforward, but a complete interior repaints benefits from a clear sequence.

Your painter may work through the home room by room or complete ceilings, walls and woodwork in planned stages. Ask where the work will begin, which spaces need to remain clear and when each room is expected to return to use. If possible, avoid scheduling furniture deliveries, flooring installation or other trades in the same area while painting is underway. Giving each trade sufficient room reduces the risk of damage and helps the project move more smoothly.

A Simple Checklist Before Painting Begins

Before your painters arrive:

• confirm your colours and paint finishes

• remove small, fragile and valuable belongings

• take down artwork, mirrors and decorations

• decide which unwanted hooks and holes should be filled

• clear windowsills, benches and included cupboards

• move smaller furniture away from the walls

• discuss large or difficult furniture in advance

• advise the painter of leaks, stains, mould or recurring cracks

• arrange a safe space for pets and children

• confirm access, parking and security instructions

• let the painter know about sensitivities to dust or odour

• keep the work areas clear for the agreed starting date

  
  

Thoughtful Preparation, Beautiful Results

Preparing your home does not mean doing the painter’s job for them. It simply means clearing the space, protecting personal belongings and making important decisions before work begins.

A considerate painter should explain what needs to be moved, how your home will be protected and what to expect throughout the project. At Hearth Painting, we approach every home carefully, with thorough surface preparation, clean workmanship and respect for the spaces around us.

If you are planning an interior repaint in Mandurah or the Peel region, contact Hearth Painting to arrange a free quote and discuss what your home needs.

Call for a Free quote today: 0429 520 078

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