How to Prep Your Home for a Stress-Free Painting Project

Set Your Project Up for Success

A fresh coat of paint can completely transform your home, but the process starts long before the brushes come out. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is underestimating the importance of preparation. The truth is, the smoother your prep, the smoother the final result—especially when getting your house for painters.

Knowing how to prepare your house for painters can save you time, protect your belongings, and make your painters’ job easier. Whether you’re having your interiors updated or refreshing the exterior, there are a few practical steps you should take before the crew shows up.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get your home ready for a professional painting job—without the stress.

Clear the Work Areas

Giving your painters enough room to move freely is the first step to a successful project. It may seem like common sense, but clearing the work area is one of the most overlooked prep steps—and skipping it can slow things down or cause accidental damage.

To help the crew work efficiently and safely, remove or reposition anything that’s in the way.

Common items to remove or relocate:

Take time to move these out of the painting zone, or cover them if they must stay:

• Wall art, mirrors, and clocks
• Window treatments like curtains or blinds (unless painters agreed to remove them)
• Electronics and cords near baseboards
• Plants, lamps, and decorative items on shelves or built-ins

For large furniture like sofas, beds, or entertainment centers, cover them with drop cloths or plastic sheeting. Some pros handle this for you, but always confirm during your walkthrough.

If time is tight, you can clear one room at a time, starting with the areas being painted first. Use a spare bedroom or garage as a holding space to keep things organized.

Prep the Walls and Surfaces

Clean, smooth walls are the foundation of a long-lasting, professional-looking paint job. While many painters include basic prep in their services, some steps—like cleaning or patching small dings—might fall to the homeowner.

Before the crew arrives, inspect your walls and take care of the following where needed.

How to get your walls paint-ready:

These simple tasks will make a noticeable difference in the final finish:

• Dust and clean the walls: Use a microfiber cloth or vacuum attachment to remove surface debris. In kitchens and bathrooms, wipe down walls with a mild soap solution to eliminate grease or moisture.
• Patch holes and dings: Use lightweight spackle to fill nail holes, small dents, or popped nails. Once dry, sand smooth. Some contractors include this, so ask what’s covered.
• Look for peeling paint or mildew: Older paint jobs or high-humidity areas may show peeling or mildew. These need to be addressed before new paint is applied.

Even small imperfections can affect how paint adheres. Prepping now ensures a better-looking, longer-lasting result.

Protect Your Floors and Fixtures

Paint splatter can happen even with careful painters. That’s why protecting your floors, trim, and permanent fixtures is a must, especially if you have hardwoods, tile, or high-end lighting.

Most painters bring drop cloths and plastic coverings, but if you’re unsure what’s included, here’s what to consider protecting ahead of time.

Key areas to cover or tape off

These steps will keep your finishes safe from dust and drips:

• Floors: Place thick canvas drop cloths or rosin paper around the painting zone. Check with your painters to ensure they’ll provide proper floor protection.
• Baseboards and trim: If this isn’t part of your painters’ prep, use painter’s tape to guard trim from roller marks. Make sure surfaces are clean and dry before taping.
• Electrical outlets and switches: Remove cover plates and store them in labeled bags, or tape them to protect from drips.
• Light fixtures and vents: Take down what you can, or wrap fixed items in plastic or foil.

For exterior painting, move patio furniture and potted plants at least 8–10 feet away. Cover flower beds or shrubs that can’t be relocated.

A bit of prep here prevents a mess later—and shows you’re fully invested in the outcome of your project.

Communicate Access and Expectations

Even with your home fully prepped, things can go sideways if the crew doesn’t know how to enter the house or which areas to avoid. Setting clear expectations up front helps the job go smoothly and avoids mid-day phone calls or miscommunication. That’s why it’s important to communicate clearly when preparing your house for painters.

Before the start date, connect with your painting team to confirm the logistics.

What to communicate with your painters

These details will help everyone stay aligned:

• Home access: Will someone be present to let the crew in, or should they use a garage code or lockbox? Set clear access instructions for workdays.
• Pets and kids: Keep pets secured and kids out of active work zones. If needed, arrange pet care or block off certain rooms.
• Utilities and restrooms: Make sure power, water, and bathrooms (if available) are accessible. For large jobs, ask if the crew will need a temporary area for tools or supplies.
• Work schedule and noise: Confirm start/end times and how many painters will be on site. Ask about noisy tools if you need to schedule around meetings or naps.
• Parking and equipment access: Reserve driveway space and check for HOA rules that may affect where equipment or lifts can be placed.

If you have any special instructions—like a room not to enter, items to be extra careful with, or preferences for eco-friendly products—now’s the time to mention it.

A Little Prep Goes a Long Way

Painting is one of the most affordable ways to refresh your space—but only if the prep is done right. The more you do ahead of time to prepare your house for painters, the better your outcome will be. Plus, your crew will appreciate walking into a space that’s clean, accessible, and ready to go.

To recap everything we’ve covered:

• Clear the space to give painters easy, safe access
• Clean walls and repair imperfections for better paint adhesion
• Cover floors, trim, and fixtures to avoid accidental damage
• Communicate all access and schedule details in advance

By following these steps, you’ll not only reduce stress, but you’ll set yourself up for a clean, professional paint job that lasts.

Ready for a clean, stress-free painting experience? Request your quote today, and let’s get your home set up for a smooth transformation.