How to Prepare Your Home for Professional Painting: A Complete Guide

You’ve chosen your colors, hired your painters, and scheduled the project. Now what? Proper preparation on your end ensures your painting project goes smoothly, finishes on time, and delivers the beautiful results you’re expecting. Here’s your complete guide to preparing your home for professional painters.

The Day Before: Interior Painting Prep

Clear the Walls

This is the most important preparation step for homeowners:

• Remove all artwork - Take down paintings, photos, and mirrors
• Take down shelves - Remove floating shelves and their brackets
• Remove curtain rods - If painting around windows, remove curtains and rods
• Detach light fixtures - Your painters will handle this if needed, but removing decorative fixtures yourself ensures they’re stored safely
• Remove switch plates and outlet covers - This is quick and helps painters work efficiently

Pro tip: Place a small piece of painter’s tape on the back of each item noting which room and wall it came from. This makes rehanging much easier!

Move Furniture

How much you need to move depends on your painting company’s process:

What Big Sky Painting Handles:

• Moving large furniture to the center of rooms
• Covering furniture with professional drop cloths
• Moving furniture back after painting is complete

What you should move:

• Small items and breakables
• Electronics (computers, TVs, gaming systems)
• Valuables and collectibles
• Items from closets if closet interiors are being painted

Clear Pathways

Painters need clear access to:

• All rooms being painted
• Entrance/exit points
• Electrical panel
• Water source (for cleaning brushes)
• Bathroom facilities

Remove area rugs from hallways and entry points to prevent tripping hazards and paint drips.

The Day Before: Exterior Painting Prep

Clear the Perimeter

• Move patio furniture - Clear at least 6-8 feet from the house
• Relocate planters and potted plants - Protect them from paint drips and ladder placement
• Store grills and outdoor equipment - Move to garage or far from work areas
• Trim back landscaping - Cut back bushes, shrubs, and branches touching the house

Address Access Needs

• Unlock gates and provide access codes
• Identify parking for painter vehicles
• Note any sprinkler system schedules
• Disable motion-activated sprinklers or lights that might interfere with work

Things to Discuss with Your Painters

Before the Project Starts

• Wall repairs - Point out nail holes, cracks, or damage you want fixed
• Problem areas - Note any moisture stains, mold, or peeling that needs attention
• Special surfaces - Identify textured walls, wallpaper, or surfaces requiring special treatment
• Color decisions - Confirm all color selections before work begins

Logistics

• Access - How will painters enter if you’re at work?
• Security - Alarm codes and security system details
• Pets - Where will pets be during the project?
• Children - Safety considerations for little ones
• Parking - Where can painter vehicles park?

Preparing Your Family

During Interior Painting

Consider these arrangements for your family:

• Alternative spaces - Identify which rooms will be available during painting
• Meal planning - If the kitchen is being painted, plan for eating out or use a microwave in another room
• Work from home - Set up a workspace away from painting areas
• Bedrooms - If bedrooms are being painted, have a backup sleeping arrangement

Pet Considerations

• Keep pets in a secure, unpainted room or consider boarding/daycare
• Open paint cans and fumes can be harmful to pets
• Doors will be opening/closing frequently - prevent escapes
• Some pets are stressed by strangers in the home

What to Expect During the Project

Day 1: Preparation

Professional painters spend significant time on preparation:

• Covering floors with drop cloths
• Taping edges and trim
• Filling holes and cracks
• Sanding rough areas
• Priming as needed

Don’t be alarmed if little actual painting happens on day one - proper prep is crucial for lasting results.

During Painting

• Expect some odor, even with low-VOC paints
• Keep windows cracked if weather permits
• Avoid walking through wet paint areas
• Painters will clean up daily but leave equipment for next day

After Completion

• Wait recommended time before moving furniture against walls (usually 24-48 hours)
• Don’t wash painted surfaces for 30 days
• Expect slight touch-ups as paint cures
• Save leftover paint for future touch-ups

Preparation Checklist

Interior Painting Prep Checklist

• Remove all wall decorations and artwork
• Take down curtains and rods (if applicable)
• Remove switch plates and outlet covers
• Move small items and breakables to another room
• Relocate electronics and valuables
• Clear items from closets (if closets are being painted)
• Clear pathways to work areas
• Remove area rugs from high-traffic paths
• Identify wall repairs needed
• Confirm color selections
• Arrange pet care
• Share access information with painters

Exterior Painting Prep Checklist

• Move patio furniture 6-8 feet from house
• Relocate planters and potted plants
• Store grills and outdoor equipment
• Trim back landscaping touching house
• Unlock gates and provide access codes
• Identify vehicle parking areas
• Note sprinkler schedules
• Disable motion-activated devices if needed
• Close windows before work begins
• Remove window screens (painters may do this)