How to Prepare Your Home for Professional Painters

4 min readFebruary 19, 2026

Quick Answer: To prepare your home for professional painters, move furniture to the center of each room or out of the space entirely, remove wall hangings and outlet covers, clear items from windowsills and shelves, protect valuables and electronics, and ensure painters have clear access to all surfaces being painted. Proper preparation helps the crew work efficiently and protects your belongings.

Why Preparation Matters

Professional painters handle surface prep, priming, and application — that is their expertise. But there are steps you can take as a homeowner before the crew arrives that save time, reduce costs, and protect your personal items. A well-prepared space allows painters to focus entirely on delivering a beautiful finish rather than spending billable hours moving furniture and belongings.

Interior Painting Preparation

Follow this checklist for interior painting projects:

Move furniture: Clear furniture from the room or move it to the center and cover it with drop cloths. Professional painters bring their own drop cloths for floors, but relocating furniture is usually the homeowner's responsibility unless you arrange otherwise with your contractor.
Remove wall decorations: Take down artwork, mirrors, shelves, curtain rods, and any wall-mounted items. Fill small nail holes with spackle if you are comfortable doing so — otherwise, your painting crew will handle this during prep.
Remove outlet and switch plate covers: This takes minutes and allows painters to cut clean edges around outlets without taping over the covers. Place covers and screws in labeled bags so they are easy to reinstall.
Clear surfaces: Remove items from windowsills, mantels, shelves, and countertops in the room being painted. Less clutter means faster masking and less risk of accidental damage.
Protect electronics: Cover TVs, computers, and audio equipment with plastic or move them to another room. Paint dust and sanding particles can damage electronics.
Secure pets: Arrange for pets to be in a separate part of the house or away from the home during painting. Open doors, wet paint, and heavy traffic create hazards for animals and workers alike.
Note concerns: Walk through with your painting team and point out any areas of concern — cracks, stains, peeling, or spots where you want extra attention. Clear communication before work begins prevents misunderstandings.

Exterior Painting Preparation

For exterior projects, preparation includes:

Move patio furniture, grills, planters, and outdoor decorations at least 6 feet from the house
Trim back shrubs and tree branches that contact or closely overhang the walls
Ensure the painting crew has clear access around the entire perimeter of the house
Remove window screens so painters can properly paint window frames and trim
Inform your neighbors, especially if the crew will need to place ladders or equipment near property lines

What Your Painting Crew Handles

Professional painters take care of surface preparation including washing, sanding, scraping, caulking, and priming. They protect your floors, fixtures, and cabinetry with professional drop cloths and masking. At R-Deco, we also handle all cleanup — we leave your home cleaner than we found it, with all masking removed, drop cloths folded, and a final walkthrough to ensure every detail meets your expectations.

Communicate Your Schedule

Let your painting team know about anything that could affect scheduling — work-from-home days, children's nap schedules, alarm systems, or limited access times. Good communication between you and your contractor makes the entire process smoother for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be home while painters are working?

You do not need to be present for the entire project, but being available at the start and end of each day is helpful. Most homeowners provide a spare key or garage code so the crew can access the work area. At R-Deco, we treat your home with the same care and respect as if it were our own. We recommend being present for the initial walkthrough to discuss expectations, color placement, and any special instructions, and for the final walkthrough when the project is complete to review the work and address any touch-ups.

How much does preparation affect painting cost?

Surface preparation typically accounts for 20-40% of a professional painting project's labor cost. The more prep work required — such as scraping peeling paint, patching drywall, caulking gaps, or priming bare surfaces — the higher the overall cost. However, thorough preparation is what separates a paint job that lasts 2 years from one that lasts 10. As a homeowner, you can reduce costs slightly by handling the furniture moving and decluttering yourself, but always leave surface preparation to the professionals. Improper sanding or patching often creates more problems than it solves.

How long should I ventilate after interior painting?

Ventilate freshly painted rooms for at least 48-72 hours after painting is complete. Open windows and run fans to promote airflow, which helps the paint cure properly and dissipates any residual odor. Modern low-VOC and zero-VOC paints, which R-Deco uses exclusively for interior projects, have significantly less odor than traditional paints. Most people find the smell negligible within 24 hours. However, individuals with respiratory sensitivities, young children, and pregnant women should avoid freshly painted spaces for at least 48 hours as an added precaution.

Need Professional Help?

Our team is ready to answer your questions and help with your next project.

Call (773) 842-0975

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