Here at Select Painting, we hear many reasons from our clients about why they want to paint or repaint the interiors of their homes. Everything from “we just moved in” to “I need a fresh coat”, or perhaps “looking to change it up with a splash of color”.
You may be sitting in your kitchen one day and feel the need to freshen things up. As you walk down the hall, you might notice scuff marks on the walls. Whatever the reason for painting, you may also be asking when is the right time to have the work done.
When to Repaint and How Often
According to USA Today, most rooms in the house need to be repainted every five to seven years. However, for kitchens, bathrooms and children’s bedrooms, you may need to repaint every three to four years. These highly lived-in areas can take a beating and need fresh paint more often.
High traffic areas, like hallways and entryways, will generally need to be repainted every three to five years, depending on wear and tear. Baseboards maintain the most abuse, and so it’s always a good idea to have extra paint on hand to do touch-ups as needed.
Most painting jobs are done during the summer months because of nicer weather and more daylight hours for exterior painting. But that is not necessarily the case for interior paint jobs.
Here are fie reasons why waiting until the winter months to tackle your interior painting plans is actually a good idea.
1. Best Deals in Winter Months
You can get great deals for professional painters in the winter months. Since most paint jobs are done in the summer months, prices drop for painting services as we head into winter. If you are not in a hurry, schedule your projects for winter, when contractors may not have a full workload. You may be pleasantly surprised by the estimates you get.
Because winter is usually a less busy season for painters, they may have more flexibility in their schedule to fit your family’s individual needs. Interior paint jobs also have the advantage of not being limited to daylight hours. Paint contractors can schedule the hours required, and not restrict themselves to only daylight hours.
2. Less Humidity
The cold and dry winter air helps paint to cure faster. In the summer, heat, and moisture can cause paint to not dry as quickly, and this can mean having to wait longer to put back furniture and rehang pictures.
Cracking windows open in the winter to air out rooms may increase your heating bill, but the extra cost still doesn’t compare to the summertime rates of a professional painter.
Nowadays, non-toxic paint options also make indoor painting a safer venture. Check out this SFGate Home Guide for ideas on ventilating a room with the windows closed.
3. Increase Home Value
Are you planning to sell your home in the near future? Repainting inside can help add value to your home. Winter may be the perfect time for painting to get your home market-ready for springtime.
According to Consumer Reports, just repainting high-traffic areas of your home, and any particularly scuffed walls or doors can add 1-2% value to your home’s selling price.
For only $100-$1,000, depending on paint materials and contractors, you could potentially add $2,000-$6,000 to your home’s selling price. A great bang for the buck!
4. Mood Booster
The idea of painting even one room in your house might sound like a headache, but it might just be what the doctor ordered. Adding a pop of color to your home can be a mood booster any time of year, but especially in the often dreary months of winter.
We can feel a lack of energy as we’re shut indoors for longer periods during cold weather. The sun is up for less hours in a day, which may add a little seasonal light deprivation. By adding red and violet tones to your walls can boost your energy and help you to produce more adrenaline, get your body moving, and improve your mood.
If you’re feeling blue, add some green! Green has a calming effect on people as well as being tied to healing properties, and happiness and contentment. Not a fan of green? Try pale or light shades of yellow to bring some sunshine indoors, and brighten up your spaces.
Winter holidays often bring stress and anxiety with them. Before hosting your next big get together, add some blue to bring a calming effect to your living space. Or if work is where your stress is, ask the boss if you can paint your office space a sky blue.
5. More Time for Summer
Summer is the season we all want to spend with our families. The kids are out of school, so you may want to take a vacation, head to the lake, or even catch up on yard work. It is also the time of year when we paint the exterior of our homes or other outdoor projects.
Why add interior home painting to the summer chore list? By scheduling interior paint projects for the winter months, you can free up more time to spend enjoying all those summertime outdoor activities.
Don’t Wait, Call for Your Free Estimate!
If you have an interior painting project you’ve been putting off for summer, don’t wait! We’re here all winter long to help you with your painting needs. Whether you’re looking to repaint the whole interior of your home or just have one room that needs a fresh coat, there’s no job too big or small.
At Select Painting we understand the value of your home, it’s not just a house, it’s where you and your family live and express who you are. We take the greatest care to be respectful of your space and to listen to your specific needs before, during, and after a project.
