When hiring a painter, perhaps for the first time, it is hard to know which room to paint first.
The two most common questions we get when painting the interior of a customers home is:
- How long will it take.
- Where to start.
How long it will take comes down to two things.
- How difficult the job is.
- The amount of contents in the home.
Most residential jobs are not difficult. However the amount of stuff in the home can both slow the job down and make it more difficult at the same time. If there is a lot of “things” in the areas to be painted it will slow the job considerably. A bedroom full of children’s toys, furniture, posters on the wall, etc. can make a job miserable for both the painter and the customer. There are situations where there is so much in an area that the job must be rescheduled.
For example. A typical 10’x15′ bedroom with no contents may take a couple hours to paint start to finish. That same room full of “stuff” can take a full day.
A customer can greatly streamline the time it will take to do a job by reducing the contents of the areas to be painted.
Which room to paint first? Every job is unique but I usually recommend that the kitchen is first. This gets it out of the way and meals can go on as planned. Next would be bathrooms for similar reasons. One at a time of course. Common areas like living rooms, hallways, stairways are next and bedrooms are last.
Occasionally we use a different approach. Sometimes taking care of a child’s room first gives them a space away from the project as it progresses and is less stressful for the child.
When Deciding Which Room to Paint First Consider This.
When making this decision, it’s important to think about things like the room sizes, the order in which they’ll be painted, and any repair or set-up that’s necessary. If you’re still trying to figure out which room to paint first, consider the following:
Room Sizes
Think about the room sizes; if you’re working with a limited amount of space, it can make sense to begin with the smallest rooms in the house or apartment. This will help you get more comfortable with painting in general, which will speed up your overall work time. If you have a large property with many rooms, however, it may be more time-efficient to begin with the largest rooms because of the greater surface area they cover. Take into account the order in which the rooms will be used. It makes sense to start with the rooms that get the most use, such as the kitchen or living room, while painting your home. You can resume your regular activities without further delay. However, if you have a room that you don’t use as much, such as a guest bedroom or home office, it may make sense to paint that room later.
Repair Work
Think about repairs and prep work that must be done before painting. If one of your rooms has noticeably damaged or discolored walls, for example, it may make the most sense to start there. If you need to repair major damage to a wall or remove old wallpaper before painting, it may be best to start with that room. You’ll be able to get everything done and have the best-looking paint job possible.
Lighting
Keep in mind that it may be difficult to spot defects in the paint work in a poorly lit environment. To get the best possible result, you may want to start painting in a well-lit environment. If you are painting your home in the summer, you might want to begin with the rooms that get the most sunshine as the lighting will be better for painting. However, if you’re painting your house in the winter, you may want to start consider additional lighting for the project. Work lights. You will likely need work lights in areas that are less well lit regardless of the season.
Colors
Think about the color scheme. If you’re going for a certain appearance with your home’s paint, you might want to paint the rooms in a specific order. Primarily public rooms, like the living room, could be painted before bedrooms and other private places. If you are using thee same color in several different areas of your home, it makes sense to stay in that color and paint those areas first. It is also sometimes easier to paint rooms and then come back to do accent walls.
Lifestyle Impact
Think about how painting a room would affect your daily routine; for example, if you use your kitchen or bathroom regularly, you might want to avoid painting those spaces initially. It could make more sense to paint a less-frequently-used room initially, such as a spare bedroom or home office. When we paint the interior of a customers residence we normally suggest painting the most frequently used rooms first because we can quickly get those areas done and accessable again.
If you are painting yourself, keep in mind the level of effort involved in the task at hand; for example, if a room has high ceilings, huge windows, or other factors that will make painting more complex, you may want to save it for last. If you do this, you’ll be able to build experience and competence as you progress through the project.
Don’t forget about the number of painters: If you have a group of people helping you paint, this may be a factor in determining which room to tackle first. If you’re working with a large group, you might be able to take on a bigger space at first, but a smaller group could be better off starting with a more manageable one.
Think about the room’s use; if it’s going to be used for a specific purpose, like a nursery or home office, painting that space first can get it ready for use quickly. On the other hand, it may make more sense to handle a multipurpose area, such a living room or bedroom, later on.
Additional Considerations
Furniture
Think about how the furniture will be arranged; if you want to paint a room that has a lot of furniture, it could be easier to do so before you assemble the pieces. On the other hand, if a certain room has few pieces of furniture, it may be more time-efficient to handle it later. Do you have the manpower to move furniture? Putting furniture into the center of the room is an effective way to have access to your walls for painting.
The paint you use should be taken into consideration. If you’re using a paint that takes a long time to dry, such an oil-based paint, you might want to start with a smaller room. However, if you’re using a paint with a quicker drying period, such a water-based paint, you might be able to start with a bigger room.
Pets and Children
Think about who will be using the space once it’s painted. Pets or small children. Avoid painting a room they commonly use, for instance, to keep their daily routine as unaffected as possible. It is a good idea to paint a childs or babies room when they are not home. When they are at school, daycare or visiting relatives.
Hire a Paint Contractor
With these additional factors in mind, you’ll be able to decide which rooms to paint and get the job done quickly and professionally. The fastest and easiest way to get your rooms professionally painted is by hiring a professional paint contractor. The objective is to do the task in a professional and effective manner while causing as little inconvenience as possible and that is what we specialize in. Call us, The Painting Company.
