How to Prepare Your Home
for Professional Painting
30 minutes of preparation saves hours of delay on painting day — and protects your valuables. Here's exactly what to do, what your painter handles, and what's specific to Seattle homes.
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What the Painter Handles vs. What You Handle
Your painter handles: moving large furniture, covering floors and furniture with drop cloths, patching holes and cracks, sanding, priming, painting, and cleanup. You handle: removing wall art and breakables, clearing small items and electronics, securing pets, pointing out areas of concern, and choosing final colors before the crew arrives. The more clearly you communicate at the estimate stage, the smoother the project day runs.
The Complete Preparation Timeline
1 Week Before: Decisions and Planning
Finalize your color choices and confirm them with your painter — color decisions made on painting day cause delays and miscommunication. Review the written estimate one more time and note any questions. If your home was built before 1978, confirm your painter is EPA RRP certified (required by federal law for pre-1978 homes). Order any touch-up supplies you want to have on hand after the job.
2–3 Days Before: Declutter and Protect
Remove wall art, mirrors, picture frames, and decorative items from every room being painted. Take down curtain rods and window treatments if you want the trim and windows painted. Move small furniture — side tables, lamps, plants — to another room or to the center of the room under a sheet. Disconnect and move electronics and computers away from walls.
The Night Before: Final Steps
Remove outlet covers and switch plates from the walls being painted (your painter may do this, but it saves time if done in advance). Clear a path through the house for the crew to move equipment and ladder. If you have a multi-story home, confirm which staircase the crew will use for equipment. Set aside anything that must not be disturbed — medical equipment, musical instruments, antiques — in a room that won't be painted.
Morning Of: Let the Crew Work
Have the space accessible when the crew arrives — typically 7:30–8:00am. Point out any specific concerns (a soft spot on the plaster wall, a water stain that needs extra primer, a door that needs to remain functional during the project). Secure pets in an unaffected room or remove them from the home — most pets are disturbed by the activity and the smell, even with low-VOC paint. Then step back and let the professionals work.
Room-by-Room Checklist
Living Room & Dining Room
Remove all wall art, mirrors, and shelving
Move lamps, plants, vases to center or out of room
Disconnect TV and move away from wall by 18 inches
Clear bookshelves near walls being painted
Remove area rugs if floor-level trim is being painted
Large furniture (sofa, dining table) — crew will move and protect
Bedrooms
Remove artwork and anything hanging on walls
Clear nightstands and dressers of breakables
Empty closet if closet interior is included in the project
Remove curtain rods if window trim is being painted
Bed and large furniture — crew will move to room center
Kitchen
Remove items from countertops near walls
Clear the area under the sink (if painting sink wall)
For cabinet painting: empty all cabinets (doors and boxes both)
Keep access to refrigerator open — food requires access during project
Remove window treatments over kitchen sink
Bathroom
Clear vanity countertop completely
Remove towel bars if being painted behind them
Note any water damage or moisture issues for the painter
Confirm mold-resistant paint is in the estimate (standard in Seattle)
Seattle-Specific Considerations
Older Seattle Homes — Additional Steps
Pre-1978 home: Confirm your painter's EPA RRP certification number before work begins. The crew will set up lead-safe containment — your job is to keep children and pets out of the contained area during the project.
Plaster walls (common in Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Wallingford): Point out any cracks, soft spots, or areas that sound hollow when tapped. These need different patching than drywall and are worth flagging at the estimate stage.
Water stains on walls or ceilings: Tell your painter upfront. Active leaks must be fixed before painting — painting over an active leak is a waste of money. Old, dry stains need shellac-based stain blocker before topcoat.
Cedar siding homes (exterior): If your home has original cedar siding, confirm the estimate includes oil-based or shellac primer as the first coat. This is not standard with every contractor and makes the difference between a paint job that lasts 10 years and one that shows bleed-through in year two.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what color to choose before the painter arrives?
Order sample pots ($5–$8 each at Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore) and paint 12×12 inch test patches on the actual wall. Look at them at different times of day — morning, midday, and evening light changes how colors read dramatically, especially in Seattle's overcast light. Painted swatches on paper are not reliable. Antonio can also bring a color fan deck to the estimate and discuss options specific to your home's architecture and light conditions.
What should I do with my pets during painting?
Secure pets in a room that won't be painted, or arrange for them to be out of the home on the first and busiest day of the project. Pets walking through wet paint is a cleanup headache for everyone. Cats in particular seem drawn to freshly painted surfaces. Modern low-VOC paint is not acutely toxic to pets, but prolonged exposure in a small room is worth avoiding — keep the painted area ventilated and pets out until fully dry (4–6 hours).
Can I stay in the room while it's being painted?
Not practically — the crew needs access to all walls and the center of the room is covered with equipment. For multi-day projects, completed rooms are available each evening after paint has dried. Interior painting with low-VOC products is safe to sleep near within 4–6 hours of application under normal ventilation. Open windows when possible to speed offgassing.
Ready to Schedule Your Interior Painting Project?
Antonio Pizoni visits every home before quoting — he'll walk you through exactly what to expect and answer preparation questions in person. WA licensed, EPA RRP certified, Greater Seattle since 2012.
Request Free Estimate (425) 287-3619