How to Prepare Your Home for Interior Painters: A Milwaukee Homeowner's Guide

Hiring professional interior painters is the easy part — but a little preparation on your end can make the project go smoother, faster, and cleaner. Here's what Milwaukee homeowners should do before the interior paint contractors arrive.

1. Clear the Walls

Remove everything from your walls before painting day: picture frames and artwork, mirrors and clocks, window treatments (curtains, blinds, valances), switch plate and outlet covers, and wall sconces or light fixtures if possible.

Put all hardware in labeled bags so reinstallation is easy later.

2. Move or Remove Furniture

Professional interior house painters will typically help move furniture, but you can save time and money by doing it yourself. Move small items out of the room entirely, push large furniture to the center of the room, and cover pieces that can't be moved with plastic or drop cloths.

If you have heavy or fragile items, let your painters know in advance so they can plan accordingly.

3. Clean the Walls

Dust and dirt on your walls can affect paint adhesion. Wipe walls down with a damp cloth, especially in kitchens (grease buildup near the stove), bathrooms (moisture and soap scum), hallways (fingerprints and scuffs), and baseboards (dust and pet hair).

You don't need to deep-clean — a quick wipe is usually enough. Your painters will handle the rest.

4. Plan for Pets and Kids

Painting day can be stressful for pets and disruptive for children. Arrange for pets to stay with a friend or in a separate room, keep kids away from the work area for their safety, and plan alternative spaces for eating and sleeping if the kitchen or bedroom is being painted.

Low-VOC and zero-VOC paints are safe and low-odor, but it's still best to keep pets and small children away from wet paint.

5. Choose Your Colors in Advance

Don't wait until painting day to pick colors. Get paint samples and test them on your wall, look at the colors in morning, afternoon, and evening light, consider the color of your furniture, flooring, and trim, and ask your painting company about color consultation if you're unsure.

At NovoAve, we offer free color consultation to help you choose the perfect shade for your space.

6. Communicate with Your Painters

Before the project starts, make sure you've discussed which rooms are being painted, which walls, ceilings, and trim are included, your color choices for each space, any areas of concern (water damage, peeling paint, dark colors to cover), and your schedule and access to the home.

Good communication means no surprises and a result you'll love.

7. Plan for Ventilation

Even with low-odor paints, some ventilation helps. Open windows when possible, run fans to keep air moving, and plan to be out of the house during the painting if you're sensitive to smells.

Ready to Paint?

Once your home is prepped, the rest is easy. NovoAve's interior house painters handle everything else — prep, paint, and cleanup — so you come home to a beautiful, freshly painted space.

Call (414) 837-0093 to schedule your free interior painting estimate in Milwaukee.