How often should I repaint the inside of my house?

Repaint when the room needs it

There is no fixed interval to repaint the inside of a house, and any single number of years would be a guess. Repaint when the walls tell you to: marks that no longer wash off, peeling or bubbling, stains, faded colour, or a colour you have simply outgrown. High-traffic spaces such as hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and kids' rooms reach that point first; bedrooms and guest rooms often last much longer.

What you do between paint jobs matters more than the calendar. Maintaining your interior and exterior painted surfaces will keep them looking great from year to year, and it can also extend the life of your paint.^[5]

Let new paint cure

Fresh paint is fragile for longer than it feels. For most walls, paint is typically dry within one to two hours. While the space can be used lightly after 24 hours, the paint will not be fully cured for about 30 days.^[1] Benjamin Moore's advice on washing is simple: at minimum, allow 30 days.^[1]

In that first month, expect nicks and keep furniture and wet towels off the walls. Small chips are easy to fix. Touch it up with leftover paint and a small artist's brush or foam roller, and label any leftover paint to avoid mixing up the sheen, color, or product.^[1]

Clean gently

Over-scrubbing wears paint out faster than dirt does. Dust the wall first, then use a soft sponge, mild soap and slightly warm water. Avoid abrasive sponges like Magic Erasers and scouring pads, and don't use a harsh cleaner such as bleach, ammonia, or alcohol.^[1] Never use glass cleaner or a heavy-duty household spray cleaner on a painted wall.^[2] Use a gentle touch, as scrubbing can remove paint.^[1]

Begin washing at the bottom of the wall and work your way up so the cleaning solution doesn't run down the wall and cause streaks.^[2] Rinse with a damp cloth and dry the wall.

Sheen helps. The higher the gloss or sheen, the easier to clean. The lower the sheen, the gentler you should be.^[2]

Choose the right paint for the room

A finish that suits the room delays the next job. A pearl finish is a medium gloss that maintains high durability,^[3] which is why it is often used on walls in busy areas. For damp rooms, manufacturers sell paints made for the job: Benjamin Moore says bathrooms and areas that are exposed to more moisture can be painted in a matte finish using Aura Bath & Spa,^[3] and Sherwin-Williams says Duration Home has been specially formulated to provide a mildew resistant finish in humid environments, such as bathrooms.^[6]

Steamy rooms also need ventilation. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity.^[7] Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel,^[7] so fix the moisture before you repaint rather than after.

Signs a room is due

• Marks and scuffs that stay after gentle washing.
• Peeling, cracking or blistering. See why interior wall paint peels.
• Stains from leaks or smoke that bleed through touch-ups.
• Colour that has faded or no longer suits the room.

Painting over cracked paint is a bad idea; it is important to remove any flakes from the surface via sanding or scraping before repainting.^[4]

Stop and call a pro if

• The house was built before 1978 and the paint is peeling or needs sanding. Approximately three-quarters of the homes in the United States built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint,^[8] and EPA recommends that homeowners hire a lead-safe certified contractor who is certified and trained in lead-safe work practices.^[8]
• A wall is stained, soft or damp. That is a leak to be repaired before painting.
• Mold keeps returning after cleaning and drying.
• The job is a whole house, tall stairwell or high ceilings. A pro brings the ladders, crew and finish quality.

Getting help in Virginia

For a single room, painting is a reasonable DIY job; see how to paint a room without getting paint on the ceiling. For a bigger job, see how much it costs to paint a room in Virginia and whether a painter needs a licence in Virginia. Browse painting pros or more painting answers.

When a room is ready, describe the job once and local painters quote it.