What is interior painting? 

Thinking about refreshing your living space? A fresh coat of paint can change any room from drab to fab. Whether you're looking to update your style, prepare your home for sale, or simply maintain your property, finding the right interior painter can make all the difference.

Interior painting involves applying paint to the inside surfaces of your home, including walls, ceilings, trim, doors, and sometimes even cabinets and furniture. It's more than just slapping on a coat of colour: professional interior painting includes proper preparation, priming, painting techniques, and finishing touches that create a flawless result.

Interior painting focuses on aesthetics, durability against everyday wear and tear, and sometimes specific functional properties like moisture resistance for bathrooms or washable finishes for high-traffic areas.

Professional interior painters use special tools and top-notch paints designed specifically for indoor environments. These paints typically have lower VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) levels, making them safer for indoor air quality while still providing excellent coverage and longevity.

Why would you need interior painting?

There are countless reasons why you might need to refresh your interior paint 

• Increase property value: Fresh paint can increase your home's value by up to 5%, making it one of the most cost-effective renovations before selling
• Protect surfaces: Paint acts as a protective barrier for your walls, preventing damage from moisture, dirt, and everyday bumps and scuffs
• Aesthetics: Perhaps you're simply tired of looking at that avocado green from the 70’s, or you want to embrace this year's trending coastal blues
• Repair damage: Water stains, smoke damage, or general wear and tear can make a fresh coat necessary to restore your walls to their former glory
• Mood and atmosphere changes: Colours significantly impact how we feel in a space. A sunny yellow kitchen can energise your mornings, while a calming blue bedroom might help you unwind at night
• Allergen control: Old, peeling paint can harbour dust, mould, and other allergens. Repainting with modern, low-VOC paints can improve indoor air quality
• Mould prevention: In humid areas like bathrooms and laundries, specialised moisture-resistant paints can help prevent mould growth

Even if your paint isn't visibly damaged, experts suggest repainting interior spaces every 5-7 years to maintain a fresh, clean appearance and optimal protection for your surfaces. In high-traffic areas like hallways and kids' rooms, you might need to repaint more frequently.

Why hire a professional for interior painting

While DIY painting might seem like a money-saving weekend job, there are solid reasons to call in the professionals:

• Superior finish: Professional painters have years of experience achieving perfectly smooth, streak-free finishes that most DIYers can only dream about
• Time saved: What might take you several weekends can often be completed by professionals in just a day or two. They arrive with teams, proper equipment, and smart systems
• Proper preparation: Professionals know all about paint prep. This includes filling holes, sanding surfaces, fixing imperfections, and properly taping edges for crisp lines
• Access to premium products: Professional painters often have access to higher-quality paints at better prices than retail, and they know exactly which products work best for each surface and condition
• Colour expertise: Not sure about which shade of white (among the hundreds available) will work best with your lighting and furnishings? Professionals can provide valuable colour advice
• Specialised equipment: From professional-grade sprayers for cabinet finishes to extended rollers for high ceilings, professionals arrive with all the right tools for every situation
• Insurance and guarantees: Trusted painting companies are fully insured and typically offer warranties on their workmanship, giving you peace of mind
• Safety: Professional painters are trained to safely work on ladders and scaffolding, and they know how to properly handle any lead paint concerns in older homes

For larger jobs or when perfect results matter, the investment in professional painting services typically pays for itself in longevity, appearance, and your own saved time and stress. Check out our painting hub for more tips, tricks and top resources for every stage of your painting journey. 

How to hire an interior painter

The right interior painter will not only deliver beautiful results but make the process stress-free and enjoyable. Here's how to find your perfect match:

• Get clear on your job scope: Before contacting painters, decide exactly what you need painted, your desired timeframe, and any special considerations
• Research credentials: Look for painters with proper licensing, insurance, and industry certifications. In Australia, requirements vary by state, but most professional painters should have, at minimum, a valid painter's licence and public liability insurance
• Check portfolios and reviews: Review examples of previous work and check customer recommendations. On hipages, you can browse ratings and reviews from verified customers to gauge reliability and quality
• Request detailed quotes: Get at least three quotes to compare. Each quote should break down costs for labour, materials, preparation work, and any additional services like moving furniture or repairs
• Ask about materials: Quality matters tremendously with paint. Ask which brands and product lines they plan to use and why. Premium paints may cost more upfront but often require fewer coats and last longer
• Discuss timelines: Professional painters should provide a clear timeline for your job, including preparation, painting, and cleanup phases
• Get everything in writing: Make sure your contract specifies everything from surface preparation to the exact paint colours (including brand, product name, and colour code) and the number of coats
• Confirm cleanup procedures: Professional painters should leave your space as clean as they found it. Check what their cleanup process includes

For a comprehensive guide to hiring the right painter, check out our how to hire a painter guide. And before your job begins, review our interior painting checklist to make sure nothing is overlooked too.

How do I budget for interior painting?

When it comes to budgeting for your job, costs can vary significantly based on room size, surface condition, and your location in Australia. 

For detailed pricing information, our interior painting cost guide breaks down what you can expect to pay.

Ready to change your space? Post your job on hipages today to receive quotes from qualified interior painters in your area. Our platform connects you with verified tradies who have the skills and experience to bring your vision to life, whether you're refreshing a single room or repainting your entire home.