Should I Hire Someone to Paint My Interior Walls? 

A go-to step of most home redesign projects is painting. Whether you’re looking for a quick refresher for your living room or you want to update the entire home, this is a wonderful way to breathe new life into your space. But when you make the decision to pursue an interior paint project, you’ll need to decide whether you want to tackle it yourself or if you’ll hire professional painters. Need help deciding? Read on to learn more about both options. 

Should I Hire Someone to Paint My Interior Walls?

There are a few factors to take into account when deciding whether you should hire a professional to paint your interior walls or not. There are pros and cons to either option. It’s important to keep in mind that there is a lot more involved with interior painting than you may assume.

Keep in mind that painting isn’t the only task necessary for this process. There’s also plenty of prep work to account for as well. For example, you’ll need to move or cover your furniture, take measures to protect your floor, and tape up wall features (i.e. trim, windows, and outlets). Wall prep is also an important step. This can involve removing wallpaper, filling in imperfections, and sanding it down. This can take a lot of time and effort. 

On the other hand, taking on a painting project yourself gives you a bit more freedom to finish the project on your own time. And while professional painters can complete an interior paint job efficiently, it can be a large monetary investment. Choosing the DIY route can save you some money. 

At the end of the day, you’ll need to decide what your goals are and make your decision based on your unique needs. Here is some further insight into the pros and cons of painting your interior yourself versus hiring a professional. 

Painting Your Interior Walls Yourself

Many homeowners choose to paint their interior walls themself. There are definite advantages to this route as well as inconveniences. Here are some pros and cons of painting your interior walls yourself. 

Pros 

• Cost savings. One of the most compelling reasons homeowners might go the DIY route is the potential to save money. Labor costs for getting a professional to paint your interior walls can be a pretty penny. Doing it yourself will run you roughly $1 – $3 per square foot which is about half of what a professional charges.
• Comfort and privacy in your home. Having a professional come into your home can be inconvenient and even invasive. When you make the choice to paint your own home, there’s no need to worry about strangers occupying part of your home for the duration of the interior painting process. 
• Greater creative freedom. When you take the reins in a project like this, you get all the freedom in the world to experiment and make last-minute decisions. You are free to play around with colors, try experimental patterns, and switch up the paint last minute if you don’t like it. You can also take as much time as you need to paint – it’s all on your own timeline. 

Cons

• Prep work. Painting isn’t just as easy as breaking out a roller and getting to work. If you want to do it right and prevent a mess, there is a lot of prep work to complete first. You’ll need to secure the proper tools and supplies. Then you need to move furniture, tape off the edges and remove wall features such as outlet covers. You might even need to sand down the walls and fill in holes. 
• It takes longer than you think. Between prep work, the actual painting, and accounting for any potential hiccups along the way, tackling this type of project may be a multi-day or even weeks-long endeavor – especially if you’re planning on painting more than one room. 
• The results likely won’t be perfect. Let’s face it, painting isn’t as easy as we make it out to be. Paint can bleed through your tape. Your application might be patchy. The average homeowner simply doesn’t have the resources or tools to complete a seamless interior paint job. 

Hiring Someone to Paint Your Interior Walls 

Another option for a homeowner looking to spruce up their interior with fresh paint is to hire a professional. There are a number of reasons why a person may or may not choose to go this route. Here are some pros and cons of hiring a professional to paint your interior. 

Pros 

• It’s a more streamlined process. Your painting professional will have their routine down pat. They will methodically move through the process and likely get it done faster than the average homeowner. 
• They have the proper tools. Brushes, rollers, drop cloths, tape, wall sander – the pros have everything you need to accomplish an interior paint job. Do you have all of these tools on hand? And if so, are they professional-grade? 
• The result is usually better. Unless you are highly experienced you need to expect imperfection when going the DIY route. But if you’re hoping for an immaculate outcome, you should probably hire a trained professional. 

Cons

• It can be costly. Professional painters will charge a decently hefty fee for their services. Expect to pay anywhere from $2 – $6 per square foot for a professional interior painting. It’s definitely cheaper to go the DIY route. 
• Loss of privacy. While professional painters will be able to work through the process a lot faster than your average homeowner, they are still going to be in your space for the duration of the project. If you’re one that doesn’t enjoy having strangers in your home for extended periods of time, you might not enjoy hiring professional painters.
• There’s less creative freedom. You have an agreed-upon direction with your painter and it will be more difficult to diverge from that once the project kicks off. There may be some marginal wiggle room but you won’t be as free to pivot. 

So, What’s the Best Option? 

The best option for you will vary based on your situation, needs, and desires. Ask yourself what’s most important to you – saving money, project quality, perhaps flexibility? Weight out the pros and cons and go from there. It’s important to be realistic about what you’re looking to gain from the whole interior painting process and which of these two options will lend best to that goal. 

When is it Worth it to Hire a Pro?

Need more guidance on when to hire a pro? Here are some scenarios that might be best left to a professional:

• Your ceilings are high. It’s difficult to complete a painting project with high walls involved. It could also be a safety concern. 
• The walls you’re painting are in poor condition. If issues such as major holes are present, a professional can more easily remedy the situation for a smoother paint application. 
• You want to use a specialty finish. Projects involving finishes such as lacquer or high-gloss can be difficult for the inexperienced. A professional can pull it off with ease. 
• There’s a thick layer of old paint. Thick layers of paint will often need to be stripped before applying a new coat. Sanding and priming can help the new paint stick better. It’s best to leave this to the pros – especially if you suspect your walls could be covered in lead-based paint. 

Choose Us for Your Northern Colorado Painting Project 

Hiring a professional to paint your home interior can be a great option for some homeowners. If you find yourself in this camp and you’re in the Fort Collins or Northern Colorado region, Horner Paint is at your service! Our staff of trained painters will swiftly, skillfully refresh the interior of your home. It’s our mission to leave every customer satisfied with the end result of our work. We even offer a 5-year warranty on your paint project so you can rest easy knowing it will stand the test of time.