How Often Should Your Walls Be Painted?

Many assume that painting interior walls is primarily an aesthetic function, allowing homeowners and businesses to change the look of each room by switching up colors and glosses.

But a well-maintained coat of paint provides far more than just a pleasant appearance—in fact, paint can protect your home’s walls from mold, mildew, and the absorption of smoke and pet odors. And in Rhode Island, the salty ocean air and major temperature swings from summer to winter make it even more important to maintain a fresh paint job.

How Often Should You Repaint?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question; instead, your paint’s “expiration date” will depend on factors like the brand of paint used, whether the walls were primed first, and what function the room serves.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Paint jobs in kitchens and bathrooms tend to lose their luster the most quickly because of the smoke, steam, and moisture expelled in these rooms. By repainting with a glossy or semi-gloss paint, you’ll be able to set your new paint job up for success—these finishes make it much easier to wipe down dirt, grime, or grease from walls without harming the paint. And even if your current paint job seems to be holding up fairly well, experts recommend repainting kitchens and bathrooms every three to four years.

Hallways and Kids’ Bedrooms

These areas undergo even more routine use and wear and tear than kitchens and bathrooms. This again means that a glossy or semi-gloss paint is the best choice to cut down on dirt, grime, and sticky fingerprints. Hallways and kids’ bedrooms often need to be repainted as frequently as once every two or three years.

Living Rooms, Dining Rooms, and Adult Bedrooms

These living spaces are often just as frequently occupied as kitchens, bathrooms, and kids’ bedrooms, but tend to be used more gently. This means that, instead of opting for glossy paint, you can expand your color palette by selecting from among matte or eggshell choices. Living rooms and dining rooms generally don’t need to be repainted more than once every five to seven years, while bedrooms can be painted as seldom as once per decade.

If you’re in the market for repainting services in Rhode Island or the surrounding areas, give us a call or visit our website today. We’ll work with you to determine the best and longest-lasting paint options for your home.