4 Tips for Painting the Interior of Your Rental Property (2024)

Painting or repainting is a constant issue when you own a rental property. Every time a long-term tenant leaves, the home must be painted in readiness for a new occupant. Natural wear and tear to the home’s surfaces also mean it must be repainted every once in a while.

If you own more than one rental property or have a lot of renters coming and going from the property, as Innovative Property Solutions explains, repainting can take up a substantial part of your time. Whatever you can do to make it easier is always a welcome option.

In this short post, we explain some of the key things to remember when painting your rental property. We highlight well-tested strategies that have worked for other investment property owners.

By combining the ideas in this post, you will make the work of repainting your rental easier, cheaper, and faster. With less effort than you have used in the past, you will be able to revive the tired walls of the home, brighten it up and highlight its important features.

Here are our tips for painting your rental property’s interior.

Tip #1: Choose the right colors

Choosing the right paint colors for your rental is almost half of the battle. For many landlords picking the right colors can be incredibly difficult. There are so many colors and color shades to choose from and landlords can never tell which colors will be most-liked by tenants.

The simplest way to resolve this problem is to go with neutral colors. Examples of neutral colors are grey, beige, tan, and off-white. The reason neutrals are recommended is that they are unlikely to offend tenants or clash with their furniture or décor. Neutrals also make rooms look larger and brighter.

Tip #2: Choose the right type of paint

Children with dirty hands love to rub them on clean walls. But the right paint finish will make it easier to deal with stains and scuff marks on the walls of your rental. Some finishes give you more work because they need to be repainted frequently. Others can easily be cleaned and do not require repainting.

Here are the different finishes that are available and how you can use them:

• Flat or matte paint finish: This is a low-sheen finish that is non-reflective and good for concealing patches and cracks. It is best for low traffic areas like bedrooms and ceilings.
• Eggshell finish: This is a washable, non-glossy finish with a subdued velvety appearance. It shows roller marks and reveals surface flaws. It is best for low traffic areas, such as bathrooms and enclosed porches.
• Satin finish: This is a slightly-glossy finish that is good for painting areas with moderate traffic or which have some exposure to moisture. The paint reveals application flaws like brush strokes.
• Semi-gloss finish: This is a highly durable, washable finish with a radiant sheen. It is right for medium to high traffic and high-moisture areas. It can be used in most parts of the home.
• Hi-gloss finish: This has an ultra-brilliant sheen that is hard, reflective, and impervious to moisture. It is best for high-use surfaces. Most stains and splatters can be wiped off easily.

The recommended finish for your rental property is eggshell, followed by satin, as they are easier to clean. They are attractive and easy to clean. Although hi-gloss is the easiest to clean, it may not be appealing due to its sheen.

Tip #3: Use one color for all the walls in your rentals

Regardless of whether you own one or eight rentals, use the same color for all the walls in all of the properties. There is a good reason for this. It will make your apartment turnaround time much shorter since you will not waste time trying to find the right color matches.

Before you get to the paint store, know what you need and make sure it will match the existing paint on all your walls. At the same time, you can buy paint in large quantities and get volume discounts.

Tip #4: Use affordable paint

Painting is a recurring expense and the lower you keep it, the better. Although more expensive paint will cover better than very cheap paint, the difference is often negligible. But more importantly, your walls, regardless of the type of paint you use, will usually need two coats.

So if you are going to use two coats, whether you buy the cheap or expensive paint, why spend all that money? It makes no sense to buy expensive paint if it performs almost to the same level as cheaper paints. The best strategy is to buy mid-priced paint.

Pro Tip: Paint the ceiling when changing the flooring

Always paint or spray the ceilings of the home every time you are removing the flooring. There is no better time to do it. If the conditions allow for it, spraying the ceiling at the same time as when you are changing the flooring will eliminate the need for tedious and time-consuming preparation work.

Using these tips will allow you to establish a more efficient method for turning around your rentals. It will result in less work, better results, and more money. Good luck and have fun painting!