Winter Interior Painting Tips

When the temperatures are low, you will most likely find yourself spending more time indoors. What better time to dream up home improvement projects than while you’re relaxing in your living room, cozy by the fire? If the sky is gray and dismal, why not bring warm and light into your home with interior painting? There are countless design options; for example, see this list of design tips for each room of the home and color selection. Plus, view an interview of Five Star Painting by The Weather Channel on interior painting during the chilliest season.

Too Cold to Paint Outdoors

Now, down to the nitty-gritty: logistics. Worried it’s too cold for a painting project? That may be the case for adding a fresh coat outdoors. The temperature range for paint is 50 degrees F / 10 degrees C to 95 degrees F / 35 degrees C, with the middle of those being ideal for paint setting. That’s why weather plays such a factor for giving the exterior of your home a facelift. When the temperature drops below 55 degrees F 12.778 degrees Celsius (C), it slows down the process of the paint curing. If this happens, paint takes longer to dry, and insects, dirt, grime and other debris may get stuck on your surface. In addition, a surface that has improperly cured has a higher risk of cracking, peeling and chipping, and a reduction of the overall life expectancy of the paint.

4 Reasons Winter Is Perfect for Interior Painting

While the weather outside is frightful, the conditions inside during winter lend themselves perfectly for interior painting work. Here’s four big reasons why:

1. Temperature Perfection: Most people keep their home between 65 degrees F / 18.33 C and 80 degrees F / 26.66 C in the winter. The ideal temperate for paint to cure is in the 70s F / 20s C - right in the middle of where most people keep their HVAC thermometer.
2. Needing to open windows is a myth: When painting a home’s interior, many people believe windows need to be open to remove toxins and odor, and keeping windows open during a snowy winter is not feasible. The truth is that low-VOC, latex paint is less toxic and has less odor, so windows can remain shut. Outdated oil-based paint – high in VOCs – should be avoided year-round because of their toxicity.
3. Winter paint dries faster: After the job is complete, homeowners don’t want to “watch paint dry” and wait to move furniture back in order. Because air is drier in the winter, paint dries faster.
4. Winter painting scheduling is quicker and easier to coordinate: As we mentioned, some outdoor painting will be impossible due to low temps. In addition, many homeowners falsely believe all painting needs to be completed in warmer seasons. This means that professional painters, like our Five Star Painting teams, have lower demand during this season, and a more flexible schedule for your project. A homeowner can typically schedule a job time sooner than during other seasons.

The Weather Channel Winter Interior Painting Interview With Five Star Painting

The Weather Channel wanted to learn more about this topic for homeowners, and reached out to our brand. Five Star Painting President Matt Kunz talked with hosts, sharing information about reasons why interior painting is a plus in the cold, winter months. See the video below to view that interview and contact Five Star Painting to learn more!