Building a new house isn’t easy. There’s so much to think about and so many decisions to make. You might be wondering if you should wait to paint a new house and when is the best time to paint after finishing construction? We have the answer for you!
The consensus is to wait more than six and up to 15 months before painting the interior of a newly built house. The reason being that the wood frame, plaster, and other building materials used need time to dry and settle before you can apply paint. In addition, premature painting can lead to cracks and nail pops, affecting the final quality of the paint finish.
Before deciding when to paint your house, you may require more insight. We can help you coordinate decoration styles and answer some other questions that you may have regarding painting a newly constructed home. To find out more, keep reading ahead.
Why Waiting To Paint a New Home Is Helpful
Most builders and contractors advise waiting a year on average before painting a newly built house. That is how long it takes for the plaster on the walls and ceilings to dry out completely. Otherwise, if you apply paint before the building material is dry, it will last only a few months before needing a touch up.
Since paint is expensive and getting it done by professionals is also pricey, it is best to wait out the drying time. However, if you can’t wait to paint your home, choose a cheap and breathable paint instead of a plastic-based one so that the drying process isn’t affected. You can also use other tips and tricks to quicken the drying process, such as ensuring proper ventilation and keeping the temperature constant.
Pros of Painting Before Moving In
If you like staying organized and have a long to-do list, it might be a good idea to paint the inside of your home before you move in. The dull colors that the builders leave can be an eyesore to live with for an entire year. It also gets difficult to schedule a paint job a year after you’ve settled into your new home. It seems like such a hassle to move around heavy furniture and turn your house upside down just when everything seems to be in place.
If you get the paint done before moving in, you won’t have to worry about saving all your furniture, decorations, and other household items from getting paint all over them. A well-finished house can also help in the transition, especially if you have kids in the family. There is a certain satisfaction when you move into a home that is complete and welcoming.
Pros Of Painting After Moving In
If you paint the house after you move in, you will be able to pick out the decorations and furnishings that will go with your new home and match the most suitable colors accordingly. You will have plenty of time to come up with interior design themes.
When you get color swatches in each room before the actual paint job, you will be able to visualize the final paint at varying times of the day. Colors look so different depending on the amount of daylight and the artificial lights in the room. You will be able to pick the perfect shade for each room when you live with the swatches for a few days.
Another benefit of painting the house after moving in is that you can save up to purchase high-quality paint with a longer lifespan. After splurging on the construction cost, you might need to take a loan by the end for that expensive professional paint job. Taking it slow is wise and will give you plenty of time to strategize.
Use the year-long drying period to think about what your style is. Then, you can slowly decorate your home over the months and finally know which swatch of paint will be the best for you once you choose the decor.
Why Do New Homebuilders Use Flat Paint?
Flat paint is paint that doesn’t reflect with a shine. Flat paint gives off the truest color of the chosen shade due to its lack of glow. It is also the cheapest option as compared to eggshell, semi-gloss, or satin finish paints. Flat paint covers imperfections that eggshell paint or other paint may leave noticeable. If flaws are present from the construction phase, painting with flat paint covers them before the house is ready for sale.
Another reason homebuilders use flat paint is that it makes the room look broader and the ceilings higher. Although it is harder to clean and gathers dust, it is great for rooms that need to seem spacious such as living rooms.
Homebuilders also prefer using flat paint because once they are finished with the construction, there’s a lot of influx of potential buyers which causes the house to get dirty quickly. Flat paint is easier to touch up than reflective paint. Thus, flat paint is the choice for a quick way to apply a fresh look.
What Paint Colors Are Used In New Construction?
Colors come and go in and out of fashion seasonally. Pantone’s Color of the Year is one such fashion statement that influences trending colors for interiors of houses and other constructions such as home offices. Pantone analyzes market trends and color influences to develop the trendiest color palette each year.
The Pantone Color of the Year for 2021 is Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate grey. Specifically, it is the PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating and PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray. Gray and yellow go beautifully together, and this pairing has taken the interior design world by storm. Gray is rocky and firm with a touch of practicality. But, on the other hand, yellow is happy and positive with a welcoming expression.
Combining these two contrasting colors creates a unique union of matter-of-fact and sturdy with optimistic friendliness. The dependability of the gray coupled with the aspirational and sunny yellow will give your home a unique vibe.
What Is The Best Interior Color For Selling A House?
Painting a house is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to increase your property value and chances of a sale. Moreover, it also decreases your selling time. There are many ways to determine the best color choice for a house interior if you wish to put it up for sale.
One way is to go through the latest catalogs of home stores such as IKEA or Pottery Barn. Notice the kinds of shades that they use. These companies have an extensive research and development department dedicated to finding out the colors that make things seem appealing to their target market.
A more personalized and specific way to determine the most appropriate color would be to visit other for-sale or newly constructed houses in your area. But, again, staying in coherence with your neighborhood is a safe bet because when buyers look for options, they notice the common trends in any neighborhood that influences their decision.
Another sure and safe way to drastically increase your property value by choosing the right shade of paint is to consult a professional interior designer. Interior designers know how to analyze various factors such as the age of your home, the neighborhood trends, and the fashion trends to come up with the best possible option for you.
How To Choose A Color Scheme for New Homes?
Some shades of color are favorites when it comes to home interiors. These shades include earthy tones such as pale peach, robin’s egg blue, fresh green, browns, fawns, and more. Neutral colors are also popular such as cream, tan, white, and beige, among others. Even white comes in so many soft and warm variants, giving homeowners plenty of choices for their new homes.
If you’re looking for something trendier and more vibrant, two-color choices are currently taking the interior design world by flame. They include coral, canary yellow, dove grey, crème, salmon pink, mint green, and other pastel colors that are more popular these days. In addition, you will find excellent furnishing options and decorations to go with a pastel palette.
Final Takeaway
In the end, it is indeed your choice. Go with whatever makes you happy. Everyone has preferences. What are you most comfortable with? What do you want to wake up to each morning? Choose whichever color gives you a welcoming, homely feeling.
We hope you have a clearer idea of how to tackle the painting decisions of a newly constructed house. Good luck with choosing the color palette for your new home! Before you go, if you are wondering how to make the paint dry faster, click here.
Do you have dark wood floors? We also offer advice on what colors go well with it. For more information, click here.