Paint or Flooring? Which is First?

Are you getting ready to renovate your home before listing it on the market? You’re likely going to paint everything in neutral colors to appease buyers, while potentially working on new cabinets, countertops, appliances, and even new flooring.   This means that each time you complete a job, you have to be careful not to disturb the work of another job you’ve already completed.

You’d hate to get fresh paint on your new floor or put new flooring in after you paint just to realize it doesn’t match. Perhaps you’re just looking for a way to change the look of the house but you’re not sure which area to start changing the look of first. When it’s time to freshen up the home, make sure you put your fresh paint on the walls and your new flooring in based on the guidelines below.

Should I paint or install flooring first?

The debate takes place because people want to paint first in order to change the feel of the space sooner, while others want to do the flooring first and worry about matching the paint to it later. In addition, some people wonder when it’s smart to change countertops, furniture, light fixtures, and even things like bedding or rugs. How do you decide which should come first and set the tone for the rest of the remodel?

One of the easiest ways to decide which to do first is to decide which one you want to spend the most money on. If you plan on spending a fortune on flooring but not as much on a paint job, choose your flooring first. If you want to completely redo your furniture, match the rest of the home to the set that is most important to you. An easy project to put off last would be the paint, seeing that it’s the least expensive, easy to change, and easy to adapt to the rest of the room.

Tips on painting

After you’ve made your big ticket purchases like flooring, furniture, and accents like your bedding and countertops, it’s time to choose a paint sample. Pick up some samples that you can try to match up to the rest of the home’s décor. The different finishes will have a different effect on the room.

Choosing a higher sheen is smart if you need it be able to be easily washed, but a flat paint typically looks better. Choose a low or high sheen in a children’s room or around pets, but keep your flat paint options in rooms that should look more elegant.

The high or low sheens, also known as eggshell or matte, make it easy to wipe off kid messes and they are durable. This is perfect for kid’s rooms or mud rooms while your living room is going to look great with a flat paint. Be sure to check any paints up to the light to make sure it will look great in a natural lighting.

Since paint is so easy to change, be sure to spend the money and time on the big ticket items first, like flooring and furniture, while putting paint off until afterwards.