Thinking it’s normal to repaint the house every couple of years?

[Cloudyyy]

Help solve a debate for us.

DH thinks once you’ve painted a room, it should be done! No touch-ups or fresh coats necessary. MIL agrees they’ve never needed to repaint unless otherwise redecorating, sometimes going 10+ years between paint jobs (and absolutely never more often than every five years).

I remember my parents always “touching up” with a fresh coat of paint every other spring, alternating doing upstairs and downstairs. DM used to sponge the walls sometimes with warm soapy water if we had scuffed it.

What is the norm???

YABU = we never repaint unless absolutely necessary
YANBU = we retouch the paint jobs from time to time

I should add we have young children, so messy/ sticky fingers on the walls are unavoidable at times!!!

I touch up every few months. It helps that all of downstairs is painted in the same paint so it is very easy to get a small roller and do it. Particularly around light switches, inside the front door and sometimes the walls at the stairs. I also touch up skirting boards that are scuffed.

I should add that I never did this before I had children!

I repaint the rooms every few years.

I don't repaint the children's rooms unless I want to change the colour as they scuff them too often. That said, one of their rooms hasn't been repainted in seven years and I am currently looking at paint colours as it badly needs to be done.

I love decorating - it’s my hobby - but there’s no need to re paint more than 5 years ish unless you just fancy it. Use a good quality paint like Dulux (I actually think Dulux is better than any of the more expensive brands) and it will stand the test of time.

I redecorate if I fancy a change, but it certainly wouldn’t be every two years.

We've painted two rooms in ten years, the rest probably won't ever get done.

It's always so interesting to gain these insights into people's domestic lives, that are so very different to ones own, or to anyone's I've ever talked to about the particular thing, that it wouldn't occur to me that anyone would do such a thing.

Painting every room every two years falls into that category of previously unheard of bonkers show-home obessiveness.

Touch-up and 're-paint the whole room' are totally different things but you're using them interchangeably.

Sticky and dirty fingers are surely confined to a few specific places e.g. where food is eaten, crafts done, or where people regularly touch walls beside stairs for balance. So cleaning and maybe touching those up is a very small, localised job.

So, in general terms, I'm with your DH, who I suspect wants to live in his home, rather than maintain it like a photographic set, in which human lives are inconveniences to be tolerated. But I'd say every 5-10 years for painting.

Once a decade is fine imo, i think even if you're fussy about things being pristine every 5 years would be fine.

We’re actually repainting and re glossing this weekend!

I'm with your DH.

I can't stand decorating.

Once every 10-12 years is plenty.

We've been in our house 17 years. We did some redecorating when we moved in and then completely redecorated every room when we had an extension built 8 years ago. The kids' rooms need redoing this year, and the hallway but everywhere else is fine. So I guess once every 8-10 years for us.

I like decorating and could happily redecorate a lot more often but I like doing quite a lot of other things too so not enough time.

If you touch up round light switches etc doesn't it look odd unless you do the whole room as paint fades very quickly?

I think this is a boast about how much money you have to burn. I've lived here six years and have never had the money to repaint it.

You and your parents’ way sounds an absolute pain in the arse. What a faff not to mention unnecessary expense.

We do redecorate, but not every other year. Some rooms - like the main living area - get decorated more frequently, bedrooms less so.

We've been in this house for almost 9 years now, think we've painted the main room twice in that time and other areas once each. As PP have said, it's like a rolling programme! The main room is on our hitlist again this year tbh, probably because we are thinking of getting the carpet changed as well.

Just had the kitchen, hall & landing redone. Kitchen was replaced in 2009 so 10yrs whereas hall & landing were done when moved in early 2003! All the rest of the house is still as painted back in 2003.
No children or only one cat plus two adults doesn't make much mess so no need to repaint.

We do it when needed - which is average 8 to 10 years.

I know someone who is constantly redecorating to the latest trend- it’s exhausting to watch!

If you touch up round light switches etc doesn't it look odd unless you do the whole room as paint fades very quickly?

No it isn't noticeable at all. The paint is a very light neutral colour. I haven't ever noticed the rest of it fading.

I used a slightly deeper colour in the kitchen and it is noticeable when I wash off marks (where the bin is mainly). I don't repaint the kitchen as I'd be doing it every day!

Paint is incredibly cheap - you can do a room for £40 even with F&B.

it's so worth the extra tenner for the kitchen paint that washes. And using it everywhere.

I have the hallways, which are white and get the most marks, done every two or three years. I just had my living and dining room done after five years. They are large rooms with high ceilings with coving and ceiling roses - it costs several hundred pounds to be done properly. The kids bedrooms have been redone a few times in the same space of time as their tastes have changed. I also had new carpets in the bedrooms after five years. Wallpapered rooms tend not to get redone at all. Mind you I've never lived in a place longer than 8 years.

We've lived in our new build 7 years and the only rooms we have painted are the 3 bathrooms/toilets and one bedroom (the spare). It's all white and still looks fine!

@Cloudyyy
I am with you OP!
I do not like DIY, but I like a not-clean-looking house even less.
I have the skirting boards and door /door frames lined up this year with the garage - they got painted in 2017.
Rooms are ‘scheduled’ for next year.

It is your home and for as long as you can get your DH onboard just do it. We all have different standards / quirks 😂

What a waste of paint and time/ energy!

I’d assume people have very boring lives if all they have to do with their time is constant painting!

I’d only paint if I wanted to change the colour.

Ow, realised not everyone is talking about painting themselves - I always do, then I hire someone to finish off the edges.

I prefer painting it myself, I get a better finish.

Repainting the whole room, no. But 'touching up' scuffs and marks, sure.