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!!!

Probably every 3/4 years. Rooms are looking ready by then, especially high traffic areas. And paintwork goes dingy and definitely gets ready. I think a repaint makes everywhere feel fresh and clean again. Some of these responses are grim...20 years????????

I just don’t know how people can be arsed with the upheaval and the house smelling of paint so often. I like to relax in my home and not have all that faff on a frequent basis.

Plus I find if you freshen up emulsion it just makes the gloss look shit so you need to do that too, and I really can’t stand the smell of gloss and the fact it takes yonks to dry

There isn't any gloss in this house. I had it years ago but it tends to age and discolour very badly. I didn't think people still used it at all.

Mrex - we have a shower cubicle and wood panelling and the gloss discolours quickly. I’ve had it painted a pale grey this time so fingers crossed!

Each to their own and all that, but I really can’t understand people who decorate anything over 5 years. 3 is my absolute max. Paint looks tired and there are unavoidable family life marks. I have two dc but no animals.

I will only use vinyl silk trade paint that is washable - all over the house.

www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/m/MVS/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyp7yBRCwARIsABfQsnTAoBVTRzFiQ8Uvky0al1Z0_U4EamMoCg44wiMWY2_OVUz7_UrI7qwaAqvsEALw_wcB

When we moved it in, 8 years ago, husband refurbished whole property and it was all painted pure white at refurb.

Since then:
Living room: decorated 4 times. 3 walls and feature wall papered.
Hall: painted 4 times.
2 dc bedrooms: 3 times each

I have personally painted every single wall in the house, apart from the first white wash.

By using trade vinyl silk, I can scrub high traffic areas.

We have used mostly grey to redecorate.

We’ve been in our house 5.5 years and we’ve no not painted a room yet! We’re waiting room we have the money to knock down the back of the house and do the extension (were now about 3 years behind schedule).
Ah well. I’m really not worried about the painters of our predecessor - it’s three falling apart kitchen units that are beginning to bother me.

Of do give over. It’s the prep work that takes the time time when decorating but if your room is prepped properly once, the the next time you do it it should only be a few hours work. It really isn’t hugely challenging.

that's still pretty much a weekend wasted per room. Not my personal idea of a good time, especially if you multiply by the amount of room you have in a house, hallway included.

This is why it's also better to decorate a house based on your own taste. If you stick to the fashion of the moment, it will look dated quickly. Shame so many people are shy about what they really like. Half of the properties in this country will have to be repainted to get rid of grey within the next couple of years

.* Half of the properties in this country will have to be repainted to get rid of grey within the next couple of years*

That'll keep me employed nicely then. I've done a lot of grey in peoples houses over the years

Painted every room when I moved into my flat 9.5 years ago. Haven't touched a wall since. Still looks immaculate.

Life's too short.....

YABU

We are currently decorating the hall and stairs. If you could see the size of the hall you would know that we won't be doing it again. I'm having to hire specialist platform equipment to be able to access parts of the stairs. Each room is large with tall ceilings. I guess if you have a smaller space then you would be happy to keep painting and decorating but not in this house!

3-5 years. I enjoy decorating though

We’ve painted one room since we moved in 2.5 years ago. The lounge and hallway now really need repainting, but it’s way down my list of shit I need to do (that never gets done). If I didn’t have two toddlers getting sticky handprints all over the walls we really wouldn’t need to repaint.

Oh and the lounge diner only needs repainting because it’s farrow and ball type paint and it’s impossible to clean marks off.

When we repaint it will be in something you can clean! The one room we painted was the twins and after a few sick bugs I was very glad we bought washable paint!

What is painting?

Painted the walls through during the first year here, nearly 30 years ago. DS did the walls up the staircase and landing about 15 years ago, to earn some pocket money. The woodwork hasn't been done because I don't know how to do it with fitted carpets and dogs and cats, can't afford professionals so it will stay as it is.

I did try painting a wood stain onto the front door, was supposed to be quick drying but it ran in uneven streaks all down the door, didn't dry for two days and it rained the next day, I haven't even tried to do the frame to match as I made such a mess of the door.

Life’s for living, not painting walls

There isn't any gloss in this house. I had it years ago but it tends to age and discolour very badly. I didn't think people still used it at all

Oh, give over. Most houses I’ve been in have gloss! The fact they still sell it in the shops is surely a giveaway that people still use it.

Most houses I know now have satin wood or eggshell, gloss is a bit dated these days.

Grey, god all the grey....

Repainting is normal, I'd say. Every three or four years though, not two.

I think annual repainting is a lower-middle-class houseproud/anxiety phenomenon.

Only on MN do you see crap like this;
I think annual repainting is a lower-middle-class houseproud/anxiety phenomenon
or maybe people like decorating, like changing styles.