Preparing a rental home for new tenants is your chance to prepare for success. Whether you’ve just secured a new property or are handling turnover between tenants, your to-do list likely includes inspections, repairs, deep cleaning and a little “sprucing up” to make the home more attractive on the market.
Everyone knows a fresh coat of paint can work wonders to make a rental home feel invitingly new and modern. Fresh paint will erase old scuffs, can update a home’s vibe with an on-trend color palette, and give the home an overall well-cared-for vibe. It’s no surprise that painting is a popular choice for landlords in preparing any home or apartment.
The question is: What should you know before you get started? Will you hire professionals or DIY? Which colors are the best? What techniques make a subtle but powerful difference in the home environment? As rental industry experts, we’re here to help you make your rental shine.
The Benefits of a Fresh Coat of Paint in a Rental
Painting a rental makes it more attractive on the market and instills confidence in your tenants. It can make a well-loved home feel like-new, modernize interior styles, cover small damages, and generally makes tenants feel like you care about their experience.
It sets the stage for a positive tenant-landlord experience and fresh paint shows your rental in its best light. Then it all comes down to painting quality and color selection.
Expected Lifespan of the Average Rental Paint Job
The average paint job in a rental lasts about 3-5 years. Paint in a rental will last longer if you choose a good, durable paint with a semi-gloss finish. While satin and eggshell finishes are more elegant, semi-gloss is resistant to scuffs and easy to clean. This makes it easier for your tenants to minimize damage for themselves, wipe up spills, and polish small scuffs so the home feels both durable and stays attractive during their stay.
3-5 years is also a good span for your average tenant turnover, and tenants are often amenable to repainting if they stay longer than 5 years when long-term maintenance may become necessary.
Top Paint Colors for Rental Homes
Neutral colors are always a good choice for a rental, but home trends often suggest subtle changes in shade and undertone. 2025 top paint colors feature warm, earthy tones like honey and charcoal, blended with gentle natural greens. While strong colors are not ideal, choose soft grays and beiges that with undertones of these popular hues.
You can use darker colors to make details like trim and built-in cabinetry pop. For example, a honey-beige kitchen with warm charcoal cabinetry and trim will stand out as trendy and welcoming while still providing a neutral space that won’t clash with tenant’s individual decorating styles.
The Techniques that Make a Difference
When it comes to painting a rental home, the little details can make a big difference. Quality matters and, over the course of the next year or more, your tenants will notice every little detail.
- Tape the Light Switches and Outlets
- Don’t paint over the panels on the wall. Use painter’s tape to neatly paint around them, or remove and replace them.
- Wash the Walls
- No one likes to discover lint (and worse) painted in. Remember to wipe down your surfaces before painting.
- Don’t Drip
- Use tarps and tape to keep paint drips off the floor, fixtures, and windows.
- Trim with Care
- Paint trim with attention to detail. Great trim paint can make a home feel stylish, but only if it’s well done.
- Inside the Cabinets
- Don’t forget a durable gloss for cabinet shelves – or freshly installed laminate cabinet shelf liners.
- Under and Behind
- Remember to check behind, under, and around. Or remove pieces, paint them, and reinstall to avoid those little unpainted discoveries like the space around a cabinet hinge or behind a rarely moved fixture.
Tools for DIY Rental Painting
DIY painting can save any landlord a bundle on turnover costs, and painting is a skill that is relatively easy to learn. All you need is the right tools, a few YouTube videos, and some practice. Build a checklist of supplies before you get started so that your work is high quality and you don’t have to duck out to the hardware store halfway through.
- Paint trays
- Stir-sticks and paint can opening gear
- Paint rollers (that fit your trays) and handles
- Paint brushes of various sizes
- Painter’s tape – 1 and 2 inches wide
- Plastic tarps and liners
- Sponges for smoothing
- Putty and putty knives for small drywall repairs along the way
- Screwdrivers to remove and reinstall pieces
Boost Your Results with Fresh Paint
Whether you’re looking for fast turnover, higher rents, or longer stays, a fresh coat of paint can inspire positive results. You can then optimize your property management solutions with the right software and partnerships. Explore Prisma Landlord for valuable solutions that will streamline the software side of rental home management.
