Every room in a house asks something different of its paint. Here's the honest room-by-room version of what matters and why.
Living areas and hallways
The hardest-working walls in the house. Scuffs, furniture marks and constant touching mean washability matters most. Low sheen is the standard choice: it hides minor wall imperfections better than semi-gloss but still wipes clean. Hallways earn their keep with the toughest finish you can live with visually.
Bedrooms
Lower traffic, so flat or low sheen both work. Matt finishes give a softer, calmer look and hide imperfect plaster - useful in older homes. Kids' rooms argue for low sheen instead: handprints wipe off.
Kitchens
Steam, grease film and splashes. Walls and ceilings need washable, moisture-tolerant paint - low sheen or semi-gloss depending on the surface. Preparation matters double here: painting over grease film guarantees adhesion problems.
Bathrooms and laundries
The wettest rooms in the house. Moisture-resistant bathroom paint with mould inhibitors, over properly cleaned and dried surfaces. Exhaust fans and ventilation decide how long any coating lasts - paint can't beat a room that never dries out.
Ceilings everywhere
Flat ceiling white, almost always. Raking light shows everything on a ceiling, and flat hides it. Stains need blocking primer first - our ceiling guide covers that in detail.
Trim, doors and skirting
Semi-gloss or gloss enamel: durable, washable, and the contrast frames the walls. Trim is also the most visible workmanship in a job - straight cut lines and smooth enamel are where care shows.
How disruption actually works
Furniture moves to the middle of the room under covers, floors get protected, and rooms come back to you as they're finished. A whole-house interior is usually staged so you're never locked out of everything at once. Our preparation guide covers what to do before the crew arrives.
Call 0420 596 677 to talk through your place.