Painting is a sure-shot way to give your apartment an instant facelift. It hides flaws and revives dirty walls and changes the look of the entire area. Whenever we think about painting an apartment or a room, the first thing which comes to our mind is the cost related to it and various other relevant factors.

Therefore, this article brings you everything you need to know about painting an apartment, cost, DIY cost, and everything in between.

Is Painting Your Apartment Worth It?

Painting is always the cheapest way to refresh your apartment. In the case of a rental, it may not be particularly so. In most circumstances, you can go ahead and paint unless your lease forbids you otherwise. But is it worth painting?

It probably isn’t if you are staying for less than a year or so. But in the case of a long-term lease, you can consider painting. But are you allowed?

You may also want to check with your landowner firsthand. As long as the end result is pleasing, you shouldn’t face any problems. If not, you may have to repaint in the old colors before vacating.

Average Cost to Paint an Apartment

In general, it should cost you around $1000 – $3000 for an average-sized apartment.

In the case of a one-bedroom apartment without much detailing and a 10’ ceiling, the average cost would be $1,000 – $2,000. For a larger apartment with intricate details, it would cost you around $2,500 – $3,500. This estimate includes the labor costs and painting materials.

The cost may differ significantly based on the location; in a high-income area, the painters will inevitably charge you more. And of course, the cost of the materials plays a huge part in the price.

The pricing may also depend on other factors:

• Size
• Complexity
• Prep work

How Much Does it Cost to Paint a Room?

Painters charge $350 – $850 for an average size room, depending on the work involved. The average cost to paint a room measuring 10 x 12 square feet is $350-$850, while it is $200 – $600 for a 10 x 10 sq ft room. And for a 12 x 12 sq ft room, it costs $400 – $900.

The cost for each major room is as follows:

• Living Room – For a 330 square-foot living room, your painter may charge you anywhere from $600 – $2000.
• Master Bedroom – The cost to paint a master bedroom is $650 – $1,400, not including the primer.
• Bathroom – Painting cost for a bathroom ranges between $150 – $400.
• Kitchen – Average cost to paint a kitchen is $150 – $250.

The above-mentioned painting costs are just average and will change depending on the coverage area and the floor space.

Labor Costs

Average labor costs for a painter range anywhere between $180 and $650 to paint a room. This figure may be:

• Hourly – is a more outdated approach for pricing but currently used for smaller projects. But most painters charge $20-$50 per hour if they go by hourly rates.
• Cost per Square Foot of Coverage – is a quick and easy method of pricing, but it requires a detailed floor plan or blueprint. Going by this approach, painters charge $3-$7 per square foot.
• Cost per Square Foot of Floor Space – is mostly used in bidding projects since it is more accurate. The labor cost is approximately $1 – $3 per square foot.

Labor cost makes up to 70% to 85% of the total cost of the project. Of the three, the hourly is more unpredictable since it is pretty challenging to estimate the time painter may take.

Cost to Paint a 700 Sq Ft Apartment

The average cost to paint a 700 sq ft apartment with an 8′ ceiling ranges between $500 – $3500. The cost doesn’t include repairs and also windows and doors. The price may change depending on the color of the paint as well since darker colors or different colors need more coats than the standard two coats.

Cost to Paint a 2 Bedroom Apartment

The cost to paint a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,000 and $3,000. The more complex the painting, the costlier it would be.

The project includes your kitchen, living room, bedrooms, bathroom, hallway, etc.

Cost to Paint Accent Walls

Accent walls cost more than a regular wall due to their complexity and textured nature. The texture also adds more surface area.

A single accent wall can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 to paint. Decorative murals or paintings can cost $35 – $150, depending on the difficulty and intricate nature. The materials and the labor are included in the cost to paint.

Cost to Hire a Painter

A professional painter can charge you anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour. The charge can go from $75- $100 per hour in areas with a high cost of living.

If they charge per square foot, it would be $2 – $6. On the whole, you can expect to pay from $200 to $500 per day.

The painters’ total cost includes

• Supplies (including paint) 15%
• Labor 85%

Time Taken to Paint a 2 Bedroom Apartment

A 2 bedroom apartment takes 3-4 days to paint with a team of 2-3 people. The time taken to paint a room depends on the following:

• Prep Work – Interior painting starts with appropriate prep work, including covering or moving furniture, laying drop cloths, tape off certain areas, etc., which takes 30-60 minutes.
• Size of the Room – The size more or less determines how quickly the work is done. An average room measures 432 sq ft, and it takes approximately 4-6 hours from prep work to clean up.
• Painting Technique – Even though spraying is the fastest method, a combination of brush and roller is used for interior painting.
• Number of Coats – The standard number of coats is two coats unless it is a darker color. It takes 45 minutes to apply the first coat and less than 30 minutes to apply the second coat.
• Final Touches – The cleaning up and the touching up work will take another hour.

How Much Does it Cost to Paint a Room Yourself?

Painting a room yourself is cheaper than when done by a professional. The DIY cost to paint a room(10’x12′) is $125, which is the cost of the supplies.

You may also want to consider:

• Room size
• Colors
• Paint quality
• Cost of the paint
• Ceiling height

Whose Responsibility is it to Paint: Landlord or Renter?

The landlord has the responsibility to paint the apartment he is renting out. The renter can paint or renovate the apartment only if he/she has express permission from the landlord.

Having said that, he isn’t required to paint his property between tenants.

How Frequently Should You Paint a Rental Apartment?

Painting a rental property is at the owner’s discretion. At the same time, most owners prefer to paint their apartment every 3-5 years and try to coincide with a turnover.

As long as the property looks safe and sound, there is no reason to paint apart from a few touchups.

Tips to Reduce Apartment Painting Cost

The cost to paint an apartment is often too high and vary depending on:

• Labor Costs
• Cost of painting supplies

The cost of the supplies is not much as the labor costs which is the huge chunk of the final remuneration. By controlling it, you can reduce the painting cost:

• Get Multiple bids

Contact multiple contractors and get more than one estimate from different painting businesses around you. While the cheapest may not be the best, it can give you an idea about the cost of hiring painters in your area.

Ensure that the estimate includes hours spent, brands, etc.

• Have everything in writing via a contract

You must have everything that has been decided between you and the painter in writing, including the payment terms, the scope of work, painting supplies, timeline, etc.

• Do some of the prep work by yourself.

If possible, do a portion of the prep work like moving furniture, sanding, cleaning, caulking, etc., to help reduce the labor cost.

Moreover, if possible, buy paint supplies at a discounted rate. But ensure that you keep your painter in the loop. You do not want to end up buying the wrong products.

• Repaint frequently

The longer the duration between paint jobs, the more issues you are likely to run into. The hours spent on surface preparation are sure to result in extra costs.

• Do not change the color.

Retaining the existing colors lets you get away with one coat of paint instead of two. Also, you may want to avoid darker colors since they need more coats to obtain an even surface.

• Reduce the scope of the job

Skip ceiling and inside of cabinets as long as they are in good condition. Limiting the scope of the home improvement project helps save money on labor and paint.

Types of Paint for Apartment Painting

For an apartment, you’ll need a flat or eggshell finish for the walls. Flat paints help hide the scuff marks and conceal the blemishes. As for the ceiling, flat paints are the best choice. In the case of doors and windows, a semi-gloss finish works great.

Coming to the paint, you’ll want a water-based latex paint that’s easily washable. Get paint samples from home improvement stores and consult with your contractor before making a decision.

Standard Apartment Paint Color

Crisp white paint has been the standard paint color for a long time. However, you can opt for the below colors for a trendy look:

• Dark Blue
• Sage
• Earthy Ochre
• Silver
• Light Grey (with White Trim)
• Super White
• Green
• Beige
• Sky Blue
• Purple
• Blue-Green (Turquoise)
• Coffee

Best Paint for a Rental Apartment

As long as it is your home, you are free to experiment with bold colors, clashing or not. But it is safer to stick with neutrals and subdued color when it comes to rental properties.

• Gray
• Tan
• Cream
• Dark Neutral

Dark colors are better suited for rooms other than the living room since not many renters prefer the ambiance of the room. Grays (and their many hues) are a more trendy choice. They do not show dirt and age.

Apartment Paint Ideas

Painting an apartment comes with a whole new set of challenges, quite different from that of your home. Here are a few paint ideas that work well with any apartment:

1. Create an accent wall. Accent walls bring fun and color into an apartment that is otherwise stark and dull.
2. Use bright colors in combination with subdued shades for better light reflectivity.
3. Better use of lighting, natural and artificial, can enliven your room. Mirrors and other furnishings with reflective materials work well for this purpose.
4. When in doubt, go for a monochromatic look.
5. A smaller apartment will benefit from a lighter shade as it can open up the room.
6. The ceiling color should be several shades lighter than the walls; this gives an illusion of high ceilings.

Rules for Painting Apartments

Be it a rental property or an apartment, painting is by far the easiest method to jazz up your home. Here are a few rules to abide by:

• In the case of a rental property, you must talk with your landlord before painting. Ensure that you discuss the colors with him.
• Go with lighter colors since darker shades, especially pinks and reds, are difficult to cover.
• Choose the type of paint with care. With an apartment, the chances are that there are more flaws to hide or correct. Flat paint works the best for uneven walls. On the other hand, it is difficult to wash and accumulates dirt much more than glossier paint.
• Cover everything that is not painted! Place drop cloths on the floor or carpet. This makes cleanup much more manageable.
• It is also recommended you use painter’s tape to get that straight-edge look on trim and adjoining ceilings and walls.

Conclusion

The interior painting cost of an apartment is never cheap and requires a pretty penny. If the budget is your problem, you could paint the apartment yourself and cut down the project costs; though easy on the cost, it is a pretty big project that requires a lot of work.

However, DIY is not a good option if you are a beginner. In case you are in a rental, it is always better to hire a painter. You do not want to lose your security deposit over a lousy paint job.

Remember, the cost to paint an apartment largely depends on the region and even on the zip code to an extent. So, ensure that you get estimates from multiple interior painters and choose the one who works the best on your budget.

Here at Wiese Painting, we are experienced with painting all colors, be it your apartment, home, or office. We guarantee that any hard-to-paint color or surface is tackled with professionalism and tricks that have been acquired through years of painting. You will love the look of your freshly painted home, so contact us today for your free quote!