What's included
A typical interior quote covers walls and ceilings in the rooms you name. Trim, baseboards, doors, closets, stair rails and built-ins are often listed separately, so check each line.
- Walls: patch nail holes and dings, repair cracks, spot-prime patches, two coats.
- Ceilings: usually flat finish; water stains need a stain-blocking primer first or they bleed through.
- Trim and doors: sanded, caulked at the joints and painted in a harder, washable sheen.
- Protection: floors covered, furniture moved to the center and covered, switch plates removed, and cleanup each day.
Sheen by room
| Surface or room | Common sheen | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ceilings | Flat | Hides surface flaws and doesn't glare |
| Living and bedrooms | Eggshell or matte | Soft look, wipes clean |
| Kitchens and baths | Satin | Handles moisture and scrubbing |
| Trim, doors, cabinets | Semi-gloss | Hard, washable, shows the profile |
Sheen is a preference as much as a rule. The higher the sheen, the more it shows patches and wall waves, so prep matters more.
Drywall repair and older plaster
Small patches and crack repairs are normal prep. Larger water damage, sagging ceilings or loose plaster should be repaired (and the leak fixed) before painting. Ask whether repairs are included or billed separately.
Older homes: the 6 sq ft rule
In a home built before 1978, paid work that disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room falls under the EPA's lead-safe rules: an EPA-certified firm, plastic floor covering at least 6 feet beyond the work area, no dry sanding with unshrouded power tools, and verified cleanup. Window replacement and demolition always count, whatever the size. See the lead-safe guide.
Living in the house while it's painted
- Painters usually work room by room so you keep a bedroom and the kitchen usable.
- Current interior paints sold in the Bay Area meet the Air District's VOC limits (50 g/L for flat, 100 g/L for nonflat), which keeps odor down; ventilate anyway.
- Plan where pets and kids will be while doors are open and floors are covered.
Cost
A room is about $800–$2,500+, and per-square-foot pricing runs $8–$12+. Full numbers by home size are in the cost guide. Updating the kitchen too? See cabinet painting.
Questions homeowners ask
What is the average cost to paint a room?
Barbour Painting's published single-room range is $800–$2,500+. Size, ceiling height, the number of doors and windows, wall repairs and whether trim and ceilings are included decide where a room lands.
How much to paint a 12×12 room?
About $1,150–$1,730+ for walls and ceiling at $8–$12+ per square foot of floor (144 sq ft). Trim and doors are often priced separately.
How much to paint the interior of a 1,500 sq ft house?
Barbour's small-home band covers up to 1,500 sq ft at $3,000–$6,000+. Whole-house pricing works out lower per foot than single rooms because setup and travel are spread across more space.
Sources
- Barbour Painting (Concord): Bay Area painting prices contractor pricing
- U.S. EPA: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program for contractors federal
- 40 CFR 745.85: Work practice standards federal regulation
- Bay Area Air Quality Management District: Regulation 8, Rule 3, Architectural Coatings regional regulation
Contractor price pages are published pricing from individual painting companies, not quotes. Your price can land below or above these ranges.