How to Save Money on Your Next House Painting Project (Without Regretting It Later!)
Ready to paint your house? Are you concerned about your house painting budget? You are not Alone. Painting your home is one of the easiest ways to give it a new look, increase value, and improve the feel of your home- makie it you! BUT—costs can add up quickly. The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune to get high-quality results. At D’Franco Painting & Wallpaper, we’ve helped plenty of homeowners across St. Charles, Huntley, Crystal Lake, Barrington, Bartlett, and Elgin save money on their painting projects without sacrificing quality.
Whether you’re hiring a professional or going the DIY route, here are the best ways to cut costs on house painting—without cutting corners.
💰 Quick Answer: How to Save Money on Painting
- Skip ceilings and trim if they don’t need repainting.
- Do your own wall prep (patch holes, remove nails, etc.).
- Move furniture and remove switch plates yourself.
- Hire a painter for the tricky parts (like cutting in).
- Choose budget-friendly but high-quality paint.
- Paint during the off-season for better pricing.
- Get multiple quotes to find best the best value (not just pricing)
1. Decide What Really Needs Painting
We’ve had plenty of customers say, “I thought I needed to paint everything, but once the walls were fresh, the ceiling looked fine!”
If your trim, ceilings, or certain walls still look good, why pay to paint them? Focus on the high-impact areas and skip the rest—it can cut costs significantly.
Real Customer Savings:
- One homeowner in St. Charles saved hundreds by only repainting walls, skipping trim and ceilings.
- A family in Crystal Lake chose to repaint only high-traffic areas, leaving guest rooms untouched.
Moral of the story? Don’t paint what doesn’t need painting. It’s like going to the buffet and only getting what you’ll actually eat.
2. Do Some Prep Work Yourself (Easy Stuff, No Ladders Required!)
Professional painters (like us!) can handle wall repairs, furniture moving, outlet covers, and more—but if you want to save money, doing some of the prep yourself can knock down labor costs.
Here’s What You Can Do Yourself to Save:
✅ Patch small holes and nail pops with spackle.
✅ Remove nails, hooks, and wall décor.
✅ Take off outlet and switch plate covers.
✅ Move furniture to the center of the room.
✅ Clean the walls (trust us, dusty walls mess up paint adhesion!).
What You Should Probably Leave to the Pros:
❌ Large drywall repairs (unless you enjoy lumpy walls).
❌ Cutting in around ceilings, windows, and doors (it’s trickier than it looks!).
❌ Dealing with water damage, stains, or peeling paint.
Customer Example: A homeowner in Huntley did their own wall repairs and moved furniture before we arrived, which cut labor time by 30% and saved them $800 on their painting project!
3. Skip the Fancy Paint—But Don’t Go Too Cheap
Yes, premium paint is great, but that $80/gallon designer brand? Probably overkill for most homes. Mid-range, high-quality paints like Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore will do the job just fine.
💡 Pro Tip: A high-quality paint with great coverage means you need fewer coats—saving time and money! (read more about paint here!)
Avoid These Costly Mistakes:
🚫 Buying the cheapest paint—thin, streaky coverage means more coats.
🚫 Getting “color-matched” knockoff paint—it often looks different than the original shade.
🚫 Not checking for sales! Paint companies frequently have discounts, especially during off-seasons.
4. Only Hire Painters for the Hard Parts
We get it—not everyone loves painting. But if you’re on a budget, you don’t have to hire a painter for the whole job.
Some of our Elgin and Pingree Grove customers save money by having us handle the tricky parts (cutting in around ceilings, doors, and trim) while they roll the walls themselves.
Why?
- Cutting in takes precision (if you’ve ever tried it, you know it’s the difference between “Pinterest-worthy” and “oops”).
- It prevents messy mistakes that require expensive fixes.
Customer Example: A couple in Bartlett hired us just to do the cutting in and high walls, then finished rolling the walls themselves— $1200 is what they paid for us to finish the job for them.
5. Get Multiple Quotes— Find Value not Cheap
A good painting company should offer a fair price, not just the lowest bid.
🚨 Red Flags in Cheap Painting Quotes:
- No written contract.
- No mention of prep work (it matters!).
- Suspiciously short timelines (good work takes time).
A homeowner in Crystal Lake went with a painter who offered a rock-bottom price. They ended up with drips, uneven coverage, and paint on their floors. Guess who they called to fix it? (Yep, us.)
We offer free one-year touch-ups and free in-house color consultations to help you relax and take the pressure off finding the right color. With Duration mattte as our basic paint, you get quality paint with no upcharge.
👉 Lesson learned: Saving money upfront isn’t worth it if you have to pay twice.
6. Paint in the Off-Season for Better Pricing
Did you know painters have busy and slow seasons? Winter and early spring are slower months, which means you can often get a better deal.
If you have flexibility, booking in the off-season can lead to discounts or faster turnaround times!
7. Ask About Specials and Bundles
Budgets matter!
That’s why we always recommend asking if there are discounts for bundling services like:
✅ Multiple rooms at once
✅ Interior and exterior painting together
✅ Referral discounts (we love when you send friends our way!) (you can earn $200 off your next paint job and give a $200 discount!) click here to find out more
One of our customers in Huntley booked both interior and exterior painting in the off-season and saved 15% just by bundling services!
🎬 Wrapping It Up (Without a Paintbrush)
Saving money on a painting project doesn’t mean cutting corners—it means being smart about where you spend and where you can DIY.
Here’s a quick recap of how you can lower painting costs:
✔️ Skip ceilings and trim if they don’t need it.
✔️ Do basic prep work yourself (patch holes, move furniture).
✔️ Choose quality, mid-range paint (not too cheap, not too fancy).
✔️ Hire pros for tricky areas like cutting in.
✔️ Get multiple quotes—but be wary of “too good to be true” prices.
✔️ Paint in the off-season for better pricing.
✔️ Ask about bundles or discounts.
At D’Franco Painting & Wallpaper, we’re happy to help you find the best way to get your house painted without overspending.
