If you're getting ready for an interior or cabinet painting project, one of the things you might not be prepared for is just how much space the painters will need while working. Maybe you’ve had friends mention a painting crew setting up in their garage—or worse, turning the basement into a spray booth. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out how much of your daily life will be disrupted once the project starts.
It’s a common concern for Omaha homeowners: How much of my house will the painters actually use? Will I still be able to cook in my kitchen? Is it okay if they ask to use my garage or basement to paint? These questions deserve real answers, especially before anyone starts taping off your cupboards or moving drop cloths across your carpet.
At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve been serving Omaha homeowners since 1996. Over the years, we’ve helped thousands of people through interior and cabinet painting projects, everything from kitchen updates to full-home refreshes. We’ve also been called in to fix situations where the previous painter didn’t prepare properly, or where homeowners were left with lingering paint fumes because someone decided their furnace room made a good spray booth.
We’re here to help you avoid surprises. You deserve to know what’s normal, what’s not, and how to set expectations before the work even begins.
In this article, you’ll find out exactly how much space painters typically need for an interior or cabinet job, what parts of your home may be used temporarily, and what kinds of requests should raise a red flag. You’ll also learn how to talk with your painter about protecting your space, keeping things safe, and minimizing disruption during the project.
The amount of space painters will use depends on the scope of the project. Here’s what’s typical for the two most common interior jobs: walls/rooms and cabinets.
If you’re having rooms repainted, bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, ceilings, etc., the painters will need:
What’s reasonable: Most of the work stays within the room being painted. They may use a nearby area, like an unused corner, for storage, but they shouldn’t be spreading out across your house. A painter should also have a van (parked in a location you would prefer). Their van should store any unused equipment.
What to ask your painter:
This is where things get a little trickier and are different for every painting company. A professional cabinet painter will usually remove your cabinet doors and take them off-site to spray in a controlled, ventilated environment like a professional spray shop or enclosed trailer. This keeps paint fumes and overspray out of your home.
If you do want them to spray your cabinet boxes, they will need to “close” off your kitchen, and you won’t be able to access it at night.
If a painter asks to turn your garage, basement, or any room in your house into a makeshift spray booth (or they do it without a warning), that’s a red flag. Spraying paint indoors without proper ventilation and containment can damage surfaces, leave behind strong fumes, and pose health risks.
A painter may ask to use your garage to:
That’s okay if they’re not painting or spraying in there. And if the space is returned to how it was before, without dust, paint spills, or any lingering mess.
That’s not okay if they set up a spray booth in your garage. Unless your garage is heated, ventilated, filtered, and designed for paint spraying (which most residential garages are not), spraying inside it is risky.
Your basement should not be used for any type of cabinet painting or spraying. Period.
Why? Your basement is usually connected to your home’s HVAC system. Spraying down there, even if it’s in a plastic enclosure, can cause paint particles and fumes to circulate through your vents. That means your entire house could smell like paint... and worse, you could be breathing in chemicals for weeks.
In most cases, you should be able to. If your painter is just brushing the cabinet boxes, they will likely tape off countertops and cover floors, but you should still be able to use your kitchen when you need to.
If you are having your cabinet boxes sprayed, it’s best to plan on eating out or using a different part of the home for meals for a few days.
Yes, but only in certain areas. A professional team should only use the space they need. That might mean:
They should not be spreading paint, supplies, or unnecessary fumes throughout your entire house.
A reputable company will bring everything they need. This includes work lights, fans, and tools. You shouldn’t be expected to provide any of this.
Communication is everything. Before the project begins, ask your painter these questions:
A professional will have clear answers. If they hesitate or give vague responses, that’s a sign you may want to keep looking.
Some painters set up spray booths in garages or basements to save time or avoid transportation. But that shortcut comes at your expense.
Here’s what can go wrong:
At Brush & Roll Painting, when we spray indoors, we ensure it is a controlled environment that is masked or “closed” off. For cabinet painting, we always bring the doors back to our shop for a controlled, professional finish.
When working inside a client’s home, here’s what a good setup usually includes:
When everything is planned well, the crew should feel like guests, not like they’ve taken over your home.
If you're getting ready for an interior or cabinet painting project, understanding how much space painters will use—and how they’ll use it—can save you from stress, confusion, or even damage to your home. This article has given you clear guidelines on what to expect, what to ask, and what to avoid.
Brush & Roll Painting has been helping Omaha homeowners since 1996, and we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the “why are they spraying paint next to your furnace?” kind of setups. We’re here to help guide you, not to sell you, so you can make confident decisions and enjoy your project from start to finish.
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If you're feeling unsure about what to ask or how to tell if a painter is the right fit for your home, you're not alone. We've put together a free guide to hiring a painter to help you ask the right questions, spot red flags, and feel more confident as you move forward with your project. Click the button below to download it and take one more step toward a smoother, less stressful painting experience.