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Top 5 Interior Painting Projects To Get Done Before the Holidays

October 3rd, 2025

4 min read

By Kaylea Kuhlman

Living room in Omaha, NE painted white walls with plants, picture frames, and books.

The holidays bring family gatherings, friends stopping by, and more time spent indoors. If you are like many Omaha homeowners, you may already be picturing guests gathering in your living room, meals being shared in the kitchen, or a cozy evening by the fireplace. At the same time, you might notice small things that bother you: scuffed trim, faded walls, or cabinets that look a little worn down. Those details can make your home feel less welcoming during a season when you want it to look its best.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we have been helping Omaha homeowners refresh their homes since 1996. Over the years, we have seen firsthand how a simple update in a well-used space can completely change how a home feels for the holidays. Because we use high-quality paint products and detailed prep work, we know which projects make the biggest impact in a short time frame and why they matter most before the busy holiday season.

This article will walk you through the top indoor painting projects to consider before the holidays arrive. We will talk about the rooms that make the biggest difference, why certain touch-ups go a long way, and how smaller details like trim or fireplace mantels can tie everything together. By the end, you will have a clear idea of which projects may be worth doing now so you can welcome guests into a home that feels fresh, warm, and ready for celebration.

Why the Holidays Are the Perfect Time for Small Painting Projects

The months leading up to the holidays are a natural deadline for many homeowners. You already plan for decorations, meal prep, and cleaning, so it makes sense to take care of painting projects you have been putting off. While a whole-home paint job may not be necessary right now, certain targeted updates can make your home look polished.

Winter in Omaha also means colder temperatures outdoors. That makes this season ideal for tackling indoor projects that can be completed in a controlled environment, away from the freezing weather. Paint technology has improved as well, with low-odor and fast-drying options available, so you will not have to worry about fumes or long wait times before you can enjoy your space again.

Kitchen with interior walls freshly painted off white with warm brown stained cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Painting Your Kitchen

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. Whether you are baking cookies, cooking a holiday meal, or simply gathering around the counter, people naturally gravitate here. Because of its heavy use, kitchen walls and trim often show more wear and tear than other areas.

Refreshing your kitchen with paint can brighten the space instantly. Walls near the stove or sink may have grease spots or stains that are hard to clean, while baseboards and trim might have scuff marks from daily traffic. Touching up these areas not only improves how the kitchen looks but also helps protect the surfaces.

Some homeowners also choose to update their cabinets before the holidays. Even a single fresh coat of a durable coating can make older cabinets look new again, creating a backdrop that works well with holiday decorations and dinner parties.

Living room freshly painted a mustard yellow color on walls with white woodwork.

Painting Living Rooms and Gathering Spaces

After the kitchen, the living room is the next most important space during the holiday season. This is where you put up your Christmas tree, arrange decorations, and host family gatherings. Because of the extra attention this space gets, worn or outdated walls can be especially noticeable.

A fresh coat of paint on the walls or even just on the trim can make your living room feel more inviting. Many Omaha homeowners choose neutral colors in these spaces to make their decorations stand out, while others use this as an opportunity to create an accent wall that frames the tree or fireplace.

Furniture being moved in and out, kids playing, and guests coming over can also leave their mark on your walls. Addressing these issues before the holidays ensures your living room looks cared for when it is filled with people.

Bathroom walls painted white with a large tub with brown tile.

Painting Bathrooms: Small Rooms, Big Impact

Bathrooms are often overlooked, but during the holidays, they are some of the most visited rooms in the house. Guests notice them more than you might realize. Because they are small, painting projects here are usually quicker and less disruptive, yet the results are immediately noticeable.

Fresh paint can also help cover moisture spots or peeling areas that sometimes show up in bathrooms due to steam. A clean, bright finish creates a more comfortable experience for guests and helps the room feel maintained. Even updating just the trim or vanity can make a big difference.

Paint Touch-Ups for Trim, Doors, and Hallways

Sometimes the biggest impact does not come from painting entire rooms but from focusing on high-traffic areas. Trim and doors, especially white or light-colored ones, often show fingerprints, scratches, or dirt. Hallways, where kids run back and forth or where coats and shoes are carried through, also take on a lot of wear.

Refreshing these details with a new coat of paint can make your whole home feel cleaner and more cared for. Even though these updates are small, they change how people experience your home, since guests notice the condition of doors and trim as they move from room to room.

Stone fireplace painted white in a living room with darker brown walls.Painting Fireplace Mantels and Focal Points

In Omaha, where winters are cold, fireplaces naturally become a centerpiece of holiday gatherings. The mantel is where stockings are hung, family photos are displayed, and decorations are arranged. If your fireplace mantel looks dated or worn, painting it before the holidays can give it a fresh new look.

A freshly painted mantel can tie the whole room together. Whether you choose a crisp white that makes decorations stand out, or a bold color that contrasts with the walls, this small project can dramatically improve your living space before the holidays.

Why Smaller Paint Projects Can Make a Bigger Difference

It is easy to assume that only large projects matter, but sometimes small details create the most impact. Think about how often guests lean against a door frame, glance at the bathroom walls, or notice the color behind the fireplace. These are the things people see up close, and they are often the first details to show wear.

Choosing to focus on smaller, heavily used spaces before the holidays allows you to maximize your budget and time while still creating a fresh, welcoming environment for family and friends.

How to Prioritize Projects Before the Holidays

Not every home needs the same updates. A good way to decide where to start is by asking yourself a few questions:

  • Where will guests be spending the most time?
  • Which areas of my home are showing the most wear?
  • Do I want to refresh an entire room or just do touch-ups around the house?
  • Are there any focal points, like the fireplace or kitchen cabinets, that could stand out more with paint?

By thinking about how your home is used during the holidays, you can narrow down the projects that will make the biggest difference in time for the season.

Indoor Painting in Omaha, NE

The holidays are a busy time, but they are also an opportunity to finally finish those projects you have been putting off. From kitchens and living rooms to bathrooms, hallways, trim, and mantels, these updates can transform the way your home feels without requiring a full remodel.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we have helped Omaha homeowners refresh their homes before gatherings since 1996. If you are ready to give your home an update before the season begins, click the button below to get a quote.

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If you are not sure about starting yet, try our interior painting pricing calculator to see what your project might cost. This way, you can plan ahead and make the decision that feels right for your home.

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Kaylea Kuhlman

Kaylea is the Brush & Roll Painting Content Manager. Kaylea is a Journalism and Media Communications summa cum laude graduate with a minor in Marketing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kaylea manages the marketing for Brush & Roll Painting.