What You Need to Know About Interior Paint Fading (And How to Prevent It)

If you’ve ever removed a framed picture from a wall and noticed that the space behind it looked a slightly different color from the rest of the surface, you might’ve been a little puzzled. But believe it or not, there’s nothing weird or paranormal occurring; often, we don’t notice the gradual fading of the paint on our walls until something draws our attention to it! Keep reading below to learn about why interior paint tends to fade and lose its vibrancy after some time, along with some tips for preventing the issue in the first place.

Why Does Interior Paint Fade?

In a perfect world, paint would indefinitely remain as bright and radiant as the day it was painted. Sadly, this isn’t the case—but don’t let that dissuade you! The average lifespan of interior paint is still an impressive 7 to 10 years under optimal circumstances. This is actually considerably longer compared to how long exterior paint can last, given that the latter is exposed to harmful natural elements like sunlight, wind, and rain.

However, interior paint still has one discernable weakness; it can fade, thus diminishing the beauty of your results. There are many things that can trigger this color reduction, but a few common reasons include:

• Lower-quality paint was used.
• The room suffers from fluctuating temperatures or inadequate airflow.
• Windows in the room have caused frequent sunlight exposure to the paint.
• The painted surface wasn’t properly cleaned or repaired beforehand.

How Can I Prevent Interior Paint from Fading?

Given the amount of time, effort, and money that goes into painting the interior of your home, needless to say, you shouldn’t want your paint to fade at all! But even though Father Time will be testing your walls, there are still a few things you can do to ensure that they look stunning and vibrant for several years to come. Consider these tips:

• Since sunlight is the most important factor in causing paint to fade, do what you can to block UV rays from entering your home. Consider using curtains, blinds, or even a patio umbrella to help reduce the amount of light striking your painted walls.
• Choose a lighter color of paint, or one with a higher sheen to help reflect light rather than absorb it. Some ideas include flat, matte, and eggshell variants of whites and grays.
• Applying more coats of paint can also help your color to remain stronger and brighter for much longer. One coat usually provides consistent coverage, but two coats can provide true, lasting fullness to your walls.

Of course, it goes without saying that another surefire way to ensure lasting, beautiful results that aren’t likely to fade is by hiring a team of professionals to handle your project. They use the best paints, the most-proven techniques, and will take other specific considerations to ensure that your paint doesn’t fade and looks spectacular for a long while.

About Platinum Painting of Plano

The talented team at Platinum Painting of Plano has assisted countless homeowners in Plano with all kinds of paint projects, and they’d love to help you with your next grand undertaking! If you have any questions about the article or you’d like to contact the team to set up a FREE in-home estimate, feel free to give them a call today or contact them online. Telephone: (469) 570-6137.