In most cases, you do not need to move out while your house is being painted. Most interior repaints are done room by room, and with today's low-VOC and no-VOC paints the fumes are minimal, so the majority of Toronto homeowners stay home throughout the job. Moving out only makes sense for large whole-home projects done all at once, homes with young children or people sensitive to odours, or when you simply prefer to be out of the way.

Why Most People Can Stay

Professional crews work in sections and keep the rest of your home livable. While one room is being painted and drying, you use the others. Furniture is moved to the centre and covered, floors are protected, and the work area is contained. By the end of each day, the crew cleans up so the space is safe to be around.

When Staying Home Works Well

• Single rooms or a few rooms: easy to live around.
• Low-VOC or no-VOC paint: little to no lingering smell.
• Good ventilation: open windows and fans clear odours fast.
• Occupied but flexible household: you can shift between rooms.

When You Might Want to Leave

• Whole-home repaints done all at once: most rooms are out of use simultaneously.
• Infants, elderly family, or respiratory sensitivities: even low odours can bother sensitive people.
• Oil-based paints in enclosed areas: these have a stronger, longer-lasting smell than latex.
• Whole-floor refinishing plus painting: when access is genuinely blocked.

How to Live Comfortably During a Repaint

Ventilate

Open windows and run fans in and near the freshly painted room. Toronto's milder months make this easy; in winter, short bursts of ventilation still help.

Plan your rooms

Ask the crew for the day-by-day room schedule so you know where you'll sleep and cook. Bedrooms are often scheduled so they're dry by bedtime.

Choose the right paint

Request low-VOC or no-VOC products. They're widely available and dramatically reduce odour, which is the main reason people consider leaving.

Keep pets and kids clear

Set up a pet- and child-free zone away from wet paint and equipment for everyone's safety.

Toronto Painters schedules interior jobs to keep your home livable and uses low-odour paints wherever possible. For a free quote and a room-by-room plan across the GTA, call 647-450-8704.

FAQ

Is it safe to sleep in a freshly painted room?

With low-VOC or no-VOC latex paint and good ventilation, most people are comfortable sleeping in a room the same night once it's dry. If you're sensitive to smells, give it an extra night or use a different bedroom.

How long do paint fumes last?

With modern low-VOC latex paints, noticeable odour usually fades within a day with ventilation. Oil-based paints linger longer, which is one reason latex is preferred indoors.

Can I stay home if my whole house is being painted?

Often yes, because the work moves room to room. If every room is being done at once on a tight timeline, some homeowners choose to stay elsewhere for convenience rather than safety.

Should I leave with a newborn or pet in the house?

It's a reasonable precaution. Even with low-odour paint, sensitive family members and pets are best kept in an unaffected part of the home or offsite during active painting.