There is a higher level of expenditure among Australians in the upgrading and renovation of existing houses. On 7 October 2026, according to figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, work on alterations and additions for residential buildings increased by 12.6 per cent over the year to the June quarter. The seasonally adjusted expenditure totalled more than $4.1 billion in one quarter alone. One of the first steps in such upgrades would be the repainting of walls in the house. In the suburb of Kew, which has many homes built during the Victorian and Edwardian eras and the interwar period, the task might not be as simple as it sounds.
The Secrets Behind Old Walls
Many homes in Kew are Victorian, Edwardian and interwar homes with their own quirks regarding construction that interior painters Kew homeowners hire must understand. The walls of these older homes have been repainted with layers of different colours over several decades. Underneath all those layers, however, there is lath and plaster instead of today’s plasterboard.
Lath and plaster expands, cracks and separates from the wooden laths after several decades. Painting over cracks and holes in the wall only conceals but does not solve the problem at hand; the walls need to be repaired, filled and sealed before painting.
The Lead Problem in Older Homes
For homes painted prior to 1970, lead-based paints may be present in some parts of the house. Guidelines by the Australian Government caution about the dangers involved in exposing the layers of paint in older houses as they may contain lead. Children, pregnant individuals and animals are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure at home.
A preliminary test can reveal the presence of lead before any scraping, sanding or stripping takes place. However, laboratory tests will provide the definitive answer. Dry sanding and flame stripping are especially dangerous when done on surfaces with lead-based paint.
Lead-safe practices include:
The Work and Patience Required for Detail
Interior designs of periods are bursting with all sorts of decorative details that newer homes just can’t match. You find things like ornate cornices, ceiling roses, picture rails and tall skirtings, all of which demand a delicate touch. Because of the heavy paint build-up that goes on over the years, the fine details of the plasterwork can start to get completely lost in a blur.
Deciding when to scrape off the old paint, when to fill in the gaps and when to leave things just as they are is no easy task. Some of the cornices might only need a gentle clean before a fresh coat of paint, whereas others might be crying out for a plaster restorer before even picking up a paintbrush.
And don’t even get me started on timber joinery; it’s all about attention to detail. Architraves, doors and window frames often look like they’ve had a long history of getting chipped and dripped on, and patched up in a haphazard way. But get some proper care and attention and they’ll be looking like new in no time.
Finding the Right Colour and Light in Long, Dark Rooms
When you’ve got high ceilings and long, narrow hallways, the way that colour looks and feels in your period home can be totally different from how it does in a modern one. A warm colour that looks great on a sample card can end up feeling cold and lifeless in a dimly lit corridor. Testing out big samples on loads of different walls, at all sorts of different times of day, is the only way to avoid making a costly mistake.
Hallways in older homes often don’t get loads of natural light, especially on the south side, so a warmer, lighter colour can really help to brighten up the place without taking away from its character. Deeper colours tend to look really good in formal rooms with big windows and high ceilings.
Lots of people like to mix in some of the original period colours with a few modern neutrals. This helps to keep the walls looking calm and soothing while still highlighting the original trim work. And if you want to make a really tall room feel more balanced, try painting the ceiling a slightly lighter shade than the walls.
But it’s not just the colour that’s important; the sheen level matters too. If you go for a flat finish, it can really help to hide all the bumps and ridges that are bound to be on the walls and ceilings of an old house. A satin or semi-gloss finish is better suited to doors, trim, and skirtings that get a lot of wear and tear.
Painting an old interior is a much more time-consuming job than painting a modern one, but if you put in the time and effort, it’s definitely worth it. Just be sure to handle the lead paint safely, choose your colours with care and take your time, and your period home will be looking its absolute best for years to come.
