Paint on electrical outlets creates a fire hazard. When paint seeps into the slots, it can interfere with electrical connections and cause arcing. The same goes for light switch plates when paint gets into the mechanisms. An interior house painter with experience will always remove these covers before painting walls and reinstall them afterward—never paint over them.

Those brass or nickel hinges on your doors? Leave them alone. Paint on hinges causes them to stick, squeak, and eventually fail. The paint chips off with normal use, leaving an ugly, flaky mess. If you don’t like the look of your hardware, replace it instead of painting it. This is one of the things you should never paint in your house if you want doors that actually work.

Painting window tracks is a mistake many homeowners make during interior house painting projects. Paint in the tracks prevents windows from opening and closing smoothly. It can also seal windows shut, which becomes a safety issue during emergencies. A skilled interior house painter will mask these areas carefully.

Standard latex paint can’t handle the heat that comes from HVAC vents and radiators. The paint will bubble, peel, and flake off—sometimes within days. If you want to change the color of heating elements, you need high-temperature specialty paint, and even then, it’s tricky. Most professionals recommend leaving these surfaces alone or using vent covers you can swap out.

Your countertops take a beating every day. Cutting, hot pans, spills, and constant cleaning will destroy painted surfaces quickly. Even with special countertop paint kits, the finish rarely lasts more than a year with regular use. Knowing what not to paint inside your home means accepting that countertops need proper materials, not paint.

Some homes have vinyl or aluminum surfaces inside garages, sunrooms, or enclosed porches. These materials expand and contract with temperature changes. Paint can’t flex with them, so it cracks and peels. Any experienced interior house painter will tell you this is on the list of things you should never paint in your house. If you’re unsure about what not to paint inside your home, ask a professional house painter to assess these surfaces.

New pressure-treated lumber contains moisture and chemicals that need time to dry out. Painting it too soon traps that moisture inside, leading to rot, warping, and paint failure. Most treated wood needs several months to cure before it can accept paint. A professional house painter will test moisture levels before starting any project.

That shiny laminate surface on budget cabinets and furniture exists specifically to resist adhesion. Paint won’t stick to it properly without extensive prep work, and even then, it chips easily with daily use. High-traffic areas like cabinet doors and drawer fronts will show wear within months. This is what not to paint inside your home unless you’re prepared for frequent touch-ups.

While you can paint brick and stone, the question is whether you should. Once painted, these porous materials trap moisture behind the paint layer. This leads to peeling, bubbling, and potential damage to the masonry itself. The paint is also nearly impossible to fully remove later. Many interior house painting professionals advise against this permanent decision.