Can you use interior paint outside? Paint professionals advise

Will freshening up outdoor spaces with indoor paint create more headaches than it's worth?

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If you have paint leftover from redecorating your interiors it can be very tempting to take it outside and give outdoor walls, furniture, and fencing a quick refresh too – especially when you think about how much paint ends up in landfills.

So, can you use interior paint outside or is it a DIY and decorating faux pas? Paint professionals say that while it's possible to use it to paint a house exterior, it's a shortcut not worth making.

It's not what interior paint is designed to do – because of the differences in the formulation of interior and exterior paints, it will likely need repainting much more quickly than if you used the right paint for the job.

'No, interior paints are formulated differently than exterior paints. Interior paint won't hold up to the elements from the outdoors,' asserts contractor Jay Sanders of Castle Dream Basement Waterproofing, a home remodeling company in Baltimore.

Still thinking of winging it? Here is what the paint pros suggest, and what to do if you have accidentally covered a garden wall with indoor paint.

While it is generally not recommended, paint expert Ray Brosnan says there are a few instances where using interior paint on exterior surfaces may be feasible. First, it could be a cost-effective, short-term fix: repurposing leftover interior paint for small, low-impact outdoor projects can help save money if you're on a tight budget.

Plus, it might do the job in areas that are fairly sheltered, like a pergola or summer house. 'In cases where the surface is sheltered from direct sunlight and protected from extreme weather conditions, interior paint may offer temporary coverage,' Ray shares.

As with the question of using exterior paint indoors, using interior paint in an open air environment has a few drawbacks.

Interior paint is designed to resist abrasion, stains, and fingerprints (and the best types of paints for kitchens are designed to be easy to clean). But because it doesn't have the same heavy-duty chemicals of external paints, such as mildewcide, it will not hold up well against the elements. As a result, it's likely to crack, fade, blister, and peel fairly quickly, ultimately making our garden wall paint ideas look shabby rather than chic.

It's also less able to withstand UV rays from the sun and temperature fluctuations than external paint, which is more flexible and able to accommodate the expansion and contraction of outdoor surfaces through the changing of the seasons. What's more, it might not adhere to outdoor surfaces particularly well either. Indoor paint may also be too thin and too porous, potentially taking a long time to dry outdoors.

'If you have an outdoor painting project, it's generally best to choose a high-quality exterior paint that can withstand the specific conditions it will be exposed to,' agrees Andre Kazimierski, CEO, Improovy Painters St Louis.

Andre Kazimierski founded Improovy in 2019 and has developed it into a leading home improvement service. It is his mission to make painting more efficient for all of his clients and uses generations of expertise to inform his work.

Backdrop color card | $6 at Backdrop HomeExplore the shades of Backdrop's color palette to inspire upcoming renovation projects indoors and out.

'You can prime, paint, and seal interior paint, but when put outdoors it will still peel, chip, and crack when exposed to the elements,' says contractor Jay Sanders. Reduce how often you need to paint a house exterior by preparing thoroughly and using high-quality external paint.

'Emulsion and latex paint is primarily designed for indoor use and may not be suitable for long-term outdoor applications,' says John at PaintAnalyzer. 'It begins to show signs of wear and deterioration within a few months to a year.'

Interior paint outdoors will likely need repainting after a year or two, depending on how exposed the area is. Consider sealing it with a weather-resistant sealer or waterproof paint, at Walmart, to help it withstand the elements.

We wouldn't take our indoor furniture outside, and the same applies to paint. We think that if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing properly, so save interior paint for indoor spaces.

From painting shelves and display cabinets in a dark, dramatic tone to giving door frames and trim a colorful makeover, there are plenty of DIY ideas to use up leftover paint inside.

Decor Ideas. Project Inspiration. Expert Advice. Delivered to your inbox.

Millie Hurst is Section Editor at Homes & Gardens, overseeing the Solved section, which provides readers with practical advice for their homes. She has been in the world of digital journalism for six years, having previously worked as Senior SEO Editor at News UK both in London and New York. She joined the Future team two years ago, working across a range of homes brands. Millie formerly worked as Senior Content Editor at Ideal Home, taking care of evergreen articles that help and inspire people to make the most of their homes and outdoor spaces. Millie has a degree in French and Italian and lives in North London.

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