Everything.
Okay, now, if everything is not an option due to time, budget, or just not caring enough about certain rooms yet, I think there are a few key areas to make sure you paint now—mostly so they don't become a pain to do later.
No particular order:
Closets
The time to do closets is when they are already empty.
Immediately after move-in, these things are going to fill up fast, and they'll probably stay just like that until you move again. Nobody ever wants to clean out a full closet just to paint it—and based on many, many projects, they usually don't.
Do yourself a favor and get them done before you move in.
Bedrooms
These rooms are often tight after move-in.
The bed takes up half the room, then you add in heavy dressers, nightstands, TVs, and everything else. By the time you start painting an occupied bedroom, you've got a foot or two on all sides around the furniture.
Paint them beforehand, move your stuff in, and then you only have to worry about repainting if you want to change the color in the future.
Living Rooms and Family Rooms
These rooms fill up with heavy stuff quickly.
The TV goes on the wall, the couch comes in, then the coffee table, entertainment center, bookshelves, side tables, lamps, and everything else that makes the room feel like a living room.
Can we paint around all of that later? Absolutely. We do it all the time!
But if the room is empty right now, why make it harder on yourself? Get the walls done, let everything dry, and then move the heavy stuff in once.
Areas That Are Less Important to Paint Right Away
I would put doors, kitchens, hallways, bathrooms, and utility areas a little lower on the list.
This might seem counterproductive, especially with the kitchen. It's probably one of the most-used rooms in the house, so why wouldn't you paint it before moving in?
But truly, if there's no heavy drywall repair involved, these areas are usually pretty easy to handle later without affecting the homeowner's life too much.
Kitchens
A kitchen normally doesn't have a ton of heavy stuff that needs to be moved around. Most of the room is cabinets, countertops, and appliances that stay where they are.
Depending on the scope, you may have to Uber Eats lunch, but many kitchen painting projects can be organized around the homeowner’s normal routine.
If you're trying to prioritize your budget before moving in, I'd rather see you get that packed closet or furniture-heavy bedroom done first.
Hallways
Hallways are usually pretty easy to come back to.
There isn't much to move, and you can keep access through the house while they're being worked on.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are another area that usually isn't a huge deal to paint after you've moved in.
They're small, and although they require careful cutting around fixtures, they can normally be completed without disrupting the rest of the house very much.
Utility Areas
Laundry rooms, utility rooms, and similar spaces would probably be at the bottom of my priority list.
If they're already empty and you have the time, sure—get them done.
But if you're trying to decide where the money and time should go before move-in, I'd focus first on the spaces that are going to become significantly harder once all of your stuff arrives.
Doors
Often, every door throughout a home is accessible with minimal furniture moving necessary, making them a good candidate to handle all at once after move-in.
The Simple Rule
If you can paint everything before moving into your new house, that's the best time to do it.
But if you can't, think about which rooms are going to be the biggest pain to paint once you actually live there.
Closets fill up. Bedrooms get tight. Living rooms get packed with heavy furniture.
Those are the spaces where having an empty house really gives you an advantage.
For more on planning painting before move-in, visit Happy Home Painter's pre-move-in painting guide.