Any elective construction or renovation ...

Nshei Chabad Newsletter / Any elective construction or renovation which is only for the sake of comfort or luxury should not be undertaken during the Nine Days. If you contracted with a non-Jew to paint your house during the Nine Days and you can induce him for a small amount of money to postpone it until after Tisha B'Av, it is proper to do so (Kitzur Shulchan Oruch, Ch. 122, Par. 7).