Painting and Decorating in the UK
Good decorating is mostly preparation and the right finish for the surface. Here is how to choose colour with confidence and decide what to do yourself.
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The quality of a paint job comes far more from preparation and the right finish than from the colour on the tin. Filling, sanding, cleaning and priming are what make paint look even and last, which is why a professional decorator spends much of the job before any topcoat goes on. Choosing colour is easier when you test it on the actual walls and view it at different times of day, because light changes how a colour reads completely. Match the paint finish to the surface and room too: durable, wipeable finishes for kitchens, bathrooms and woodwork, and flatter finishes for ceilings and low-traffic walls. Decide what to tackle yourself and where a professional finish is worth paying for.
What good looks like
The things worth getting right on a painting & decorating project, whoever does the work.
- Thorough preparation: filling, sanding, cleaning and priming before any topcoat.
- Colours tested on the actual walls and viewed in daylight and at night before committing.
- A paint finish matched to the surface and room, from wipeable kitchen walls to woodwork.
- Neat cutting-in at edges, and even coverage without patches or roller marks.
- Surfaces and fixtures protected properly so the rest of the room is left clean.
What it costs
These are broad, indicative guide ranges to help you set a budget, not quotes. Most of the cost is labour and preparation, so the condition of your walls and woodwork matters as much as the room size. Always get an itemised quote.
Walls and ceiling in good condition needing little preparation; a straightforward repaint.
Walls, ceiling and woodwork, some filling and repair, and a more durable finish. Day rates typically run £200 to £350, more in London.
Multiple rooms, significant preparation or repair, wallpaper or specialist finishes.
Indicative UK ranges for 2026, drawn from published cost guides (HomeOwners Alliance, Checkatrade, Which? and MyJobQuote) and rounded for budgeting, not quotes. Real costs vary by region, specification and condition, and London typically runs higher (see costs by region). The only way to know your cost is an itemised quote for your project. Last reviewed June 2026.
How to brief it well
Get this right and your quotes become comparable, and your project runs more smoothly.
- Note the condition of walls, ceilings and woodwork, as repairs and preparation drive the time.
- Test your colours on the actual walls and live with them for a day or two before deciding.
- Decide which finishes you want where, from wipeable to flat matt.
- Be clear on what you will do yourself and what the decorator will handle.
- Ask quotes to state the number of coats, the products and the preparation included.
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Find a vetted decoratorPainting & decorating: common questions
Why does a professional paint job cost more than the paint?
Because most of the work is preparation and labour, not materials. Filling, sanding, priming and careful cutting-in are what make the finish even and long-lasting, and they take time and skill.
How do I choose a paint colour without regretting it?
Test the colour on the actual walls rather than judging from a small chip, and look at it in daylight and under artificial light. Light dramatically changes how a colour reads, so a sample on the wall is the only reliable test.
What paint finish should I use in a kitchen or bathroom?
Use a durable, wipeable finish that copes with moisture and cleaning. Flatter, matt finishes look good on ceilings and low-traffic walls but mark more easily in busy or damp rooms.
Should I decorate myself or hire a decorator?
Simple repaints in good rooms are very doable yourself. Hire a professional where there is a lot of preparation, high ceilings, woodwork, or where you want a flawless finish in a room that shows every flaw.
Related guides
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