Interior painting transforms a room without the cost of renovation. Whether you need a single room refreshed or a full house repainted, find qualified decorators near you.
12 businesses offering this service
Interior painting covers walls, ceilings, woodwork, skirting boards and doors. A professional decorator will prepare surfaces first — filling cracks, sanding rough patches and priming bare plaster — before applying two coats of finish. Proper preparation is what makes the difference between a job that looks good for 6 months and one that holds up for 5 years.
A good decorator arrives with dust sheets, fills and sands before touching a brush, and leaves the space clean. Expect a site visit before quoting — anyone pricing a room over the phone without seeing it is guessing. The visit should take 15-30 minutes and the quote should be written, itemised and include materials.
Prices vary by region and property type but typical 2026 rates are: single bedroom £250–£400, living room £300–£500, full 3-bed house £1,800–£3,000. London rates run 20–30% higher. These figures include materials. Day rates for decorators range from £180–£280 depending on experience and location.
Check reviews for specific mentions of prep quality and tidiness — not just the star rating. Ask if they carry public liability insurance (minimum £1m cover). Request a written quote before agreeing anything. If the price seems unusually low, ask what preparation they plan to do — that is usually where corners get cut.
A single bedroom typically takes one day for a competent decorator, including prep, two coats on the walls and a touch-up on the woodwork. Larger rooms or those needing significant repairs can take two days. A full 3-bed house usually runs four to six days depending on condition and how much woodwork is involved.
Move smaller items and valuables yourself beforehand. Most decorators will shift larger furniture into the centre of the room and cover it with dust sheets, but this takes time and is sometimes not included in the quote. Confirm before the job starts so there are no surprises on the day.
A matt emulsion is standard for walls and ceilings in living rooms and bedrooms — it hides imperfections and is easy to touch up. Kitchens and bathrooms need a washable or moisture-resistant emulsion. Woodwork (skirting, doors, frames) typically gets a satinwood or eggshell finish, which is harder-wearing and easier to clean than matt.
Rarely. Most interior decorating jobs use low-VOC water-based paints that dry quickly and have little odour. You can usually stay in the property, though you will need to keep clear of the room being worked on. If oil-based paints or specialist primers are being used, the decorator should tell you in advance — better ventilation will be needed.
Reputable decorators will typically guarantee their work for at least 12 months against peeling, flaking or uneven coverage caused by poor application. This does not cover normal wear or damage. Get the guarantee in writing as part of your quote. It is also worth checking whether the painter is a member of the Painting and Decorating Association (PDA), which has a code of conduct members must follow.
Invite at least two or three decorators to visit the property before quoting. A proper quote should be itemised, listing labour and materials separately, and should specify the number of coats, the paint brand and whether prep work such as filling and sanding is included. Avoid any quote given over the phone without a site visit — it will almost certainly change once the decorator sees the actual state of the walls.
Rosyth, Fife, Scotland, KY11 2BD
We are a small Painters and Decorators company based in Edinburgh and Fife with
Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT18 0PJ
Established in 1986 and holding accreditations from trusted companies, you know
Grange over Sands, Cumbria, North West England, LA11 7JA
Derek Birch started his painting and decorating business from home in 1961. His
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, HD1 5BQ
As a long established family firm we would have pleasure in quoting you for work
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, YO12 5DT
Homes and Gardens are a Scarborough based business offering a complete interior
Loughton, Essex, East England, IG10 2AT
Welcome to P.Walker Painting & Decorating, we are a well established painting,
Bristol, South West England, South West England, BS1 6JZ
If you are thinking about home improvement, call us in and prepare to be amazed
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, East England, HP2 5LF
I have been painting and decorating both residential and commercial properties
Rugby, Warwickshire, West Midlands, CV22 5PN
Established for 10 years, we are a professional painting & decorating company
Leyland, Lancashire, North West England,
Decor84you! aim to offer you an insight into the decorating services we offer
Stockport, Greater Manchester, North West England, SK2 5DX
We offer Competitive Quality & are totally dedicated to offering a professional
Wirral, Merseyside, North West England, CH49 7LE
My name is Danny, I am fully qualified with years of experience I cover all