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.
Sevenoaks, Kent, South East England, TN15 8AL
When you hire a painter and decorator it can feel as if you're inviting a
Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, KY2 6SZ
My name is Steven and I am a Time Served, Qualified Painter and Decorator
Glanaman, Carmarthenshire, Wales, SA18 1HQ
Hughes Decorators Ltd's mission is to transform commercial and private dwellings
Birmingham, West Midlands, West Midlands, B31 2RP
Welcome to the online home of 'Helena J Cross Painters & Decorators', a
Glasgow, Scotland, Scotland, G51 3AG
We are your residential and commercial refurbishment professionals. We serve
Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, East England, CM22 6EZ
We are a husband (Richard) and wife (Beth) team working from our home to save
Bradford, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, BD12 9BY
Sellerdale Painters are highly experienced experts in commercial painting and
Bournemouth, Dorset, South West England, BH8 9JN
Complete Decorating Services can provide you with a reliable and affordable
Crosby, Merseyside, North West England,
I've been decorating for over 30 years, so rest assured that I have the
Crumlin, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT29 4FY
For over 20 years Lou's Painting & Decorating has been the choice for hundreds
Guildford, Surrey, South East England, GU2 9QE
Any professional painters and decorators in Guildford are able to offer great
Leeds, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, LS10 2RU
At MK Exteriors we have 30 years experience in external coating services. We are