Service

Interior Decorating

Interior painting and decorating carried out properly, from careful preparation to a clean, even finish.

Interior painting and decorating done properly

A well-decorated room does more than change the colour of the walls. It changes how the space feels to live in, how the light works in it and how well the room stands up to everyday use. Interior decorating is the closest thing to a renovation without moving a wall. The difference between a room that looks painted and a room that looks finished comes down to preparation, material choice and care at every stage.

We paint walls, ceilings and woodwork, and we hang wallpaper where the job calls for it. We work in homes, rental properties and commercial spaces. Most of our work is repainting and refreshing existing rooms, but we also decorate new plaster in extensions and new builds. Every job starts with the same question: what is the surface like now, and what does it need before any paint goes on.

Good decorating is mostly invisible. You notice it when the cutting in is straight, the finish is even and there is no paint on the hinges. You notice it when the room still looks good two years later. That is what we aim for on every job, whether it is a single bedroom or a whole house.

What's included

Walls and ceilings painted to a consistent finish
Woodwork cleaned, sanded and finished
Minor filling and surface repairs included
Wallpaper hanging with accurate pattern match
Colour and finish advice for each room
Furniture and floors protected during work

What the work involves

Walls and ceilings

We paint walls and ceilings in emulsion, usually a matt finish for ceilings and a matt or soft sheen for walls depending on the room. We fill cracks and small holes, sand back repairs, caulk gaps between walls and woodwork, and spot prime filled areas so they do not flash through the finish. On new plaster we apply a mist coat first, then two full coats of emulsion. On previously painted surfaces we wash down where needed, remove loose or flaking paint and apply two coats for a solid, even result.

Woodwork

Skirting boards, architraves, door frames, window boards and doors get a different treatment. We clean the surface, sand it back to give the paint something to key to, fill dents and gaps, and prime bare timber or filled areas. The finish coat is usually a water-based satin or eggshell, which stays whiter than solvent-based gloss and dries faster. We can also use solvent-based paints where the job calls for it, but most customers prefer the water-based option for interior woodwork.

Wallpaper

We hang wallpaper on properly prepared walls. That means removing old paper cleanly, washing off paste residue, filling and sanding, and sizing the wall so the new paper can be positioned and adjusted without tearing. We match patterns at the seams, trim neatly at the ceiling and skirting, and work around sockets and switches with the power off. We also remove old wallpaper, including difficult multi-layer or painted-over paper, and prepare the wall for painting or new paper.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms need paint that copes with moisture, grease and frequent cleaning. We use suitable finishes: a mould-resistant emulsion on ceilings, a wipeable paint on walls, and a moisture-resistant wood finish on any painted timber. Preparation matters more here than anywhere else. We clean surfaces thoroughly, deal with any mould properly rather than painting over it, and use primers that block stains and stop discolouration coming through the new paint.

Feature walls and colour changes

A feature wall can change the balance of a room, but only if the colour is right and the edges are crisp. We can advise on colour, sheen and placement, and we cut in by hand rather than relying on tape. If you are changing from a dark colour to a light one, or covering a strong colour, we use appropriate primers so the old colour does not bleed through and the new finish is true to the swatch.

How we decorate a room

We look at the room and the surfaces
Before we quote, we assess the condition of the walls, ceilings and woodwork. We look for cracks, flaking paint, stains, old wallpaper and any signs of damp. This tells us what preparation is needed and how long the job will take.
We agree the scope and the finish
We confirm which rooms are included, what colours and finishes you want, and what is happening with the woodwork and wallpaper. We also agree what we need you to do before we start, such as clearing the room or taking down curtains.
We prepare the room and the surfaces
We cover floors and furniture with dust sheets, remove or mask fittings, and take off switch and socket covers where needed. Then we fill, sand, caulk, prime and clean until the surface is ready for paint or paper. This is the stage that determines how good the finish looks.
We apply the finish
We paint in the right order: ceilings first, then walls, then woodwork. We use the right tools for each surface and apply the correct number of coats. For wallpaper, we paste, book and hang each length, matching the pattern and trimming carefully.
We clean up and check the work
We remove dust sheets, refit covers, vacuum and wipe down surfaces. We walk through the job with you, check the finish in daylight and sort any snags before we leave. We take any leftover paint or wallpaper with us unless you want to keep it for touch-ups.

What affects the time and cost

The condition of the existing surfaces is the biggest factor. Walls that are sound and clean take far less time than walls with cracks, flaking paint, old wallpaper or stains. A room that has been papered for decades and then painted over can take two or three times as long to prepare as a room that just needs a fresh coat.

The size and height of the room matter too. High ceilings, stairwells and rooms with lots of woodwork take longer. The number of coats affects both time and cost: covering a dark colour with a light one needs an extra coat or a tinted primer. The type of finish also matters. Gloss and eggshell take longer to apply than matt emulsion, and some paints have longer drying times between coats.

Finally, access and the state of the room affect the job. If the room is full of furniture, we need time to cover and work around it, or you may prefer to clear it. If we are working in an occupied home, we plan the work room by room so you can still use the rest of the house.

Looking after the finish

A newly decorated room needs a little care in the first few weeks. Paint is dry to the touch within hours, but it takes days to fully cure. Avoid wiping the walls for at least two weeks, and do not hang pictures or lean anything against the paint until it has hardened. In bathrooms and kitchens, keep the room ventilated after painting so moisture does not sit on the fresh finish.

After that, most finishes just need a light wipe with a damp cloth. If you have leftover paint, keep it in a cool, dry place for touch-ups. We label the tins with the room and the date, so you know exactly what was used where. If a wall gets marked or a corner gets knocked, a small amount of the original paint is usually enough to put it right.

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FAQs

Interior Decorating — FAQs

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How long does it take to decorate a room?

A typical bedroom takes two to three days including preparation and two coats on walls and woodwork. A living room with a feature wall and woodwork takes three to four days. Larger rooms, high ceilings, wallpaper or surfaces in poor condition add time. We give a clear timescale when we quote.

Do I need to move my furniture out?

Not necessarily. We cover and move furniture as needed, but the job is faster and the finish is better if the room is clear. For larger pieces we can work around them, but we ask you to remove small items, curtains and anything fragile before we start.

Can you paint over wallpaper?

We can, but we usually recommend stripping it first. Painting over wallpaper can work if the paper is sound and well adhered, but it often leads to seams showing, peeling or a rough finish. Stripping and preparing the wall properly gives a better result and avoids problems later.

What paint finishes do you recommend for woodwork?

We usually use a water-based satin or eggshell on interior woodwork. It stays whiter than solvent-based gloss, dries faster and has less odour. We can also use solvent-based gloss if you prefer a traditional high-shine finish. The choice depends on the room and the look you want.

Do you provide the paint and materials?

Yes. We supply all paint, primers, fillers and sundries unless you prefer to buy your own. We use trade paints from established brands, which cover better and last longer than retail paint. We pass on our trade discount and only charge for what we use.

Can you help me choose colours?

Yes. We can advise on colours, finishes and how they will look in your room. We can also arrange sample pots and paint test patches on the wall so you can see the colour in different light before we start the full job.

Interior Decorating? Get a free quote

Tell us about the rooms or exterior that need decorating and where you are. We will come back with a sensible, itemised price.

Request a Quote 07936 591 478

Straight answers, fast
Priced on the job in front of us
Tidy, protected, finished properly