Interior Decorating Costs: Room-by-Room Pricing
How much does interior decorating cost? Per-room and per-day rates for painting, wallpapering, and full room makeovers across the UK.
Whether you're refreshing a tired bedroom, preparing a house for sale, or finishing off an extension, interior decorating is one of the most transformative and cost-effective home improvements. A few hundred pounds on paint and a skilled decorator can make rooms feel completely different.
Here's what it actually costs and how to get the best result.
Costs by Room
Painting Only (Walls, Ceiling, Two Coats)
| Room | Cost (Decorator) | DIY Cost (Paint Only) |
|---|---|---|
| Single bedroom | £150-£300 | £30-£60 |
| Double bedroom | £200-£400 | £40-£80 |
| Living room | £250-£500 | £50-£100 |
| Kitchen | £200-£400 | £40-£80 |
| Bathroom | £150-£350 | £30-£70 |
| Hallway (ground floor) | £200-£400 | £40-£80 |
| Hallway and stairs | £300-£600 | £60-£120 |
| Landing | £150-£300 | £30-£60 |
All decorator prices include preparation (light filling, sanding), dust sheets, and two coats of emulsion. Add 20-30% for London.
Woodwork (Gloss or Satin)
| Element | Cost Per Room | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skirting boards | £50-£120 | Sand, prime bare wood, two coats |
| Door and frame | £60-£100 | Per door, both sides |
| Window frame (timber) | £40-£80 | Per window, inside face |
| Picture rail / dado rail | £30-£60 | Per room |
| Radiators | £30-£60 | Per radiator, specialist radiator paint |
Wallpapering
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| Feature wall (one wall) | £150-£400 |
| Full room (4 walls) | £300-£800 |
| Lining paper (full room) | £150-£350 |
| Stripping old wallpaper (per room) | £100-£300 |
| Wallpaper (per roll, supply) | £10-£100+ |
Pattern matching adds 15-25% to labour cost. Large-repeat patterns waste more paper, so you need more rolls.
Whole-House Decorating Costs
| Property | Paint Only | Paint + Feature Walls | Full Redecoration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bed flat | £1,200-£2,500 | £1,500-£3,500 | £2,000-£4,000 |
| 2-bed terrace | £1,500-£3,000 | £2,000-£4,000 | £2,500-£5,000 |
| 3-bed semi | £2,000-£4,000 | £2,500-£5,500 | £3,500-£7,000 |
| 4-bed detached | £3,000-£6,000 | £4,000-£8,000 | £5,000-£10,000 |
Full redecoration includes stripping wallpaper, lining where needed, painting all surfaces, woodwork, and 2-3 feature wallpaper walls.
Paint Types and Costs
Walls and Ceilings
| Type | Cost (2.5L) | Coverage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget emulsion (Dulux Once etc.) | £15-£25 | 12-14m² | Quick refresh, rental properties |
| Mid-range emulsion (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade) | £25-£40 | 14-16m² | Most rooms, good coverage |
| Premium emulsion (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene) | £50-£80 | 10-12m² | Statement rooms, period homes |
| Kitchen/bathroom paint (moisture-resistant) | £25-£45 | 12-14m² | Kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms |
| Anti-mould paint | £20-£35 | 10-12m² | Problem rooms with condensation |
Trade paint (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade) is a step up from retail paint - better coverage, more durable, and used by professionals. Many decorating merchants sell trade paint to the public.
Woodwork
| Type | Cost (2.5L) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gloss (oil-based) | £25-£40 | Traditional high-shine, slower drying, stronger smell |
| Satinwood (water-based) | £25-£40 | Modern eggshell/satin, quick drying, low odour |
| Primer/undercoat | £20-£35 | Essential on bare or previously unpainted wood |
| Radiator paint | £15-£25 | Heat-resistant, won't yellow |
Water-based satinwood has largely replaced oil-based gloss for interior woodwork. It dries faster, has minimal odour, and doesn't yellow over time. The finish is slightly less shiny but more practical.
Preparation: What Makes the Difference
A professional decorator spends 40-60% of their time on preparation. This is where the quality shows.
Before Painting
- Fill cracks and holes - use flexible filler for hairline cracks, interior filler for larger holes
- Sand - key existing gloss surfaces so new paint adheres; smooth filled areas
- Clean - wash greasy or dirty surfaces (kitchens especially) with sugar soap
- Mask - tape edges, cover switches, protect flooring and furniture
- Prime - bare plaster needs a mist coat; bare wood needs primer; stains need a stain block
New Plaster (After Building Work)
New plaster from an extension, loft conversion, or rewire needs special treatment:
- Wait for the plaster to dry - 2-4 weeks minimum. Painting damp plaster traps moisture.
- Apply a mist coat - thin the first coat of emulsion 50/50 with water. This soaks into the plaster and creates a bond.
- Apply two full coats - standard emulsion once the mist coat has dried.
Never use vinyl silk on new plaster as a first coat. It sits on the surface and peels. Always start with a mist coat of matt emulsion.
Decorating After Building Work
If you've had an extension, loft conversion, or major renovation, the decorating is typically separate from the builder's quote:
| Work | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mist coat + 2 coats new plaster (per room) | £150-£350 |
| Making good cracks at old/new junction | £100-£300 |
| Painting new woodwork (skirtings, architraves) | £50-£120 per room |
| Feature wallpaper | £150-£400 per wall |
| Touch-up existing rooms (dust damage, access marks) | £100-£250 per room |
Budget £500-£2,000 for decorating after a typical extension. This is one of the hidden costs that catches homeowners off guard.
Choosing a Decorator
What to Look For
- Portfolio - photos of recent completed work, especially cut-in lines at ceilings and around woodwork
- References - speak to 2-3 recent clients
- Fixed quote - per room or per job, not per day. Day rates incentivise slow work.
- Insurance - public liability (minimum £1 million)
- Registration - look for TrustMark-registered decorators or Dulux Select Decorators
Where to Find Decorators
- Personal recommendations (best source)
- TrustMark (government-endorsed quality scheme)
- Dulux Select Decorators (Dulux-accredited professionals)
- Checkatrade / MyBuilder (review platforms)
- Federation of Master Builders (some decorators are members)
Get 3 quotes - see our guide to builder quotes for general quoting advice. For decorators specifically, ask each to quote the same scope (which rooms, how many coats, woodwork included or not).
DIY: When It Makes Sense
Good DIY Projects
- Single rooms with good-condition walls (fill, sand, two coats)
- Refreshing a neutral colour scheme with the same or similar colour
- Skirting boards and doors at ground level
- Feature walls with paste-the-wall wallpaper (easier than paste-the-paper)
Leave to a Professional
- Hallway and stairs (height, access, long cutting-in runs)
- Ceilings (physically demanding, technique matters)
- Complex wallpapering (pattern matching, difficult rooms)
- Period detailing (cornicing, picture rails, panelling)
- Exterior painting above ground floor
DIY Paint Costs
| Room | Paint Cost (Two Coats) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single bedroom | £25-£50 | 1x 2.5L tin (good coverage) |
| Double bedroom | £35-£70 | 1-2x 2.5L tins |
| Living room | £45-£90 | 2x 2.5L tins |
| Whole house (3-bed) | £200-£500 | 5-8 tins of wall paint + woodwork paint |
Add £20-£40 for brushes, rollers, tape, and dust sheets if you don't have them.
Decorating for Sale
If you're selling your home, targeted decorating is one of the highest-ROI investments:
| Priority | Cost | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Repaint hallway and stairs in neutral | £300-£600 | First impression - critical |
| Fresh white on all ceilings | £300-£600 | Brightens every room |
| Neutral walls in living room and master bedroom | £300-£700 | Helps buyers imagine their furniture |
| Touch up scuffs and marks throughout | £100-£300 | Removes "tired" feeling |
| Exterior front repaint | £400-£1,000 | Kerb appeal |
| Total | £1,400-£3,200 | Typically recovers 2-5x its cost in higher offers |
Colour advice: Neutral, warm whites and light greys (Dulux White Mist, Farrow & Ball Ammonite, Crown Sail White) are the safest choices for sale. Bold colours and dark feature walls polarise buyers. See our guide to improvements that add value for more.
Next Steps
- List your rooms - decide which need painting, wallpaper, or both
- Assess wall condition - smooth walls are quick; walls needing extensive prep cost more
- Get 3 decorator quotes - find vetted professionals through TrustMark
- Choose your paint - trade-quality emulsion offers the best value for most rooms
- Coordinate with other work - decorate after plastering, rewiring, and flooring (except carpet)
- Get a project estimate - use our repair calculator for costs in your area
Frequently Asked Questions
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