Decorating Timescales: What to Expect
One of the most common questions homeowners ask is how long a decorating job will take. The answer depends on room size, ceiling height, the number of coats needed, and how much prep work is required. Here's a realistic guide.
Preparation: The Hidden Time Factor
Most professional decorators spend as much time on prep as they do on painting. Filling cracks, sanding, washing walls, taping edges, and laying dust sheets all take time — and skipping them shows in the finish. A room that looks like it'll take a day to paint often takes two days once prep is factored in properly.
Room-by-Room Timescales
| Room | Painting (2 coats) | Wallpapering |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom / box room | 1 day | 1–1.5 days |
| Double bedroom | 1–1.5 days | 1.5–2 days |
| Living room / lounge | 1.5–2 days | 2–3 days |
| Kitchen | 1–1.5 days | 1.5–2 days |
| Hallway, stairs & landing | 2–3 days | 3–4 days |
| Full 3-bed house interior | 7–12 days | 10–16 days |
What Makes a Job Take Longer?
- Going from dark to light colours — often needs 3 coats instead of 2
- Poor wall condition — lots of filling and sanding needed first
- High ceilings — more time, possibly specialist equipment
- Detailed coving or cornicing — cutting in takes much longer
- Large pattern match wallpaper — more waste and more measuring
How Many Coats of Paint Are Needed?
For most repaints onto a similar colour: 2 coats. For a significant colour change or painting over bare plaster: 3 coats (including a diluted mist coat on new plaster). For white woodwork over bare wood: undercoat + 2 top coats.
When getting quotes, ask the decorator how many coats are included — this directly affects both the time and the final finish quality.