Decorating
Full-room decoration
Decorating a whole room at once lets every surface be prepared and finished in sequence, so nothing new is marked by the work that follows it. It is the simplest project to plan, and it still repays careful planning.
What a full decoration includes
Usually the ceiling, cornice, walls, woodwork, doors and window joinery, with radiators, pipework and any lining or wallpaper. Before we start, curtains and blinds come down (unless your curtain maker prefers to handle them), pictures are lifted and their positions noted, and switch and socket plates are masked or, with the circuit isolated, eased off.
Preparing the room
Furniture is grouped in the centre of the room or moved to another, then covered; floors are protected to suit their surface, and fireplaces, fitted joinery and ironmongery are masked. Then come repairs and preparation: cracks filled, hollow plaster repaired, woodwork washed and keyed, new or bare surfaces primed. Our preparation page explains what that involves.
The order of work
Dusty work comes first and finishing coats last. For a painted room the sequence is ceiling, walls, then woodwork. Where a room is papered, the ceiling and woodwork are finished before the paper goes up, so the paper is never exposed to paint; see wallpaper. Each stage waits for the last to dry as the data sheet requires, and the room is tidied every evening.
Time and disruption
A room in good condition may take only a few days; one needing plaster repairs, lining or a demanding paper can take a good deal longer, and the survey gives a realistic estimate. Furniture goes back once the paint is dry, though new paint stays softer for a while, so we suggest keeping heavy pieces slightly away from fresh walls for the first week or two.
Common questions
Will you move the furniture?
Yes, within the room or to another room nearby, and we put it back when we finish. Pianos, very heavy pieces and valuable antiques should be moved by specialist handlers, and small valuables put away beforehand.
Can we use the room in the evenings?
Sometimes. A bedroom can often be made usable each night during the early stages, but not while ceilings are being painted or paper is drying. We will tell you in advance which days the room is out of use.
More decorating
Discussing full-room decoration?
Tell us about the property and the rooms involved. We will visit, look closely at the surfaces and prepare a written quotation.
Request a quotation