Painting & Decorating That Transforms Your Home
A fresh coat of paint transforms a room. After 18+ years painting Exeter homes - from Victorian terraces to modern apartments - I understand how color, finish, and proper preparation make all the difference.
Small Jobs Welcome
Need one room painted? Perfect. Big decorators won't come for small jobs - I will.
Proper Preparation
Fill cracks, sand smooth, prime correctly. The prep work makes the difference.
Tidy Work
Full dust sheets, careful masking, clean lines. Your home stays clean throughout.
Dulux Academy Trained Professional Decorator
Professionally trained in modern decorating techniques and color theory
✓ Professional Training
Completed Dulux Academy training in professional decorating techniques, surface preparation, paint application methods, and color consultation. This isn't just "learning on the job" - it's formal professional training from the UK's leading paint manufacturer.
✓ Expert Product Knowledge
Trained in selecting the right paint type, finish, and preparation for every surface - from moisture-prone bathrooms to high-traffic hallways. I know which products work where, and why.
✓ 18+ Years Practical Experience
Professional training + nearly two decades painting Exeter homes = consistently excellent results. I've painted everything from Victorian cornices to modern new-builds.
Painting & Decorating Services
1. Room Painting
Complete room repainting including walls, ceiling, woodwork:
Small Room (up to 3m x 3m - Bedrooms, Studies)
- Walls & ceiling - £180-£280
- Walls, ceiling & woodwork - £250-£380
- Includes all preparation, filling, two coats
- Timeframe: 1-2 days
Medium Room (up to 4m x 4m - Living Rooms, Large Bedrooms)
- Walls & ceiling - £300-£450
- Walls, ceiling & woodwork - £420-£600
- Timeframe: 2-3 days
Large Room (4m+ x 4m+ - Open Plan Living, Large Lounges)
- Walls & ceiling - £500-£750
- Walls, ceiling & woodwork - £650-£900
- Timeframe: 3-4 days
What's Included:
- ✓ Fill cracks and holes (filler provided)
- ✓ Sand surfaces smooth
- ✓ Prime bare areas/stains
- ✓ Two finish coats (three if needed for coverage)
- ✓ All dust sheets and protection
- ✓ Clean cut-in edges (no messy lines)
- ✓ Daily cleanup
- ✓ Paint included in price (trade-quality Dulux or Crown)
2. Feature Walls
Accent walls in different colors or finishes:
- Single feature wall - £80-£150
- Popular in bedrooms (behind bed) and living rooms (chimney breast)
- Can advise on color selection
- Specialist finishes available (metallic, textured) - £POA
3. Ceiling Painting
Ceilings are harder than they look (trust me, your neck will agree):
- Small room ceiling only - £90-£140
- Medium room ceiling only - £140-£220
- Large room ceiling only - £220-£350
- Includes nicotine stain sealing if needed
- Victorian high ceilings - Premium £40-£80 (scaffolding tower needed)
4. Woodwork Painting
Doors, skirting boards, architraves, window frames:
Interior Doors
- Panel door (both sides) - £70-£110
- Flush door (both sides) - £55-£85
- Frame & architrave - £35-£55
- Undercoat + 2 gloss/satin coats
- Can match existing color or change
Skirting Boards & Architraves
- Per room (standard) - £60-£120
- Per meter - £8-£15 (for hallways, stairs)
- Includes gap-filling (shrinkage common in Victorian properties)
Window Frames (Interior)
- Standard window - £45-£75
- Sash window (detailed) - £75-£120
- Bay window set - £120-£200
5. Staircase & Hallway Painting
Tricky areas requiring ladders and careful access:
- Stairwell walls - £180-£350 (depends on height/access)
- Stair spindles (each) - £3-£5
- Stair handrail - £45-£85
- Complete hallway & stairs - £400-£750
- Victorian/Edwardian high hallways - Premium due to access challenges
6. Kitchen & Bathroom Painting
Higher moisture areas needing special paint:
Kitchen
- Walls only (avoiding units) - £200-£350
- Ceiling - £120-£180
- Use wipeable kitchen/bathroom paint
- Work around appliances and units
Bathroom
- Small bathroom - £150-£250
- Large bathroom - £250-£400
- Anti-mould paint used
- Careful masking around tiles and fittings
7. Wallpaper Hanging
Wallpaper is making a comeback - I can hang it properly:
Standard Wallpaper
- Small room (4 walls) - £200-£350
- Medium room - £300-£500
- Feature wall only - £120-£220
- Includes surface preparation
- Pattern matching included
Specialist Wallpapers
- Woodchip/textured removal - £80-£150 per room (before papering)
- Lining paper - £100-£180 per room (improves finish)
- Luxury/designer papers - £POA (careful handling required)
8. Minor Plastering & Repairs
Basic plastering work (major jobs referred to plasterers):
- Fill cracks/holes - Included with painting
- Patch repair (small area) - £45-£85
- Skim single wall - £120-£200
- Victorian lath & plaster repairs - £80-£150 per patch
- Coving repairs - £45-£95
When to call a plasterer: Entire room skims, major cracks, structural issues. I'll advise honestly if specialist needed.
Paint Quality & Choices
Paint Brands I Use
Dulux (Standard)
- Excellent coverage and durability
- Wide color range
- Good value
- My standard recommendation
Crown (Budget Option)
- Slightly cheaper
- Still good quality
- Perfect for rentals/budget jobs
Farrow & Ball (Premium)
- Beautiful depth of color
- Low VOC, environmentally friendly
- Expensive but stunning results
- Popular in period properties
- Premium £80-£120 extra per room (paint cost)
Finish Types
Walls:
- Matt - Most popular, hides imperfections, modern look
- Silk - Subtle sheen, easier to wipe clean, shows imperfections more
- Eggshell - Between matt and silk, good for kitchens
Woodwork:
- Satinwood - Modern low-sheen finish, very popular now
- Gloss - Traditional high-shine, durable but shows brush marks
- Eggshell - Flat finish, contemporary, less durable
Color Selection Help
Choosing colors is hard. I can help:
- Bring color charts to your home
- Advise based on room size, light, use
- Paint sample patches (£20 extra, highly recommended)
- Explain how colors will look in your specific room
Popular Exeter Choices:
- Victorian/Edwardian properties: Off-whites, greys, period colors (Farrow & Ball popular)
- Modern homes: Warm greys, greige, crisp whites
- Rentals: Magnolia, brilliant white (neutral, safe)
- Bedrooms: Calming blues, soft greys, warm neutrals
- Living rooms: Feature walls in darker tones, rest neutral
Exeter Property Considerations
Victorian & Edwardian Properties
Exeter's period homes have specific decorating challenges:
- High Ceilings - Require scaffolding tower (I have one). Adds £40-£80 to cost but essential for safety and quality.
- Original Features - Cornicing, picture rails, dado rails. I preserve and work around these carefully.
- Lath & Plaster - Different from modern plasterboard. Requires gentle treatment. Cracks are normal (building movement).
- Damp Walls - Need breathing paint, not modern vinyl emulsion. I'll advise if damp is an issue.
- Color Choices - Period appropriate colors enhance value. Can advise.
Modern Estates (Cranbrook, Monkerton)
New builds are easier but still have quirks:
- New Plaster - Needs mist coat first (diluted paint). Many DIYers skip this and paint fails.
- Snagging - Often need touching up after builder finish
- Textured Ceilings - Common in new builds, harder to paint (I have correct technique)
Student Properties
Landlords and letting agents regularly use my services:
- Fast Turnaround - Between tenancies, quick refresh needed
- Durable Finishes - Tougher paint for high wear areas
- Neutral Colors - Magnolia, white - appeals to most tenants
- HMO Standards - Understand fire safety requirements
- Bulk Pricing - Multiple properties/rooms discounted
Preparation Process
Good decorating is 70% preparation, 30% painting. Here's my process:
Day Before
- Clear small items (you clear personal belongings, I move furniture)
- Cover floors with dust sheets
- Remove socket/switch covers if painting around them
Preparation Day
- Fill: All cracks, holes (multiple layers if needed)
- Sand: Filled areas, rough woodwork, flaking paint
- Clean: Dust down walls, wash if needed (smoke residue, grease)
- Prime: Bare patches, stains, new filler
- Mask: Edges, switches, windows
Painting Days
- Ceiling first (if doing ceiling)
- Walls second - Two coats, drying time between
- Woodwork last - Undercoat, two top coats
- Allow proper drying between coats
Final Day
- Touch up any missed spots
- Replace socket covers
- Remove masking tape carefully
- Clean up completely
- Move furniture back (if requested)
Real Exeter Decorating Projects
The Heavitree Victorian Transformation
Beautiful Victorian terrace in Heavitree with 11-foot ceilings and original cornicing. Hallway, stairs, and landing hadn't been decorated in 15 years. Nicotine-stained ceilings from previous owner. Spent extra time on prep - filled hundreds of cracks (normal in buildings this old), sealed stains, three coats on ceiling. Used Farrow & Ball "Skimming Stone" on walls - perfect period color. Customer cried when she saw it finished (happy tears). Total cost £680, took 5 days.
The Student House Speed Refresh
Landlord in Pennsylvania needed 4 bedrooms painted between tenancies - had 6 days before new students arrived. Magnolia walls, white ceilings, white woodwork throughout. Worked long days - all 4 rooms done in 5 days. Nothing fancy, but clean, professional finish. Landlord now uses me for all 12 properties. Bulk pricing means we both win.
The Cranbrook Nursery
Expecting parents in Cranbrook wanted nursery decorated before baby arrived. Feature wall behind cot in soft blue, rest in warm white. Drew simple clouds on feature wall (free of charge - they loved it). Used zero-VOC paint (important for nurseries). All done in 2 days, finished with a week to spare. They sent me photos of baby in the room - made my day!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to move all furniture?
I can work around large furniture (move it to room center, cover it). Small items, ornaments, pictures - please remove these yourself. Wardrobes, beds - I'll move them carefully.
Can I stay in the house while you work?
Yes, absolutely. Modern paints have low odor. I work room by room so you always have space to live in. Many customers work from home while I'm decorating.
How long do I wait before using the room?
Walls: Touch-dry in 2 hours, fully dry overnight. Woodwork: Touch-dry in 4-6 hours, fully hard in 24 hours. I advise waiting overnight before putting pictures back, moving furniture against walls.
What if I don't like the color?
This is why I recommend sample pots (£20 extra). Paint a 1m square on different walls, live with it for a few days, see it in different lights. Changing color after painting costs full price again - samples are worth it!
Can you match my existing color exactly?
If you know the paint name/code, yes perfectly. If not, paint stores can color-match from a sample (chip off a piece of painted plaster). Usually 95% accurate - not perfect but very close.
Do you paint in winter?
Yes. Interior painting is possible year-round. Actually prefer winter - heating is on so paint dries better. Only issue is exterior painting (temperature-dependent) but that's not my specialty anyway.
Will you paint over wallpaper?
Not recommended. Paint can make wallpaper bubble and peel. Better to remove wallpaper first (I can do this). Exception: If wallpaper is really well stuck and you're OK with texture showing through, sometimes possible.
Do you provide a guarantee?
Yes. If paintwork fails within 2 years due to my workmanship (peeling, poor coverage), I'll fix it free. Doesn't cover damage (furniture scrapes, children's artwork!). Paint manufacturers guarantee their products separately.
Pricing Summary
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Small room (walls & ceiling) | £180-£280 |
| Medium room (walls & ceiling) | £300-£450 |
| Large room (walls & ceiling) | £500-£750 |
| Interior door (both sides) | £55-£110 |
| Ceiling only (medium room) | £140-£220 |
| Feature wall | £80-£150 |
| Wallpaper hanging (small room) | £200-£350 |
All prices include: Paint, materials, preparation, protection, cleanup
How to Get a Quote
Measure Your Room
Length, width, height. Or I can visit and measure - free quote visits within Exeter.
Send Photos
WhatsApp or text photos to 07766 501664 showing room condition, areas to paint.
Receive Detailed Quote
I'll provide written quote including: labor, paint, materials, timeframe. No hidden costs.
Other Services
Decorating often combines well with:
- Minor Repairs - Fix cracks, holes before painting
- Shelving Installation - Add shelves to freshly painted walls
- General Handyman - Picture hanging, curtain poles on new walls