How to Prepare Your Home for a Decorator

A few simple things you can do before your decorator arrives to help the job run smoothly and potentially save you money.

3 min readNew Decorating

Move what you can

If you're able to move smaller items of furniture, ornaments, and pictures off the walls before we arrive, it saves time — and time is money. We'll move and cover larger items ourselves, but clearing the small stuff makes a real difference.

Take down curtains and blinds if you can, and remove light fittings or lampshades that might be in the way. Don't worry about moving heavy wardrobes or bookcases — we'll work around those or shift them as needed.

Decide on your colours in advance

Having your paint colours chosen before the start date avoids delays. If you're supplying the paint yourself, make sure you have enough — we can advise on quantities when we quote. If we're supplying it, we'll confirm the colours with you beforehand.

If you're still undecided, buy a few tester pots and paint sample patches on the wall a week before the job starts. Live with them for a few days and see how they look in different light before making your final choice.

Let us know about any issues

If you know about damp patches, cracked plaster, mould, or other problems, let us know before the job starts. This helps us plan the right preparation and bring the right materials. It's much better to flag issues upfront than to discover them on day one.

Similarly, if there are areas you don't want painted, or specific things you need us to work around (a home office you need to use, a room that needs to stay accessible), tell us in advance and we'll plan the job accordingly.

Access and parking

If you live in a flat or a property with restricted access, let us know how to get in and where we can park. For exterior work, we may need to access side passages or gardens — make sure gates are unlocked and paths are clear.

If you're in central Bath where parking is limited, let us know and we can plan around it. We're local and know the area well, so we'll find a way to make it work.

What we'll take care of

Don't worry about laying dust sheets, masking edges, or prepping surfaces — that's our job. We bring all our own equipment and materials. We'll protect your floors, furniture, and fittings, and we clean up at the end of every day.

If you have pets or young children, just let us know so we can keep doors closed and paint tins out of reach. We always work cleanly and safely, and we're used to working in family homes.

New Decorating

Professional painter and decorator based in Bath with over 25 years of experience. Fully insured. Free quotes across Bath and BANES.