How To Choose The Right Painter & Decorator For Your Home

7 TIPS to choosing the right painter & decorator

21/7/2016

Undertaking a decorating job personally will undoubtedly save money, but before donning your old dungarees and wielding a paintbrush, stop to consider why employing a professional can be a wise option. Although hiring a painter and decorator may cost more, it can constitute a real saving in terms of efficiency, expertise and peace of mind.

First, it’s important to assess the job. Make a list of what needs to be painted and where, and include any preparation that will be needed. This will help the painter estimate an accurate quote.
If you're feeling a little overwhelmed and would like some expert advice, the Dulux Select Decorators are a convenient and affordable decorating service. Their colour-obsessed interior designers will bring you the latest and very best in interior design at competitive prices, allowing you to choose the level of service to fit your needs and budget.
If you'd rather manage the job yourself but would like a professional to do the painting for you, the best place to start looking for a painting service is online, using the Dulux Select Decorators. Simply enter your postcode to browse professionals in your area – all handpicked by Dulux.
If you'd rather rely on personal recommendations, ask your family and friends if they’ve used anyone lately that they were impressed with. (see what our customers are saying HERE)
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Who will be responsible for moving furniture, covering it up, and cleaning up afterward? Is their work guaranteed? Is the painter insured? Can they provide references for previous jobs? What is their proposed schedule?
Don’t settle on the first painter you find. Ideally, you should collect quotes from at least three different painters and, if possible, have them visit your home to view the job in person. It’s important that they quote for all aspects, including any prep.
Finally, trust your instincts. A good professional painter should be neat, on time, business-like and courteous, and prepared to answer questions and offer suggestions. They should be as passionate about your decoration project as you are.

39 Comments

Rachel Lannister link

25/1/2017 09:50:03

You wrote that in order to get an accurate quote, you will need to make a list of what needs to be painted and where, and to include any preparation that will be needed. Our kitchen needs to be painted, as it hasn't been painted in quite a few years. There are some interesting parts of the wall and counter, so I'll be sure to write those down, and mention them to whomever we end up hiring.

Annika Larson link

31/3/2017 05:48:47

My husband and I are excited to be painting our new home. We will definitely need the help of a professional to ensure a quality paint job. As you said, the internet is a great place to start looking for a painting service nearby. Thanks for sharing!

Fairfield link

18/4/2017 07:37:01

Great post thanks! My personal favorite tip concerns recommendations and personal referrals, there is no stronger way to build trust in my opinion (and to verify how good a job it is!)

Thanks again!

Tiffany Locke link

13/5/2017 12:58:30

An online search is a great idea to find a painting service in your area. If you have a local service, it could help them get to your location quickly. When you're picking a contractor, you'd probably want to check whether they specialize in interior or exterior painting, or both, so you can ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and equipment to properly handle the job.

Ernest London link

18/5/2017 03:43:19

I like that you mentioned to not be afraid to ask plenty of questions, like who will handle cleanup and moving stuff. That way, you can make sure everybody is on the same page. My wife and I really want to have our home repainted this year so we can update the look of our house. We will definitely keep this stuff in mind as we look for the right people to handle the job.

John Mahoney link

25/5/2017 06:02:20

My favorite part of this post is when you talked about assessing your needs and making sure you know what you want to be painted so the contractors can provide an accurate estimate. It makes sense that taking the time to do this can help anyone make sure they get a quality job done on their house. As I see it, taking the time to consult with several companies and with the BBB can help you find a painting contractor you can put your trust in.

Kylie Dotts link

27/6/2017 05:01:52

I like your advice to make a list of what needs to be painted and where. It could probably help you save lots of time if you already know what you want to have painted, where, and in what color. Preparing and preventing are some of the best ways to be able to avoid a problem and I think the same would go for hiring an interior painting service.

Scott Adams link

11/7/2017 06:42:17

I like the idea of asking friends or family if they know anyone. I have been looking for painters, but I don't know how to make a decision. I can see how getting a recommendation from someone else, might help me make a decision.

Finley Moreira link

19/7/2017 05:51:08

My wife and I would like to change the overall look of our home, but we don't want to deal with the painting. We have really high ceilings, so I'd definitely rather have a professional handle it instead. I'll be sure to use your tip to ask family and friends for recommendations first before hiring a painter!

Ridley Fitzgerald link

8/9/2017 11:36:04

Thanks for the great tips for finding a painter. We want to remodel our living room, and painting is definitely a part of that. We'll be sure to make a list of what exactly needs to be done, so we can get accurate estimates.

Ashley Turns link

13/9/2017 09:58:38

I like how you point out that you should ask a lot of questions like who will be cleaning up or what they think the schedule will look like. I am redecorating some of the rooms in my house and am looking for some professional painters to help. I will definitely be sure to collect information having to do with insurance and the timeline the painters plan on so I can find a company that lines up with my wants the best.

Finn Stewart link

28/9/2017 08:12:29

Your suggestion to ask family and friends for recommendations is great. If a family member or friend is impressed with a painter I probably will be as well. My wife and I are wanting to finish our basement but it is large enough that we don't want to paint it on our own. We'll have to ask around to see if any of our friends have used a company they liked.

Finn Stewart link

30/9/2017 10:24:33

I like how you recommended asking family and friends for recommendations. If they recommend a place it is probably for a reason. I have a friend who works at a tech company and they are looking to paint the building their company colors. I'll let him know to ask around for good recommendations to find a good company.

Joy Butler link

6/10/2017 08:00:29

My husband and I have decided to have our house repainted as it's full of "decorative paintings" from our toddlers. I agree that making a good list on which parts of your house will be repainted is a good idea. Also, if you're not sure, ask. Always ask. This will help further your communication with the contractor it will also help them understand what you really want and/or need. Thanks for the great tips!

Zachary Tomlinson link

7/10/2017 04:30:50

Thanks for posting! I want to remodel my house and I'll start with parting, now I'm looking for appropriate services. It's awesome how you mentioned about making a list of needs to be painted. I'll definitely consider these services in order to return my house the perfect look.

Jordan link

18/2/2018 10:46:17

I've been looking for an interior painting service, and I think that some tips would be good. I'm glad you talked about being able to manage the job yourself. I'm going to have to look for a good interior painting service, and I think that being able to get some information would be good!

hannah nelison link

28/2/2018 10:30:57

I agree that you would want to consider looking online when choosing a painting service. It would be smart to consider this because you could find a lot of reviews and references. I'm looking for someone to paint and decorate my home, so I'll have to check online.

hannah neilson link

18/4/2018 14:10:02

Thanks for the advice about asking what kind of references a painting contractor can provide. Finding out what past clients have to think would really help ensure that they will do good work. My husband and I need to repaint our entertainment room into a nursery, so we'll have to find someone with good references to do the job.

hannah neilson link

1/5/2018 09:37:21

I agree that you want to consider what kind of jobs a painting service has done. It would be good to consider this because it would show that they are qualified. My husband and I are looking for a painter, so we'll have to check their past jobs.

hannah neilson link

8/5/2018 08:48:03

Thanks for the tip about asking if a painter is insured. Finding out if they have proper insurance would help you know that they are going to do a good job. My husband and I need someone to paint our nursery before our baby is due, so we'll have to consider their insurance first.

Gary Puntman link

25/1/2019 06:37:52

It would be nice to do some painting throughout my home. I think it could make a big difference in the decor and look of each room. I'll have to consider hiring a professional because they will do the best job. They will be passionate about the project and bring my vision to live, like you mentioned.

Adrian Jones link

12/3/2019 11:59:31

One of the most important things to do before hiring out a professional house painting team is to assess how much, how far and how long it would take to paint the entire area that you're planning to redo since this is where the brunt of the work would be going. Another thing to consider is to always ask questions when you do hire the professional house painting team since they'll be glad you did ask about what they're about to do, and how they'll get about doing it. If I had the chance to hire a house painting team I would definitely let them know fo the size of the project so that they know what to expect!

Daphne Gilpin link

26/3/2019 06:02:04

Thanks for mentioning that we shouldn't be afraid to ask questions. My husband and I want to hire a painting service for our building. Your tips should help the experience go as smoothly as possible.

Camille Devaux link

25/4/2019 10:11:07

I had a friend that was interested in getting an interior painting service. She wants to make sure that she is getting the best for her needs. It might be wise for her to look into finding several quotes and comparing them.

painting contractors Calgary link

31/5/2019 19:37:46

As making a checklist of items that will be needed during painting is a wise step to prepare for interior painting and decorating walls too as from my view hiring painting professionals could also be a nice and wise step to make room beautiful. If you hire Calgary’s top painting contractor, then you don’t have to worry about the bringing painting accessories and tools.

Callum Palmer link

17/10/2019 13:59:58

I'm needing to do some painting. My DIY skills aren't that great. That is the main reason why I'll be going with a professional for this.

Vivian Black link

17/1/2020 13:14:05

You made a great point about how you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions to make sure you have a good idea of what you're getting. My husband and I are looking for help painting our remodeled kitchen and we found your article looking for tips. We will keep these tips in mind as we search for a professional that can help us out.

TonyaParsons link

6/2/2020 04:19:21

I like that you mentioned to not be afraid to ask plenty of questions. i like your post

rachel frampton link

19/2/2020 05:30:11

I just recently bought an apartment near here in Jackson, and so far I am not impressed with its interior painting. That's why I'm currently looking for a painting service that can paint my walls with Blue and Gray. Thank you for this reminder; before the project begins, I'll make sure to come up with a list that needs to be painted, so it'll be easier for the painter to provide an estimated quote.

Jenna Hunter link

27/2/2020 11:02:20

It was interesting to learn about how asking questions and clarifying specifics is really important and reliability is important. My mom is thinking about getting a painter to help her with the home so that it will look a lot nicer and get some better coloration. It could be really helpful for her to get some help from a professional.

Painters and decorators Auckland link

28/3/2020 02:53:07

Nice article! I'll definitely consider these services in order to return my house the perfect look. Check at https://www.housepainterauckland.co.nz/. I'll be sure to use your tip to ask family and friends for recommendations first before hiring a painter. Thanks for sharing.

kate hansen link

14/11/2020 09:44:25

I like how you said to get recommendations from your friends and family. My husband and I are planning on renovating our kitchen in a couple of weeks, and we were wondering what we should look for when hiring a painter that can paint it again for us. We'll make sure to keep these tips in mind as we search for a painting contractor that can help us with our kitchen renovation.

Eli Richardson link

9/2/2021 06:30:22

It really helped when you said it's important to check different painters before choosing one. My wife and I want to do some renovations to our condo, and we were thinking about changing the wall's colors. We think it could add light to its walls, so we're looking for a professional's help. We appreciate your tips about what to consider before hiring a painter.

Charlotte Fleet link

26/2/2021 08:33:51

My husband and I are hoping to hire a reputable painting service to paint the exterior of our home next month. I appreciate your recommendation to contact at least three different painters to compare their quotes. We will be sure to talk to at least three painting companies and narrow our search down from there to ensure that we choose the most reliable.

Taylor Hicken link

7/4/2021 18:55:09

I appreciated it when you shared that it is great to ask for recommendations from your friends and family on any painters that they have worked with in the past. My father just mentioned the other day that he is thinking of repainting the whole house since he wants to give it a new look while increasing the curb appeal of our property. I will suggest to him looking for a reliable painter who is recommended to do the job.

Chris Pederson link

1/5/2021 05:47:54

Thanks for the advice to look past the first painter you find. I bet I can find a better deal somewhere. If not, then maybe I can try to get one from the first painter.

Henry Killingsworth link

9/6/2021 05:55:50

You made an interesting point when you talked about how you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions when you are looking to hire a painting contractor. I would like to repaint my office to a brighter color since I started working from home last month. Painting the walls a brighter color will help me better enjoy working in my office.

decorator link

28/6/2021 15:33:02

While looking for a decorator and painter for your impending enlivening task, it will consistently be a savvy thought to work with an expert. Pick somebody who is appropriately qualified and talented to complete the undertaking and rejuvenate your home improvement project.

Kristofer Van Wagner link

27/7/2021 04:32:50

I am grateful that this post shared that when looking for a painter to hire, it is important for us to consider their experience. It makes sense for us to be mindful of their experience as it will impact their quality of work. I will definitely be more mindful in selecting a painter to have my home repainted.