Painting a room is the easiest and cheapest way to give a new lease of life to your home. But if you’re on a restricted budget, it’s difficult not to ask yourself how much it will cost to paint a room.
Hiring a professional painter seems the best solution – and in a certain way it is. However, painting the room yourself can cut costs and save you some cash. Here are the average costs to help you decide whether to hire a pro or give DIY a chance.
How Much Will It Cost To Paint A Room By Yourself?
Painting a room requires investment in materials and tools – and this means more than paint and brushes. Surface preparation products, protective equipment and cleansers have a major impact on the total cost of the project.
Below, there is a breakdown of the materials typically needed for an average project:
- Wall and ceiling paint (coverage 12m²/litre on average)
- Wall primer (coverage 13m²/litre on average)
- Caulk
- Sandpaper
- Drop cloths
- Brushes
- Rollers
- Roller trays
- Masking tape
- Putty knife
- Caulking gun
- Stepladder
- Protective equipment
The average costs of the products above vary widely and depend on their quality, but also on the surface you have to cover. In broad terms, you can expect to pay anywhere between £100 and £200 for materials.
Obviously, if you’re painting the room yourself, you already know the average cost. But how much does it cost to hire a professional?
How Much Will It Cost To Hire A Professional?
Hiring a professional painter cuts the cost of some materials but adds labour costs and VAT. A professional painter may have his own brushes and rollers, and maybe some equipment. You’ll still have to pay for the paint, primer and other materials.
A professional decorator charges £200 on average but the average cost of material drops to about £120. Counting VAT and extra-expenses, the average cost of the project rises to approximately £400. This is almost double than you’d expect if painting the room yourself.
How To Cut Painting Costs
Although it costs almost double, we recommend hiring a professional to help you with your project. The professional work will pay off in the long run, minimising maintenance costs. Thanks to a professional treatment of the surfaces, the result will also last longer.
And there are ways to cut some costs and make your bill more affordable.
- Measure the room yourself. Professional decorators usually charge a separate fee for this service, but measuring a room is not rocket science. Do it yourself and include these details in your query when asking for a quote. Knowing the size of the room will also allow you to source and buy the paint at a better price.
Typically, a litre of primer or sealer costs around £4 per litre and the paint costs around £6 per litre. But searching in advance means you can find real bargains and get these products at as little as £2/litre. - Buy quality paint. We did just suggest saving money on it, but don’t compromise on quality. Poor quality paint won’t embellish your walls for a long time and it can start peeling or flaking just weeks after application.
There are numerous renowned brands who manufacture affordable quality paints. Although there are exceptions, big names are almost always a guarantee. - Choose a neutral colour palette. We all like feature walls and bright colours, but trends come and go. When you’re painting on a budget, the best thing is to choose a neutral colour scheme. Of course, you can paint the room in any shade you like but we wouldn’t recommend choosing a colour you’ve never tried before.
If you don’t like it, you’ll probably want to repaint the walls in a more appropriate shade. - Help as much as you can. A good part of the redecoration cost is charged for the surface preparation. Try to cut off these costs by preparing the walls as much as you can. For instance, remove old wallpaper yourself, or scrape off the flaking and peeling paint. Sand the wall and clean the surface. And don’t forget to ask the painter in advance what he’ll charge you for. For instance, some painters won’t mind fixing minor wall damage but others will charge you extra.
- Schedule the redecoration in the right season. Yes, the British weather is temperamental and no, we don’t suggest painting your room in winter. But you can schedule the redecoration in spring or autumn to bring down costs. Statistics show that most homeowners paint their interiors in summer, and this means professional services cost more during this period.
When asking for a quote, don’t forget to mention the size of the room and condition of the walls. Also mention that you already have the paint and ask exactly what extra costs you’ll have to sustain. This way, you’ll know exactly how much it will cost you to paint your room.