There’s something about a freshly painted room. It can transform a space, breathe new life into it, and brighten up the entire area. And if you want your home to look its best before putting it on the market, you’ll be amazed what a lick of paint can do.
For the best results, you’ll want to find a painter and decorator near you who has a number of great reviews.
Here’s all you need to know.
How to find the best painter and decorator near you
You’ve made the decision to hire a professional painter decorator, but of course, you want to be sure of a job well done.
Finding a skilled painter decorator that works in your local area is easier than you might think.
We have three straightforward ways to find an expert painter decorator near you:
1: Use our request a quote feature
If you’re short on time, this option is for you. Just add your details to our ‘request a quote’ feature and we’ll put you in touch decorators with the relevant skills for the job.
2: Browse our online trade directory
If you have a little more time and want to scroll through decorators covering your area, pop your postcode in the search box, hit the button, and browse the options.
3: Head to the Checkatrade app
Want to make life as easy as possible? Browse approved painter decorators, connect with your favourites and book your start date all in one easy-to-manage place.
The best part about searching for your local decorators on Checkatrade is that only decorators who commit to our high standards and pass our checks will appear.
What does a painter decorator do?
Aside from the obvious, what does the scope of a painter decorator’s work include? What can you, as a customer, expect your painter decorator to do as part of your project?
A painter decorator will generally:
- Advise how much paint or wall covering is needed for your job
- Lay dust sheets and prepare materials
- Remove old wallpaper
- Fill holes and cracks, and sand, to ensure a smooth surface
- Apply primer and undercoat where needed
- Provide paint and wallpaper, where agreed
- Apply paint or hang wallpaper
- Paint woodwork, e.g. window sills, skirting boards, and doors – both interior and exterior
- Apply any special finishes required, e.g. a stain or varnish
- Leave the area tidy upon completion of the project
We’re so confident in the quality of our trades on Checkatrade that if you book or pay through us, we guarantee* their work up to £1,000.
*Guaranteed for 12 months – Eligibility and T&Cs apply.
Questions to ask a painter decorator
Most people can paint a wall, but few can achieve the same outstanding results as a professional painter decorator.
So what questions should you ask before hiring a painter decorator to ensure your finished project gives you the wow factor?
Do you have insurance?
Spilled paint on your carpet? It’s unlikely to happen when you hire a professional, but should an accident take place, insurance will pay to put it right.
That’s why we make it mandatory for all Checkatrade members to have up-to-date public liability insurance to be listed in our directory.
Does your work come with a guarantee?
Many painter/decorators will offer a satisfaction guarantee, and some will provide a limited-time warranty for their work to ensure you’re completely happy with the results.
Checkatrade members come with the Checkatrade guarantee. This covers you for up to 12 months, offering a helping hand if anything goes wrong with the tradesperson (T&Cs apply).
Can you show me examples of your work?
With a skillset that can truly transform a space, most painter decorators will have a gallery of photos to showcase their work. This might even help to inspire your project too!
You can also check a tradesperson’s past work and credentials by looking at online reviews.
All Checkatrade members have a business profile page on our site, making it easy to check these things.
What’s your availability and when could you complete the work?
To secure the best painter decorator near you, try to plan ahead as much as possible.
The good ones will be booked up in advance, so start the process early to avoid disappointment.
It’s also wise to ask how long the work should take, especially if the decoration is one part of a larger renovation project.
How much do you charge?
An experienced painter decorator will work quickly and efficiently to achieve an exceptional finish, saving you both time and stress.
But how much will this expertise set you back?
We recommend getting 2-4 quotes from different painters in your local area. Ask that they are itemised so you can compare like-for-like. Check whether:
- All tools and materials are included
- Paint/wallpaper is included
- The quote includes removing old wallpaper/paint if needed
A more experienced painter decorator is likely to charge more, but remember, you get what you pay for. Where you live, the size of the job, and whether any special finishes are required, will impact the price.
Painter and decorator prices near me
The average painter decorator day rate is £325 per day
However, this can vary based on lots of different factors, like:
- Room size and complexity
- Condition of surfaces
- Type and quality of materials used
- Regional differences
To give you an idea, the average cost to paint a medium-sized room (18m²) is £450. Meanwhile, the average cost of exterior painting for a 3-bed semi-detached property is £1,300.
Read our painter decorator cost guide for more comprehensive information and a breakdown of individual costs.
Or, check out our guides to…
- The cost to paint a 4-bedroom house
- The cost to paint the exterior of a house
- Wallpaper costs
- Garage painting costs
What to expect from a painter and decorator in my area?
Local painter and decorators can all work slightly differently. So, it’s always good to check exactly what you can expect.
However, when you book a painter and decorator in your area using Checkatrade, here are a few things you can usually look forward to.
1. No obligation quotes
It is important to get a few quotes from painter and decorators near you before you commit.
Our members can scope out your project and offer you a no-obligation quote, so you can make your choice with confidence.
2. Helpful advice
Your painter and decorator should lean on their expertise to give you advice and guidance.
In this way, you can be confident that you’re making the right choices and you won’t make any decisions you’ll regret.
For instance, they may be able to recommend paint trends or colour ideas. And they’ll certainly be able to advise you on the best paint type for your needs.
Related guides: 10 ways to embrace Pantone’s colour of the year in 2025.
3. Adherence to the Checkatrade Standard
All our tradespeople have to pass up to 12 checks and commit to upholding the Checkatrade Standard.
As part of this, members agree to six quality commitments:
- Deliver a high quality of workmanship
- Maintain high standards of personal conduct
- Work safely, ethically, and within their skill set
- Communicate clearly and honestly
- Agree costs and contract terms upfront
- Encourage and welcome customer reviews
We check the reviews on Checkatrade are from real people, and that trades meet our high standards.
4. Dedicated to workmanship
When you hire a local painter decorator through Checkatrade, you can confidently expect a commitment to quality workmanship.
Our trades should never agree to work that they don’t have the skills to carry out to a professional standard.
5. The Checkatrade guarantee
We’re so confident in the quality of the trades on Checkatrade that we even offer a guarantee.
Find and book a trade through us, or pay via the app, and we’ll guarantee their work for up to £1,000* (*12 months guarantee – Eligibility and T&Cs apply).
Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*
How do I find a local painter and decorator near me?
You’ve chosen your colour scheme, you know what to look for in a good painter, and you have a selection of questions to qualify your hire.
Now it’s time to find a trusted and experienced painter decorator near you. Here’s how:
Check their trade associations
You can check a painter decorator’s credentials on websites such as:
Accreditation with these organisations means the decorator has been assessed to ensure the customer receives the highest standards of work.
You can also use trade directories such as Checkatrade to find painter decorators in your area who have already been checked and reviewed.
On Checkatrade, you'll only find tradespeople who have passed up to 12 checks.
Check online reviews
A quick online search will allow you to check a tradesperson’s reputation and the quality of their work.
Websites such as Checkatrade display honest and verified reviews from real-life customers.
Ask for recommendations
Word of a good, reliable painter decorator spreads fast among local friends and family. So tap into this resource and ask for their recommendations.
Be sure to check these recommendations out by cross-referencing with Checkatrade too! Which brings us onto…
Use Checkatrade!
At Checkatrade, all our tradespeople have to pass up to 12 checks and are regularly reviewed on everything from punctuality to professionalism. So, you know they’re the real deal.
Ready to find an experienced, reliable painter decorator near you? Just add your postcode to the box below to start your search.