So I’m standing in my lounge last Tuesday, yeah? Proper staring at these walls that haven’t been touched since God knows when. The magnolia paint was doing this weird yellow thing, and there’s wallpaper peeling off near the window like it’s giving up on life. This gives rise to a question in my mind, “What is the average cost to decorate a room?”
My mate Dave pops round for a cuppa, takes one look and goes, “Blimey, this place needs some TLC.” Cheers, Dave. Really helpful.
That’s when I decided to do something about it. How expensive could it be, right? Paint’s just paint. Furniture’s just furniture. Easy peasy.
Three weeks later, I’m sat here with a lighter wallet and a very different opinion about room decorating costs.
What is the Average Cost to Decorate a Room? – The Numbers
Okay, first things first. If you are going to get someone in to decorate, they will cost between £150 and £200 per day. Per day! That is more than what I spend on a week’s worth of groceries.
My neighbour Sarah hired professionals to do her bedroom last month, which cost her £900. Her room is smaller than my bathroom; can you believe it? Just painting, mind you. No fancy wallpaper or anything.
A friend of mine, who is a decorator, said to me very directly, “Most people budget for about half what they actually need.” He wasn’t wrong.
For a bog-standard sitting room, you’re looking at anywhere from £800 to £1,500 if you hire someone. Bedroom? Maybe £600 to £1,200. Kitchen? Don’t even get me started. Two grand minimum if you’re doing anything decent.
But that’s just the decorating bit. Add furniture, and you might as well kiss your savings goodbye.
Why I Thought DIY Would Save Me Money
I, like every other Brit who’s seen a bit too much DIY SOS in his lifetime, figured I could do it myself. Save a few quid, have a laugh and job done.
I went to B&Q and I thought great, one tin of paint will do it.’ The counter bloke stared at me as if I was mad. He said, “You’ll need at least three tins for that size room, mate.”
Three tins? For one room? Paint covers roughly what you would expect for £30 a pot. Not very much at all.
Then there’s brushes. Decided I was going to be fancy and get the cheap ones. Big mistake. These things left more bristles on my wall than a dog shedding in summer. Went and bought proper ones for another thirty quid.
I spent around £180 by the time I bought all my basic necessities. Haven’t even started decorating yet.
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What It Actually Costs When You Add Everything Up
Right, let’s talk real money. Not the made-up numbers you see in magazines.
Paint for one room costs about £80 to £120 if you buy decent stuff. Add brushes, rollers, dust sheets, all that faff, and you’re at £150 easy.
My sofa died halfway through decorating. Typical timing. New one from DFS cost £1,100. Could’ve gone cheaper, but I’m not twenty anymore. My back needs proper support.
Coffee table was another £280. Curtains for two windows set me back £190. Couple of lamps, some cushions, a throw for the sofa, and I’m looking at another £300.
Carpet was knackered too. Twenty-year-old beige thing that had seen better decades. Replacement cost £480 including fitting. Could’ve done it cheaper, but life’s too short for rubbish carpet.
The Average Cost To Decorate A Room Gets Scary Quick
So what does it actually cost to sort out a room properly? Depends how honest you want to be with yourself.
Basic job, doing most of it yourself? £400 to £900. That’s assuming nothing goes wrong and you don’t need new furniture.
Proper makeover with new everything? £2,000 to £4,000 easily. More if you’ve got champagne tastes and a beer budget like me.
My sitting room ended up costing £2,650 all told. That’s paint, decorating materials, a sofa, a coffee table, curtains, carpet, lamps, and accessories. Everything.
Worth every penny, though. Room looks brilliant now.
How To Not Go Completely Skint
After making every mistake possible, here’s what I’d tell anyone else planning to decorate:
Shop around like your life depends on it. Same sofa I bought for £1,100? Saw it in another shop two weeks later for £850. Still gutted about that.
Wait for sales. January’s brilliant for home stuff. Picked up loads of bits at half price after Christmas.
Mix and match your approach. I painted the walls myself but got a proper decorator to do the ceiling and woodwork. Saved money where I could, spent properly where it mattered.
Don’t chuck everything out at once. Kept my bookshelf and side table from before. Cleaned them up; they look fine with the new stuff.
Facebook Marketplace is a goldmine. Got my coffee table there for sixty quid. Same one’s £300 in Furniture Village. Needed a quick sand and polish, but that’s an hour’s work for £240 savings.
London’s Different (Obviously)
Should mention this bit. Where you live makes a massive difference to what you’ll pay.
Down south, everything costs more. Decorator who charges £150 a day in Newcastle wants £280 in London. Same work, bigger price tag.
Furniture delivery’s more expensive too. That sofa costing £900 delivered to Leeds? Add another £150 if you’re in zone 2.
It’s just the way things are. Annoying, but there we go.
The Sneaky Costs Nobody Warns You About
Here’s what really winds me up. There’s always something extra you hadn’t thought of.
Moved my radiator six inches to fit the new sofa. Plumber charged £120 just to disconnect and reconnect it. Six inches!
Light switch looked grotty against the new paint. Electrician wanted £90 to change it for a nicer one.
Skirting board got damaged when I moved the old furniture out. Had to get new bits cut and fitted. Another £65.
These little things add up fast. Budget an extra 20% for stuff you haven’t thought of. Trust me on this.
Was It Worth The Hassle And Money?
Short answer: absolutely.
Long answer: the room’s completely transformed. Brighter, more comfortable, doesn’t look like student digs anymore. People actually comment on how nice it looks now.
But more importantly, I actually enjoy being in there. Before, I’d avoid the room because it looked so grim. Now it’s where I spend most evenings.
That’s worth £2,650 to me.
What I’d Do Differently
- Budget properly from the start. Add 30% for extras because there are always extras.
- Get quotes from at least three decorators if hiring someone. Prices vary loads.
- Don’t rush into buying furniture. Take time to find the right stuff at the right price.
- Maybe don’t attempt decorating during the wettest February on record. Paint took forever to dry.
The Bottom Line
The average cost to decorate a room properly ranges from about £500 for basic DIY to several thousand for the full works.
All that adds up to a spend of between £1,500 and £3,500 for most punters once it’s all over. This will involve materials, a little bit of professional help and some new furniture.
It’s not cheap. Neither is living with walls that make you feel awful every time you even think about them.
Just make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew. Plan the budget accordingly and make a smart shop; if you find any difficulty, do not hesitate to ask for help.
Your room will look amazing, and you’ll actually want to spend time in it. Can’t put a price on that, really.
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