DIY or Hire a Decorator? How to Decide

A straightforward way to decide whether to paint and decorate yourself or hire a professional, based on skill, time, risk, access and the finish you want.

Painting looks simple, which is why it is the most popular DIY job in the UK. Yet many people find that the last 10 per cent of a paint job, the edges, the finish and the preparation, takes most of the effort. Deciding whether to do it yourself or hire someone is partly about money, but also about time, risk and how much the result matters to you.

The case for doing it yourself

DIY makes sense when:

• The room is small, plain and in good condition.
• You are not in a hurry.
• A minor imperfection would not bother you.
• You are happy to learn as you go.
• Access is simple: no stairs, no height, no awkward angles.

Typical DIY savings are the labour portion, which can be several hundred pounds for a room. You will still pay for paint, brushes, rollers, tape, filler, sheets and possibly a ladder.

The case for hiring

Hiring makes more sense when:

• Ceilings are high or the stairwell is tall.
• Walls need significant repair, skimming or damp treatment.
• You want a very smooth finish on woodwork, doors or kitchen cabinets.
• The job involves wallpaper with complex patterns.
• Exterior work needs scaffolding or ladders at height.
• You are selling, renting out, or preparing for an event and need it done quickly.
• You have limited time, mobility or energy.

A simple scoring approach

Rate each factor from 1 (DIY looks fine) to 3 (hire):

If most answers lean toward 3, hiring is likely to be better value than it first appears.

Hidden costs of DIY

• Buying good tools. Cheap brushes shed hairs and leave streaks.
• Wasted paint from poor estimates. See how many litres of paint you need.
• Mistakes, such as drips or poor cutting in, that require redoing.
• Time off work, or evenings and weekends lost.
• Cleaning, disposal and furniture moving.

Hidden costs of hiring

• Price may not include paint or woodwork.
• You will need to coordinate access and timing.
• A mismatch in expectations if the brief is vague.

Both are manageable with planning. For hiring, how to get an accurate decorating quote will help avoid surprises.

A middle route

Many people share the work. For example:

1. You do the clearing, basic cleaning and light prep.
2. The decorator handles ceilings, woodwork and the final coats.
3. You choose paint and colours and buy samples.

This can reduce cost while ensuring the visible, difficult parts are done well. Always agree who is doing what in advance.

Safety considerations

Working at height, using ladders, stripping old paint in older homes or dealing with mould are not trivial. If there is any chance of lead paint in an older property, read lead paint in older homes before sanding. This is general information, not professional advice, and you should seek specialist guidance if unsure.

A worked example: a rented one-bed flat

A landlord has a 55 square metre one-bed flat to refresh between tenants. Walls are in decent condition, ceilings are standard height and the woodwork is gloss that is chipped. The DIY route might cost £150 to £250 in paint and materials plus four to six evenings or two weekends, with the risk of streaky ceilings and untidy woodwork. A decorator, working one to two days, might charge somewhere around £400 to £900 for walls, ceilings and woodwork, plus paint. The extra spend buys speed and a more even finish, which can matter when each empty week costs rent. For a spare room you rarely use, DIY is usually the sensible choice.

What your time is really worth

Consider the real cost of a weekend. If a job takes you three weekend days and a decorator could do it in one, the saving is the difference in cash minus what those two extra days are worth to you. This is not a rule, just a prompt to be honest about value.

Jobs that are usually fine to DIY

• Painting a plain wall or small room in good condition
• Touch-ups and scuff repairs
• Light preparation and cleaning before a professional arrives
• Testing colours with samples

Jobs that usually deserve a professional

• Stairwells and anything needing a tower or long ladder
• Spraying cabinets or uPVC
• Wallpaper with large repeats or expensive paper
• Exteriors above ground-floor height
• Areas with suspected damp, lead paint or asbestos-containing materials

Common mistakes

• Underestimating preparation. Prep is most of the job.
• Buying the cheapest brushes. They leave hairs and streaks.
• Painting in poor light. Faults then show up the next morning.
• Not testing colour. Samples avoid an expensive redo. See how to test paint colours with samples.

Accessibility and health

If bending, reaching or standing is difficult, or if fumes could aggravate a health condition, hiring is a practical choice rather than a failure. Water-based low-odour products reduce fumes whichever route you choose.

If you decide to hire, how to find a good painter and decorator is a sensible next read.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really cheaper to DIY?

In cash terms, usually. But factor in your time and the chance of redoing work. For simple rooms it is often worthwhile.

What is the hardest part for beginners?

Preparation and cutting in. Many first-timers underestimate how much filling, sanding and masking matter.

Can I hire a decorator just for the hard bits?

Yes. Many decorators will do ceilings, stairs or woodwork only. Describe exactly what you want in your request.

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