How to Prepare a Room Before the Decorators Arrive

A practical checklist for getting a room ready for a painter or decorator, covering furniture, walls, floors, valuables, pets and the day before.

A decorator's time is best spent painting, not shifting your furniture and untangling cables. A little preparation from you speeds the job, reduces risk of damage and can lower the overall cost. This checklist covers what to do in the days before the work starts.

A week before

1. Confirm the scope. Re-read the agreed list of rooms and surfaces so you know exactly what needs to be accessible.
2. Decide on colours. Final choices should be made before the first day. See how to test paint colours with samples.
3. Sort out paint supply. If you are buying the paint, order it early. If the decorator is, confirm colour names or codes.
4. Arrange access. Keys, parking, entry codes and any building rules in a flat should be confirmed.
5. Tell people. Let neighbours, family and anyone sharing the house know the dates.

The day before

Clear the room as far as possible

• Remove small items, ornaments, books and anything on shelves.
• Take pictures, mirrors and shelves off the walls, and remove nails or hooks if you are happy for the decorator to fill the holes.
• Remove curtains and blinds, or at least pull them back and secure them.
• Clear surfaces and windowsills.

Large furniture is normally moved to the centre of the room and covered, or moved out entirely. Agree in advance what you will do and what the decorator will do.

Protect valuables and breakables

Move fragile and valuable items to another room, and lock away anything important. Check any items that stay in the room are covered.

Clear access routes

Paths from the front door to the room should be free of shoes, boxes and toys. The decorator will be carrying ladders and tins.

Deal with electrics

• Remove or unplug lamps, chargers and audio equipment.
• Do not remove fixed switch plates unless agreed. Many decorators will do this and refit them.
• Cover or remove light fittings if requested.

Floors

Hard floors and carpets are normally protected with dust sheets, but you can help by:

• Vacuuming or sweeping so grit does not scratch hard floors under the sheets.
• Rolling up loose rugs.
• Mentioning any delicate surfaces, such as polished wood.

For more detail, see protecting floors and furniture when painting.

Walls

You can make the decorator's job easier by:

• Wiping obvious dust or cobwebs.
• Noting any problem areas, such as cracks, damp patches or marks.
• Not washing walls with strong chemicals that could affect adhesion. If you want the walls cleaned, ask what is recommended. See how to clean walls before painting.

Pets, children and household routines

• Keep pets away from the working area. Open tins and wet paint are hazards.
• Plan where children can safely play.
• Tell the decorator about quiet hours, if you work from home.
• Decide how the household will manage meals and washing if the kitchen or bathroom is out of use.

Communication on the day

Be available to approve decisions and answer questions, either in person or by message. Take photos of the room before work starts, which can be helpful later. If you hired through Compito, you can use messages to let the provider know about any late changes.

What not to do

• Do not paint small patches yourself beforehand. Mismatched touch-ups can complicate matters.
• Do not hide problems. Tell the decorator about leaks, damp or cracks.
• Do not leave valuables and keys lying around.

A simple split of responsibilities

Agreeing who does what avoids awkward moments on the first morning. A common arrangement looks like this:

If your quote does not say who does what, ask before the start date, and put the answer in a message.

Special situations

Flats and shared buildings

Check with the managing agent or neighbours about working hours, noise, use of lifts and any rules on bins or skips. Let the decorator know in advance about parking permits or loading restrictions, since that is the kind of detail that costs time on day one.

Rented homes

Make sure the landlord has agreed to the colour change and who covers it. Take photos of the existing condition before any work.

Homes with pets or allergies

Move pets to a safe room with a note on the door. Mention allergies or sensitivities so the decorator can choose low-odour products and plan ventilation.

Homes with accessibility needs

Tell the decorator if a route needs to stay clear for a wheelchair or walking aid, or if someone needs a quiet room to rest. Plan which rooms stay in use and which are out of action for the day.

Practical bits to sort out

• Make sure there is a working tap and a place to wash brushes and rollers.
• Leave a clear parking space or permit if possible.
• Keep windows accessible so there is plenty of daylight.
• Give the decorator a contact number for the day and leave out spare keys if you are going out.

When the work is finished

Walk round with the decorator, check the room using the list in how to snag a paint job, and keep the room ventilated for a day or two while the paint hardens.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to move all my furniture?

Not necessarily. Many decorators will move and cover furniture, but it saves time if you clear as much as possible. Agree in advance who is doing what.

Should I take down curtains?

It is usually easiest. If you leave them up, they will need to be pulled well away from the wall and protected.

Can I stay at home during decorating?

Usually, yes, though you may prefer to be out of the room being painted. Ventilation helps, and see how long decorating takes to plan.

Should I be at home on the first morning?

It helps. A few minutes at the start to agree where things are, which rooms are in order and what to leave alone saves misunderstandings. After that, you can usually go about your day, with a phone number available for questions.

Find painting providers near you