Just had my house painted and I hate it

[indecisivequeen]

I'm a complete novice at all stuff diy and painting as I've always rented before now. I bought my house about a month ago. Had someone in last week to paint and wallpaper my hallway. I chose a Johnstone's match of farrow and ball and what a nightmare that has been. The paint is absolutely shit. You can't touch up, you can't clean it. There's marks on the wall not sure if it was from me or the decorater but I've tried gently wiping them off there's now water marks on the wall. You can't touch up as it doesn't blend in.

I wish I had of known this before. I've touched up dulux paints absolutely no problem so stupidly assumed this would be the case with all paint. I've had the wallpaper done up my stairs which I like although I can see a gap quite obvious where it hadn't been matched properly. If anyone has any advice on fixing that please let me know.

So I've just wasted £300 on the hallway and the colour doesn't go and I don't like it and there's marks already. DP hasn't even seen it as he's been working away all week but has said he doesn't mind doing it himself with a mate possibly helping (I'm useless and it's really high) but 1. He hasn't stopped since moved in and he must be absolutely sick of me and 2. The most important thing, how do you paint the joining walls to the wallpaper without getting any paint on it, I'm scared! I've told him I'll pay myself to get someone in to do it again but he seems to think it'll be fine, although he doesn't have much experience painting either. Help! I know it seems so minor right now but it's got me really stressed out.

Also Valspar paint is excellent, even tougher than dulux. They reckon when it’s dry you can take a scrubbing brush to it and it won’t budge. I’ve not tried that, but my kitchen still looks pristine two years on!

I’m just repainting my house in the hard wearing scrubbable paint because I’m sick of marks and things on Matt paint.

@YourDaughter Lovely pooch 🤩

@nicky7654 thank you, she was. We lost her in November - miss her very much. Got this idiot now though 😁

It's not too bad elsewhere, I've seen a lot better. But this is the worst bit and I can't stop looking at it. I could cry. I've got 2 spare rolls but never wallpapered before, a flat wall I'd give it a go, but the drop is huge and it's beyond my limited ability. Should I send the photo to him do you think? I just feel like I'm being a pest and picking fault with everything. If DP was here I'd make sure I was out if he came back but there's only me to deal with him.

Get the decorator back to fix the bad job he did. You've paid a lot for that, you shouldn't be fixing it.

@YourDaughter Aaaah gorgeous and such lovely ears lol The world would be a happier place if everyone owned and loved a dog !! I am sorry for your loss x I am dreading that day and it really upsets me. My two are my life

Hi OP,
Just a suggestion if you could fancy white walls in the hall (Scandinavian style maybe) you would be able to use an extending pole and use the same paint onto your ceiling. Dark colours are going to need very careful cutting in. Look for paint that says wipeable/scrubbable etc. We used Dulux Diamond (Matt) and it is hardwearing.

Come on, OP.

Most of us have been there with a decorating mistake. I decorated my kitchen and dining room in a particular F&B colour. I hated it. I lived with it for a week, trying to convince myself that I really didn't want to have to do the whole job again. I did it again, and I'm so glad I did. You need to be happy with it.

We all have the things that bother us. My walls are all flat matt because I can't bear even a hint of sheen on the paintwork - but I have an old house where scuffs aren't very noticeable. If there are major marks that won't wipe off, I just paint over them again.

Scrubbable paint tends to be more shiny, so you have to do a bit of a trade-off between looks and practicality.

Cutting in between walls/ceiling or walls/wallpaper is fine. Honestly. Either use masking tape (comes off easily, and doesn't take the paint with it) or a firm piece of cardboard/a thin chopping board. I have a favourite brush which would stand up and beg if I asked it to - you just need to get to know your tools, and have a bit of confidence. Decorating is not difficult!

All that said, I think your decorator should sort out his bad job. I know you would rather not ask him, but I wouldn't dream of leaving that gap in the wallpaper, and I am not a professional. He needs to sort that out.

@nicky7654, wouldn’t it just! Your two are beautiful! I love Staffies ❤️

OP I’d get him back to do the drop and re-paint. He can do both at the same time. The re-paint is not entirely his fault as you selected the paint, but he may do it if you complain about the papering enough!

I’d get on it though, wallpaper is much easier to peel and replace the more quickly you get at it!

Hi OP,
Looking back at your posts £300 seems very cheap for painting and papering a hall and stairs. Does that include the paper and paint so it was even less? You mention that the person is a family friend. Are they a professional decorator? If not you wont have a professional finish.

You mention that the photo you posted was a long drop of paper? Down the height of the stairs? If that is the worst bit then I don’t think it’s too bad. The paint problems just sound like a bad choice for a high traffic area because of a very chalky finish to me.

I think I'll send a message over in the morning. DP suggested taping a plastic sheet over the wallpaper when we re-paint if we do decide to do it ourselves. Does this sound like a good idea incase is splashes?

That photo of the ladder on the stairs has got me hysterical - I'm picturing a major fall and a broken hip

You can buy rolls of plastic wall protector, which has adhesive tape built in.

We had our house painted by a decorator last year using johnstones vinyl matt. Its supposed to be wipeable but its crap!
You have to be really delicate with it.

When we have done it previously ourselves we have always used dulux the scrubbable one and just matt and never had an issue.

I wouldn't use Johnstones again.
Agree that some edge glue might tidy up the sticking up bits.

@JMAngel1 used by decorators the world over - scares the shit out of me every time I get on it 🤣🤣

@indecisivequeen parcel paper works better than plastic sheet - doesn’t crease as easily which causes a build up of paint. Edge of the paper sheet will give you a crisp line to your paint

We used Johnstone's paint recently on our stairs and landing. I'm desperate to go over it with Dulux. 3 coats and it's still not full coverage. (white over magnolia)

What is the f and b colour you had copied op? The only reason I ask is that we had a copy once and I knew it was nowhere near the f and b shade. I was able to explain/prove this to the decorator and he in turn showed the company who mixed it. I'm guessing it's rare but it can happen....

@bluesheep8 it was ammonite, i quite likes the colour until the wallpaper went on and it didn't look grey anymore.

If you like the paint colour could you just change the wallpaper? If you raise the fact it's not been hung properly with the decorator he might refund you or negotiate a way to get it replaced

I love the wallpaper, it looks really good up my stairs, well I would if it had of been done properly. So I'm now trying to find another paint to match that. Didn't realise how difficult it was!

Johnsons paint always used to be very good , we always go for a scrubbable matt nowadays . Paint often looks totally different when its on and we have on several occasions paid out and wasted paint because I didn't like it on . I always choose my papers carefully as , some stretch and shrink and are not as easy to put up and look nice , not all decorators are good at hanging wallpaper .

If the photo you posted is the worst bit it just needs pasted down properly. It's happened to me a couple of times (I'm not a decorator but I do all my own papering). It can happen if there is a bit of dust or the paste has dried too quickly.

Just peel it back, mix up a little paste, and run your finger underneath on both sides. Then buff it with a dry dishcloth. The lumps of paste should come out and once its dry you can wash excess paste away with a damp cloth.

I've bought some so lite repair adhesive bu I don't understand how I'm supposed to get under the wallpaper to stick it down properly. Dps also just noticed where it's peeling at the bottom elsewhere. I isn't expect perfection but this is beyond a joke