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Home decoration

Can DIY painting achieve a professional finish for halls and downstairs?

83 replies

Letthesunshine1234 · 07/08/2026 21:42

I have been quoted £15k to paint my hallway and downstairs in house. I don’t have the budget for this. Has anyone managed to master DIY painting to a professional standard and if yes how? I would need to do ceilings, walls and woodwork.

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Lonelycrab · 09/08/2026 12:10

LoafofSellotape · 09/08/2026 11:59

I'd just start off with some ready mixed Polyfilla to start with, see how you go.

Don’t use this.

Very prone to shrinkage/cracking as a lot of pre mixed fillers are. Powder and mix is the better option normally, cheaper too.

Pplareasthickasshit · 09/08/2026 12:14

JuRoo · 08/08/2026 23:08

The trend now is to paint everything, walls, ceiling, skirting etc all the same colour so that makes it easier to hide any mistakes. Separate white ceilings & woodwork look dated now. Water based paints are easier to work with too so I think you’ll be well able to do it.

Edited

They don't look even remotely dated. It's just certain corners of Instagram saying as much. Colour drenching is a current trend but white woodwork is a classic look.

RumPidgeon · 09/08/2026 12:17

I’d say invest in an excellent equipment, don’t get the cheapest roller and make sure you get the right type of paint for the surface you’ll be painting. Stay away from Silk finishes - they’re hard to get right.

OhBotherSaidPoo · 09/08/2026 14:32

Letthesunshine1234 · 09/08/2026 11:29

I’ve been inspired to try it. I will start one small room. Anyone got any filler brands? I was recommended to use the powder and mix myself - any particular brand names? Also how much are the dust extraction systems?

Polyfilla is fine for walls, i buy the powder and mix it as I go, use a filler knife to put it on the wall.
You don't need a dust extraction system, my hetty hoover does the job just as well. Just keep on top of the hoovering as you go along and wash down any surfaces before decorating.

LibertyLily · 09/08/2026 16:42

Lonelycrab · 09/08/2026 12:09

Toupret is good

This ^

Toupret is the best imo. I use ProDec brushes as I'm not allowed near DH's vast collection of Purdys!

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 09/08/2026 18:52

I can highly recommend using Zinnser paint as a primer. You will need fewer coats of the main colour, and it really does cover a multitude of stains.

You can buy disposable covers for the paint tray if you don't want to waste lots of water cleaning them (if you've used water-based paints).

You can tightly wrap a brush or roller in cling film and keep it in the fridge if you're going to be using it again within a couple of weeks - saves time cleaning!

Do a pre-paint wash of the walls with a sugar soap solution, then wash off with clean water (do this before filling).
Then just wipe down after final sand with a damp cloth, and vacuum before you start painting.

Move as much furniture as possible out of the room before you start, it's SO much hassle to keep moving stuff.

Put down decent drop cloths/ cover for flooring and anything you can't move out.

Start with the ceiling.

When painting a wall, start at the top and work down (to avoid any drips or runs).

Finish with a very light stroke/roll always in the same direction.

Depending on how high your ceilings are, buy a hop-up - so much easier then standing on a ladder to paint.

Again, depending on how high your ceilings are, and how much painting you're going to do, it might be worth investing in a small moveable scaffolding platform (I'll see if I can link what I mean).

You will be fine painting rooms, but the stairs are going to be tricky. You'll know from how the room painting has gone if you'll manage that, otherwise pay someone to just do that.

Good luck!

Edit: photos to follow

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 09/08/2026 18:58

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 09/08/2026 18:52

I can highly recommend using Zinnser paint as a primer. You will need fewer coats of the main colour, and it really does cover a multitude of stains.

You can buy disposable covers for the paint tray if you don't want to waste lots of water cleaning them (if you've used water-based paints).

You can tightly wrap a brush or roller in cling film and keep it in the fridge if you're going to be using it again within a couple of weeks - saves time cleaning!

Do a pre-paint wash of the walls with a sugar soap solution, then wash off with clean water (do this before filling).
Then just wipe down after final sand with a damp cloth, and vacuum before you start painting.

Move as much furniture as possible out of the room before you start, it's SO much hassle to keep moving stuff.

Put down decent drop cloths/ cover for flooring and anything you can't move out.

Start with the ceiling.

When painting a wall, start at the top and work down (to avoid any drips or runs).

Finish with a very light stroke/roll always in the same direction.

Depending on how high your ceilings are, buy a hop-up - so much easier then standing on a ladder to paint.

Again, depending on how high your ceilings are, and how much painting you're going to do, it might be worth investing in a small moveable scaffolding platform (I'll see if I can link what I mean).

You will be fine painting rooms, but the stairs are going to be tricky. You'll know from how the room painting has gone if you'll manage that, otherwise pay someone to just do that.

Good luck!

Edit: photos to follow

Edited

This is the hop-up (platform) and mini scaffold thing i mentioned in my other post.

Can DIY painting achieve a professional finish for halls and downstairs?
Can DIY painting achieve a professional finish for halls and downstairs?
allthemind · 16/08/2026 09:17

I've decorated whole of downstairs now, fairly large detached house. Completely self taught and youtube.

My tips are - use Dulux Trade matt emulsion for the walls and their water based quick dry Satinwood for the woodwork - very forgiving to put on and much easier to clean up afterwards as water based not oil so can just use water and soap, no need for white spirits etc https://www.thepaintshed.com/dulux-trade-quick-dry-satinwood-colours. I paint the skirting in this, colour matched to the same as the emulsion on the walls and it looks really good (colour drenching trend). Ceilings and coving i do white though as dont like the full colour drench thing. Seriously though, only use Trade paint. Non Trade paint is a false economy.

Buy paint online from places like the Paint Shed to save a bit. Don't underestimate the cost of paint though, its not cheap. Im spending about £120 per room I reckon (but still much cheaper than your quote!).

PREP - takes me 3/4 days of prep on a room versus 1 or 2 days of actual painting to get a nice finish. I get sanding pads from Amazon. Vacuum constantly and esp just before you start painting.

I need to do the stairs and upstairs hall next which are quite high. Anyone got any tips for this or recommend a stair ladder or platform?

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