Key FAQ Points:
- The time it takes to paint a room depends on the size of the room and the surfaces you’re painting, the condition of walls, ceiling and woodwork, and the amount of preparation needed as a result – plus your level of experience.
- You can make things quicker by using a self-priming paint with great coverage for fewer coats.
- Colour drenching is another technique to save time because there’s no need to cut in – more on this below.
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How long does it take to paint a room?
It’s a common question when you want to weigh up how much free time you’ll need to decorate your bedroom, kitchen, living room or bathroom.
The answer depends on a few key factors:
- The size of the room and areas you want to paint – Naturally, bigger walls (or more walls) take longer to paint, as do larger rooms compared to smaller spaces.
- The condition of the surfaces – Walls, ceilings or skirting boards which need extensive filling and sanding, for example, will take longer than newly plastered walls.
- The preparation required – Cleaning, filling and priming will all add to the time it takes to do the job (more on priming below).
- The type of area being painted – Flat walls and ceilings are easy to paint compared to tricky areas like nooks, crannies and woodwork with lots of grooves.
- The experience you have – Experienced decorators will undoubtedly get things done a little faster than beginners.
Time-saving tricks
There are also some things that can make it quicker…
- Self-priming paint eliminates the need to prime your walls (and also means you don’t need to buy primer). This essentially means that your walls need one less coat, which can cut the painting time by a significant amount.
- Always follow the instructions on the tin when it comes to coverage. This will avoid you spreading paint too far – a thinner coat of paint means more coats, so more time will be needed.
- You can cut down the time it takes to cut in when painting a room by using the colour drenching technique. This involves using the same colour from your walls on skirting boards, ceilings, doorframes and doors for dramatic effect.
