How Long Does It Take to Paint a House? Room by Room Timings

The honest answer is that it depends on the house, the condition and how many people are working. But it is possible to give sensible ranges, and that helps you plan.

A single room

A standard bedroom with walls and ceiling usually takes one to two days for one decorator. The extra day is mostly drying time between coats and any filling or sanding up front.

A living room is similar, a little longer if there is a lot of woodwork. A bathroom is quicker in floor area but fiddly, so allow one to two days.

Kitchens and hallways

Kitchens often take two to three days, particularly with cupboards, tiles and tight edges to cut in around. Hallways, stairs and landings are slower than they look. Height, spindles and the number of doors all add up. Two to four days is common.

A whole house interior

For a three-bedroom house with everything redecorated, expect somewhere between one and three weeks. A pair of decorators will shorten it. A property with extensive repairs or wallpaper stripping will lengthen it.

Booking early matters in the busy periods. Our guide to booking before Christmas covers how that plays out.

The exterior

Outside work depends heavily on weather and access. A typical house can take around a week, sometimes more if scaffolding, repairs or several coats are involved. Rain stops work and so does damp wood, so a settled forecast helps. See what exterior painting costs in Suffolk too.

What slows things down

Preparation. Poor walls take longer to prepare than to paint.

Drying time. Paint needs to dry properly between coats. Rushing it risks poor coverage and marks. In cold, damp weather it takes longer.

Colour changes. Dark to light often means extra coats.

Wallpaper. Stripping old paper and repairing the wall beneath adds days. Hanging it is a precise job, as we explain in how long wallpaper hanging takes.

Furniture. An occupied house takes longer than an empty one.

Hidden problems. Damp, cracks or old filler that fails when disturbed. These are rare surprises but not unheard of.

Can you live in the house meanwhile?

Usually yes. A good decorator works room by room, so you keep part of the house in use. Low-odour paints help. Plan for dust sheets, moved furniture and a few days of slightly awkward routines.

How to keep to the schedule

Clear rooms before the decorator arrives. Agree colours and finishes before work starts, because last-minute changes cost time. Keep pets and children out of wet areas. If budget matters as much as timing, what changes the price of painting a room is worth a read.

We give an estimated timescale with every quote for our interior painting and decorating. Ask for yours here.