Painting looks simple on TV. Grab a roller, slap on some colour, done by tea time. The reality is different.
The DIY Reality
What It Actually Takes
For a standard bedroom (walls and ceiling):
Preparation:
- Move/cover furniture: 30-60 mins
- Fill holes and sand: 30-60 mins
- Tape edges: 30-60 mins
- Cut in edges: 1-2 hours
Painting:
- First coat: 1-2 hours
- Drying time: 4+ hours
- Second coat: 1-2 hours
Clean up:
- Remove tape: 30 mins
- Clean brushes/rollers: 30 mins
- Move furniture back: 30-60 mins
Total time: 8-15 hours over 1-2 days
What Most People Don't Account For
- Multiple trips to the shop (wrong colour, forgot something)
- Buying tools if you don't have them
- Sore muscles from reaching overhead
- Quality issues that become obvious once you live with it
- That fiddly bit behind the radiator that takes forever
DIY Costs
Materials:
- Paint (good quality): £30-£50 per room
- Brushes/rollers: £15-£30
- Tape, filler, dust sheets: £15-£25
- Total: £60-£105
Hidden costs:
- Your weekend
- Aching arms
- Quality compromise (usually)
The Professional Reality
What You Get
For a standard bedroom:
- Proper preparation (fills, sanding, cleaning)
- Expert cutting-in (no wobbly edges)
- Even coverage, correct thickness
- Usually done in 1-1.5 days
- Clean up included
Professional Costs
Typical Exeter prices:
- Bedroom (walls and ceiling): £200-£350
- Living room: £300-£500
- Whole house (3 bed): £1,200-£2,000
Includes:
- Labour
- Usually not paint (you buy, they apply)
- Basic preparation
Extras that add cost:
- Poor condition walls (more prep)
- Wallpaper removal
- Woodwork painting
- High ceilings or awkward access
Honest Comparison
| Factor | DIY | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £60-£100 | £200-£350 per room |
| Time | 8-15 hours of your time | Done while you're at work |
| Quality | Variable | Consistently good |
| Stress | Depends on you | Minimal |
| Satisfaction | High if it goes well | Reliable |
When DIY Makes Sense
Good DIY Candidates
You should DIY paint if:
- You actually enjoy decorating
- You have the time and patience
- It's a simple space (no high ceilings, few edges)
- You've painted before and it went well
- You want to learn
- Budget is tight
Easy DIY Spaces
- Box bedrooms
- Square rooms with few obstacles
- Single colour walls
- Low ceilings
- Modern (flat) walls
When to Hire a Pro
Worth Paying For
Hire a decorator if:
- You hate decorating
- Your time is valuable
- It's a living room or space you use constantly
- High ceilings or stairwells involved
- Lots of cutting-in (doors, windows, features)
- Wallpaper removal needed
- You want a proper finish
Difficult Spaces
- Hallways and stairs (heights)
- Period features (coving, picture rails)
- Kitchens and bathrooms (humidity considerations)
- New plaster (needs specific treatment)
- Multiple colours or feature walls
Quality Difference
What separates DIY from pro:
Cutting-in: The line where wall meets ceiling, around windows, etc. Pros get this straight. DIYers wobble.
Coverage: Pros know how much paint to load, how to work it out. DIY often shows brush marks or patchy areas.
Prep: Professionals prep properly. DIYers often skimp. Shows in the finish.
Edge details: Around switches, door frames, radiators. Pros are neat. DIY often isn't.
From across the room: Both look similar Up close: DIY usually shows
The Hybrid Approach
Compromise options:
DIY prep, pro finish: You do the clearing, filling, sanding. Pro does the actual painting. Saves maybe 10-15%.
Pro walls, DIY touch-ups: Get the main work done professionally. Touch up minor marks yourself over time.
Pro difficult bits, DIY simple: Get the cutting-in and high sections done professionally. Roll the easy middle yourself.
Real Talk
DIY Goes Wrong When:
- You rush (paint needs time)
- You use cheap paint (more coats needed, worse finish)
- You skip prep (fills and sand your holes!)
- You paint in bad conditions (too cold, too humid)
- You try to economise on coats (two coats minimum)
Decorators Disappoint When:
- You hire the cheapest quote (you get what you pay for)
- Communication is poor (agree exactly what's included)
- You don't check their work (inspect before final payment)
- They're not proper decorators (anyone can paint badly)
My Take
I do painting for customers, but I'm honest:
If you enjoy it and have time: DIY painting is satisfying and saves money.
If you don't enjoy it or time is tight: Hiring someone is worth it for the result and your sanity.
The worst option: Starting DIY, hating it, doing a bad job, then paying someone to fix it. That's double the cost.
Want the room done properly? I do painting and decorating across Exeter. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.
Sam Hembury
Sam is the founder of Hembury Contracting, providing professional handyman services across Exeter and Devon. With years of experience in property maintenance, he shares practical tips to help homeowners tackle common tasks.