Painting & Decorating Guides

Quick answer: Paint is the cheapest way to change a room, and prep is what separates a finish that lasts years from one that peels in months. Clean the surface, fill and sand flaws, prime over stains and bare patches, then paint two coats. For walls, matte/flat hides flaws but marks easily; eggshell and satin wipe clean better and suit kitchens, halls, and kids’ rooms.

Colour looks different on a wall than on a tiny swatch. Paint a test patch, look at it in daylight and at night, and live with it for a day before committing. North-facing rooms (in the northern hemisphere) get cooler light, so warm whites usually read better there.

Cabinet painting follows the same rule with higher stakes: degrease thoroughly, scuff or degloss, use a bonding primer, and use paint made for cabinets or trim. Rushing the prep is how cabinet paint chips.

What This Hub Covers

  • Wall prep done right: cleaning, filling, sanding, and priming
  • Painting kitchen and bathroom cabinets for a factory-smooth finish
  • Choosing finishes: matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and where each belongs
  • Colour ideas for small rooms, dark rooms, and open-plan spaces
  • Trim, doors, and ceilings: order of work and brush vs roller choices

Planning Your Budget

Costs vary a lot by region and city — labour rates in London or Sydney are not the same as in a small US town, and material prices shift with supply. Treat every range on this site as a planning starting point, then get two or three local quotes before you commit.

Safety first: hire a licensed pro for electrical, gas, and structural work. If a mistake could flood your home, cause a shock, start a fire, or affect the structure, it is not a DIY job.

Guides in This Hub

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Common Questions

Should I prime before painting?

Prime over bare plaster/drywall, stains, dark colours you are covering, and glossy surfaces. Over a clean wall in good condition with a similar colour, a quality two-coat paint job often does fine without a separate primer.

What paint finish should I use on walls?

Matte or flat for ceilings and low-traffic bedrooms; eggshell for most living areas; satin or semi-gloss for kitchens, bathrooms, trim, and doors, where wiping clean matters.

How do I paint cabinets without brush marks?

Degrease, degloss, prime with a bonding primer, and apply thin coats with a foam roller or sprayer, sanding lightly between coats. Thin coats beat one thick coat every time.

How many coats of paint do I need?

Two coats is the standard for even colour and durability. One coat almost always shows patches and wears faster, even with paint labelled one-coat.

Can I paint over wallpaper?

You can, but it often looks poor and peels later. Stripping the paper and prepping the wall underneath gives a far better, longer-lasting result.

Planning a project? Check our cost guides before you budget — costs vary by region and city.