Bedroom Painting Checklist: Prepare Before Decorators Arrive

Start these tasks a week in advance to avoid last-minute stress:

• Confirm your colour choices are final (changing mid-project is expensive)
• Order any new furniture you plan to add after painting
• Book time off work if you want to be present
• Inform neighbours if access might affect them
• Arrange alternative sleeping arrangements if needed
• Check your home insurance covers contractor work
• Confirm the decorator's start time and contact number

• Remove all pictures, mirrors, and wall decorations (patch holes with Blu-Tack temporarily)
• Take down curtains and blinds (or confirm decorator will work around them)
• Empty wardrobes and drawers of delicate items
• Remove bedding, pillows, and mattress protectors
• Clear all surfaces (dressing tables, shelves, windowsills)
• Remove floor lamps and free-standing mirrors
• Pack away any valuable or sentimental items
• Remove smoke alarms (painter will refit) or cover temporarily

Final tasks the evening before work begins:

• Move small furniture (chairs, bedside tables) to another room if possible
• Push larger furniture (bed, wardrobe) to room center if you can
• Remove carpets or rugs if easily lifted
• Ensure clear path from front door to bedroom for equipment
• Test all light switches and bulbs work
• Open windows if weather permits (aids ventilation)
• Put pets in a separate room or arrange care elsewhere
• Prepare a tea/coffee area for decorators (not required but appreciated)

Professional decorators are responsible for:

• Laying dust sheets and floor protection
• Covering large furniture with protective sheets
• Masking light switches, sockets, and fixtures
• Removing old wall plugs and filling holes
• Protecting door handles and hardware
• Daily clean-up of work area
• Proper disposal of paint-related waste

You don't need to protect floors or move heavy furniture - this is the decorator's job. However, clearing the room of personal items and valuables is your responsibility.

Understanding the daily routine:

Decorators typically arrive 8-9am and work until 4-5pm. They'll take brief breaks for tea/lunch. Expect paint smell during work and for 24-48 hours after. Keep windows open when possible.

The room will be messy during work - this is normal. Dust sheets, tools, and paint cans create clutter. Trust the process - professional decorators clean thoroughly at the end.

• Day 1: Prep work is messy (sanding creates dust, filling smells)
• Day 1-2: Painting begins, paint smell intensifies
• Day 2: Final touches, room starts looking finished
• End of final day: Complete clean-up, furniture uncovered

Once work is complete:

Wait 24 hours before moving furniture back against walls. Wait 2-3 days before hanging heavy pictures. Air the room well for the first 48 hours. Avoid touching walls for 24 hours (paint needs time to cure).

Professional services should leave your room cleaner than they found it, with all dust sheets removed, floors swept, and paint waste disposed of properly.

• Leaving fragile items in the room (breakages can occur despite care)
• Not informing decorators about wall damage (affects timeline and cost)
• Failing to test paint colours beforehand (can't change mid-project)
• Scheduling painters during major life events (adds stress)
• Not arranging furniture storage (cluttered rooms slow work)
• Forgetting to check weather forecast (affects drying time and ventilation)
• Not discussing pet arrangements (decorators can't work safely with pets present)

Technology-enabled services simplify preparation:

Platforms like paint-myroom.com send automatic preparation checklists when you book. You receive reminders at 1 week, 48 hours, and 24 hours before work begins, ensuring nothing is forgotten.

Digital project tracking shows exactly when decorators will arrive, what work is scheduled each day, and when the project will complete. This removes uncertainty and helps you plan around the work.