Decorating hall, landing and stairs

I was recently employed to re-decorate a hall, landing and stairs. In addition to this I also had to decorate an attic bedroom, a big job by any standards.

It had been approximately ten years since it was last re-decorated. Previously the walls had been painted in Dulux silk white emulsion and Dulux white gloss for all the woodwork.

The property owners children had grown up and she always felt that a silk finish was easier to keep clean. However she advised me that she preferred a matt finish on the walls with white ceilings for a more classical look.

When starting a big job like this it’s very important to plan exactly what you want to achieve every day.

I’m a very methodical worker and I always know what I can achieve in one day. This obviously is very much to do with my experience.

My method is to always start with the ceilings then move onto the walls and finish with the woodwork. I always start in the hallway moving upwards.

The first job is to paint between the ceiling and the wall with a brush. In this case you don’t have to be too careful as it’s all going to be white. Simply apply two coats with a roller for the main section of the wall. The reason for the two coats is to give depth of colour.
Moving onto the walls again and you’ll need to cut in all the edges then roll two coats to the center of the wall. This is so that you don’t miss any part and with white on white this is easy. Don’t stop until you have completed all of the wall or ceiling.

A job of this size will take me about four or five days, but may take a non-professional a bit longer. You just need to remember to always finish what you set out to do everyday. I have the same mentality as someone working out as what they have to complete that day, but instead with my decorating

It’s important to chalk (repair) any cracks to the walls before painting.

As in all hall, landing and stairs jobs there is always a considerable amount of woodwork and a lot of doors!! I’m always looking for a quicker way of completing all the woodwork.

Dulux sell a quick drying gloss. It’s important that it gives a finish which is of equal quality and gives the look of an oil based paint.

According to the specifications on the tin it is a self undercoating paint. This means it can be re-coated in two to four hours. This is great for quick application and for finishing the woodwork quickly.

I found the paint very easy to apply and the look was a very high sheen with the added bonus being that you’re able to wash your brushes in water after you’ve finished.

Although a lot of people shy away from all white, I have to admit in a darker area it lightens everything up and has a very classical look about it.

Here are some before and after pictures:

Before

After