Redecorate a bedroom from start to finish

Redecorate a bedroom end-to-end: prep, repair, paint, then fit curtains and pictures — plan for two weekends.

Guides in this project

01Prepare a room for painting 02Fill cracks and holes before painting 03Sand walls and woodwork before painting 04Paint a ceiling 05Paint a wall with a roller 06Paint skirting boards 07Paint door frames and architrave 08Put up a curtain pole 09Hang a picture frame

BR-01Plan, buy materials and prepare the roomMeasure the room to work out paint, filler and sandpaper quantities, and pick your colours and finishes before you buy anything. Follow 'Prepare a room for painting' to clear furniture, protect the floor and strip down old curtain fittings. If you want to add or move sockets or a light point while the room is empty, book a registered electrician now for first fix work — that's outside this guide, and some of it is notifiable under Building Regulations. Budget the whole project at roughly £150–£350 and around 5-7 working days spread over two weekends.

2 each · Dust sheets

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3 roll · Masking tape (low-tack)

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2 each · Paint tray and liners

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BR-02Fill cracks, holes and old fixing pointsUse 'Fill cracks and holes before painting' to fill cracks, nail holes and any old curtain pole or picture hook holes. Let the filler cure fully before moving on — painting over damp filler causes bubbling and cracking later. This typically takes a full day including drying time.

1 tub (500g) · Ready-mixed filler

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1 tube · Flexible filler (for skirting gaps)

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BR-03Sand walls and woodwork ready for paintFollow 'Sand walls and woodwork before painting' to key filled patches and any existing gloss or satinwood woodwork. Wear a dust mask and vacuum all surfaces and skirting before paint goes anywhere near them. Allow half a day for an average bedroom.

1 pack · Sandpaper, mixed grit pack

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1 pack of 5 · Disposable dust mask

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BR-04Paint the ceiling firstUse 'Paint a ceiling' and always do this before the walls, so any splashes land on surfaces you'll paint over next. Two coats are normal, with a few hours' drying time between them, so allow a full day. Keep windows open as drying ceiling paint has a strong smell.

2.5 litre · Ceiling paint, matt white

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1 each · Roller sleeve, medium pile

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1 each · Extension pole

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BR-05Paint the wallsFollow 'Paint a wall with a roller' for cutting in and rolling the main wall colour. Most rooms need two full coats, and the first must be fully dry before the second goes on, so plan for a day and a half. This is the step most often rushed, leading to patchy, streaky walls.

5 litre · Emulsion paint, chosen colour

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1 each · Roller sleeve and tray set

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1 each · Cutting-in brush

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BR-06Paint the skirting boardsUse 'Paint skirting boards' once the walls are fully dry, masking the new wall colour and the carpet edge as you go. Painting skirting before the walls risks drips and splashes ruining your finished wall paint. Allow half a day including drying between coats.

1 litre · Satinwood or eggshell paint

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1 each · Angled sash brush

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1 roll · Masking tape (low-tack)

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BR-07Paint door frames and architraveFollow 'Paint door frames and architrave' in the same session as the skirting, using the same trim paint for a consistent finish. Check the door still opens and closes freely once paint has fully built up, especially around the hinges and latch. This usually takes half a day.

0.5 litre · Satinwood or eggshell paint

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1 each · Small trim brush

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BR-08Fit the curtain poleLeave painted walls to cure for a few days before drilling, so fresh paint doesn't chip around the fixing points. Before drilling, check the wall for cables and pipes with a detector, and still expect something unexpected behind the surface. Follow 'Put up a curtain pole' for marking, drilling and fixing the brackets, which takes a couple of hours.

RULES

1 set · Curtain pole kit with brackets

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1 pack · Wall plugs and screws

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KNOW THE RULES

Always check for hidden cables and pipes with a detector before drilling into a wall, even where none are expected.

BR-09Hang pictures and mirrorsWait until furniture is back in the room before deciding final positions, so pictures sit at the right height relative to beds and furniture. Before drilling or fixing hooks, check for cables and pipes with a detector, as above. Follow 'Hang a picture frame' for marking, fixing and levelling each piece.

RULES

1 pack · Picture hooks, assorted weights

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1 pack · Wall plugs and screws (for heavier mirrors)

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KNOW THE RULES

Always check for hidden cables and pipes with a detector before drilling or fixing into a wall, even where none are expected.

BR-10Final snag check and move back inCheck all painted surfaces in daylight for missed patches, drips or filler lines and touch up as needed. If any switch or socket faceplates were loosened during prep, the circuit must be switched off at the consumer unit and proved dead with a tester before refitting them, and only like-for-like replacement is allowed without an electrician. Clean up dust sheets and refit curtains, then move furniture back in.

RULES

1 pack · Felt furniture pads

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KNOW THE RULES

Switch off the circuit at the consumer unit and prove it dead with a tester before touching any socket or switch faceplate. Only like-for-like faceplate work is allowed here; adding or moving sockets is notifiable electrical work for a qualified electrician.

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