Decorating a hallway can be one of those tasks that everybody puts off from time to time, and it’s not always a simple task to attack, hence the need for a tradesman. There are so many things to consider as well as some tricky points to address such as neatly painting around doors and light switches. 

With the hallway being a main feature in the home due to it featuring doorways into other rooms, a well decorated hallway can help the aesthetics of any home. Now, whether as a newbie or a professional tradesman, it’s vital to know the tips and tricks about decorating the hallway. And this is the focal point of this article. 

This article features help and advice on painting, the wall decor, lighting creation and a few extra tips to help you get your project off the ground. 

Measure up the Area & Provide a Quote:

The first step when looking at providing a quote to your customer is to find out exactly what they want and the materials it is going to take. Does the client want everything painted? Would they like to include wallpaper and are you going to need gloss? These are just some of the questions you’ll need answering. 

As the professional your client might not know exactly what they want, and you’ll have to offer some opinions. A hallway is supposed to look welcoming, and if you are working in a smaller space consider how the colour can impact the area to look a little bigger. As well as colour mirrors and lighting can make some areas look bigger, but we’ll get to that later.

Once you’ve had this conversation with them you can measure up the area and estimate first of all how much material it’s going to take and secondly how long in labour it’s going to take. Once you have decided on all of the above you should then be able to provide a quote. One thing to remember is the cheapest paint isn’t always the best option to go for, make sure you’re using quality materials for the best finish and experience for your client. 

Preparation: 

One of the most important parts of decorating a hallway is ensuring that you are prepped for the task. Make sure you have all your equipment and materials, but also double check the area is clear. This means removing all valuables from the area to avoid any accidental damage or paint spillages on these items. 

Once these items have been removed, you should also use covers for carpets and flooring, again in case of spills. If there is current wallpaper up be sure to strip it and fill in any holes to ensure your paper or painting goes as smooth as possible. 

When painting a hallway stair are always really awkward to work around in most cases, but when working around and above steps make sure you’re using a suitable ladder. It may be the best approach to purchase a combination ladder which can be used on stairs but will also transform into a step ladder and extension ladder. 

The final step before work starts is to tape up any light switches, around doorways and any edges that need to avoid paint, jumping the gun a little here but always ensure paint is completely dry before removing the tape.

Carrying Out the Task 

If you are looking to paint or wallpaper, or even both, below we’ve got ten top tips for you. Some of them may seem obvious to you but you’ll hopefully learn a little more putting you in good stead to get the job done professionally. 

Paint the edges first – It may seem obvious but when starting painting people are often unsure where to start, so tip one, start at the edges. Work the edges first and paint the rest of the wall going around the room. 

Paint one wall at a time – DIYers often start one wall and move to the next when their arms get tired or as they start to get a little fed up with the job in hand. Once you’ve done the edges be sure to do a wall at a time. This will help the colour dry at the same time and hopefully blend much better.

Wipe away any dust on skirting boards – Before starting to paint we ensured the surfaces were clean and there should be no exception when working on skirting boards. Ensure any dust is removed before applying paint. 

Don’t clean your brush too often – Cleaning your brushes too often can be a problem, as it could water down parts of your paint giving uneven coverage. When your brushes are not in use seal them in a plastic bag and they will keep their moisture a little longer. 

Cover Paint – Again, we don’t want our paint to dry out, if it’s on a brush or in a bucket. So be sure to cover your paint pots and continue to mix paint as you go. 

Wallpaper Selection / Batch Numbers – If you are using wallpaper be sure to check that the batch numbers match. This is to ensure that the colours and patterns are exactly the same, as different batch numbers could propose a slightly different shade.

Unscrew Fixings – Before wallpapering ensure you are not going over fixings and screws. You should remove these from the wall before papering over them. You can even use matchsticks to mark these out to find them again once you’ve finished. 

Roll Paste – Don’t slap – When applying your paste be sure to use a roller and don’t slap it on. This will help give even coverage and avoid those lumps and bumps when being hung. 

Summary

There we have it, there are some top tips to help you with your tricky decorating tasks. We hope our tips help your next project, even if you only take away one tip. 

Happy Decorating!