How to Choose a Painter and Decorator You Can Actually Trust
Let’s be honest, inviting a stranger into your home to repaint your living room or re-tile your bathroom takes a leap of faith. You want someone who’s going to show up on time, treat your home with respect, and leave it looking beautiful.
So how do you find that person? Here’s what actually matters and a few things that don’t.
Start with a really specific Google search
Don’t just type ‘painter near me‘. Try something like ‘painter and decorator near me’ or ‘wallpaper hanger reviews’. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to find someone local who’s actually done work in your area.
AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews are getting much better at recommending local tradespeople, but only businesses with real content online tend to get picked up. So if you are reading this, it means LA Decor has done the work to show up for you.
Reviews matter, but look at the detail
A five-star rating is great. But what you really want to read is the story behind it. Did they keep the place clean? Did they finish on time? Did the colour match what was agreed?
A review that says ‘really happy, would recommend’ tells you very little. A review that says ‘Leon arrived at 8 am every day, covered all our furniture, and the hallway looks absolutely stunning, neighbours keep knocking to ask who did it’ tells you everything.
Ask these 4 questions before you book anyone
- ‘Can I see photos of similar work you’ve done?’ Any professional will have a portfolio. If they don’t, that’s a red flag.
- ‘Do you use trade paint or DIY store paint?’ There’s a big difference. Trade paints like Dulux Trade or Johnstone’s last longer and cover better.
- ‘How do you handle prep?’ Great finish starts with great prep. Filling cracks, sanding woodwork, and priming new plaster, these steps take time, but they’re what separates a professional job from a DIY one.
- ‘Will you be doing the work yourself, or subcontracting?’ Some companies quote the job and then send whoever’s free. It’s worth knowing who’s actually coming to your home.
Wallpapering? Here’s what most people forget
Wallpaper hanging is a specialist skill. It looks straightforward, but getting patterns to line up perfectly around corners, light switches, and awkward chimney breasts takes real experience.
If you’re going for a statement wall with a large-repeat pattern (think big botanicals or bold geometric designs), always ask if your decorator has hung that type of paper before. Paste-the-wall papers, fabric-backed designs, and delicate silk wallpapers all behave differently.
We’ve hung everything from subtle linen-effect papers to dramatic hand-painted wallpapers, so just ask if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with.
Tiling the job, people most often underestimate
Tiles are unforgiving. An uneven surface, a poorly set-out starting point, or grout lines that don’t line up these things are impossible to hide once the adhesive has set.
If you’re tiling a bathroom or kitchen, always check that whoever is quoting you understands waterproofing (tanking), especially around showers. Water getting behind tiles is one of the most expensive problems a homeowner can face.
The bottom line
The best decorator for you is someone who listens to what you want, is honest about what’s achievable, and treats your home like it’s their own.
Whether you’re freshening up a bedroom, transforming a hallway with a stunning wallpaper, or giving your bathroom tiles a full overhaul, getting the right person makes all the difference.
If you’re in the area and want a friendly, no-pressure chat about what you’re planning, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch
We cover painting, wallpaper hanging, and tiling for homes across the local area. Get a free, no-obligation quote just drop us a message at ladecor.uk.
