To prepare a room for painting, clear or cover furniture, protect floors, fill and sand defects, clean the surfaces, prime where needed and mask edges before the first coat. Preparation decides how long the finish lasts. DAC Home Solutions decorators do this on every job in Beckenham and across South London.
At a glance
- Main steps
- Protect, fill, sand, clean, prime, mask
- New plaster
- Needs to be fully dry and primed before the topcoat
- Why it matters
- Preparation determines finish quality and durability
- Done by
- DAC Home Solutions decorators
- Quote
- Free and no-obligation
Last reviewed: October 2026. DAC Home Solutions, Beckenham.
What are the steps to prepare a room for painting?
Preparation follows a set order so that dust and mess do not undo earlier work.
- Clear and protect: move or cover furniture and lay dust sheets over floors.
- Repair: fill holes, cracks and dents with a suitable filler.
- Sand: smooth filled areas and glossy surfaces so paint can grip.
- Clean: wipe away dust, grease and marks.
- Prime: apply primer or a stain block where the surface needs it.
- Mask: tape edges and fittings before painting.
How do I paint new plaster?
New plaster must be completely dry, and it is usually sealed with a thinned first coat of emulsion, known as a mist coat, before the topcoats.
Always follow the paint manufacturer's instructions for new plaster, because products differ.
Do I need to prime bare wood and stained walls?
Yes, bare timber and stained surfaces usually need priming so the paint adheres and stains do not show through.
Knots in timber and some stains can bleed through ordinary paint, so a suitable primer or stain block is applied first.
How long does it take to paint a room?
The time depends on preparation, the number of coats and the size of the room.
One Which Trusted Traders customer reported that their lounge, an empty room that needed preparation, touching in and painting, took around one and a half days. Larger or more complex rooms take longer.
What should I do before the decorators arrive?
Clear what you can, and tell the decorators about any damp, cracks or previous repairs.
Emptying the room speeds up the work and makes the finish cleaner. If a wall has damp or a recurring crack, the cause should be dealt with before painting.
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