Often homeowners in Surrey ring up and say "I need a painter" when they actually need a decorator, or "I need a decorator" when they actually need a painter.
We've been painting and decorating homes across Croydon, Purley, Kenley and the surrounding areas for over 15 years. We do both, so we see the confusion every day. This guide clears it up properly, so you know exactly who to call and what to ask for.
In This Guide
What Does a Painter Do?
A painter prepares and finishes surfaces. Walls, ceilings, woodwork, doors, window frames — anything that needs paint.
Typical Painter Jobs
- Interior walls and ceilings — Filling cracks, sanding, priming, applying emulsion
- Woodwork — Skirting boards, architraves, doors, window frames, staircases
- Exterior work — Front doors, window frames, gutters, fences, garden sheds
- Prep work — Stripping old paint, filling holes, sanding rough surfaces, treating damp patches
What a Painter Doesn't Do
- Hang wallpaper
- Install coving or cornicing
- Build fitted furniture
- Plaster walls (that's a plasterer)
- Do carpentry work
A good painter will tell you if something needs doing before they start. If your walls are flaking, they'll say "these need skimming first" — but they won't do the plastering themselves. They'll recommend a plasterer, or in our case, we'll do it because we have plasterers on the team.
What Does a Decorator Do?
A decorator is broader. They handle the overall look of a room — paint, wallpaper, fabrics, colour schemes, finishing touches. A decorator is more design-focused.
Typical Decorator Jobs
- Wallpaper hanging — Measuring, cutting, pattern matching, perfect seams
- Feature walls — Creating a focal point with colour, texture, or paper
- Colour consultation — Helping you choose colours that work with your light, furniture, and flooring
- Specialist finishes — Suede effects, metallic paints, textured rollers, stencilling
- Soft furnishings — Curtains, blinds, cushions (though some decorators stop at walls)
- Coving and cornicing — Adding decorative mouldings to ceilings and walls
What a Decorator Doesn't Do
- Structural work
- Plumbing or electrics
- Major plastering
- Building work
A decorator thinks about the room as a whole. A painter thinks about the surfaces. Both are skilled trades, but the focus is different.
When Do You Need a Painter?
You need a painter when:
- Your walls or ceilings need painting
- Your woodwork looks tired and needs refreshing
- You've had plastering done and need the new plaster painted
- You're selling your house and need a quick refresh
- Your exterior doors or window frames are peeling
- You've had a leak and need the ceiling repainted
Painters are the people you call for the "hard" finishing work — the surfaces that take a beating and need to look good for years.
When Do You Need a Decorator?
You need a decorator when:
- You want wallpaper hung properly
- You're redesigning a room and need colour advice
- You want a feature wall or specialist finish
- You need someone to pull the whole look together
- You're not sure what colours work with your furniture
- You want coving or decorative mouldings added
Decorators are the people you call when you want the room to look "done" — not just painted, but properly finished.
When Do You Need Both?
Most jobs need both. Here's the typical sequence for a full room makeover:
- Painter — Fills cracks, sands, primes, paints walls and woodwork
- Decorator — Hangs wallpaper on the feature wall, adds coving, helps with soft furnishings
- Painter — Returns for touch-ups and final coats
Or in our case, we do both. One team, one visit, one quote. We are hard working professional tradesmen who charge a fair price for good quality work and no nonsense. No ringing around multiple tradesmen, no coordinating schedules, no blame-shifting if something goes wrong.
The Cost Difference
Painters and decorators charge similarly, but the work differs in scope. For detailed room-by-room pricing, see our 2026 price guide.
Painter Rates
- Day rate: Typically £200–£300+ per day in the Surrey area
- Small room: Usually £250–£600+ depending on prep and finish
- Large room: Usually £600–£1,200+ depending on prep and finish
Decorator Rates
- Day rate: Similar to painters, typically £200–£300+ per day
- Wallpaper hanging: Usually £100–£300+ per room depending on complexity
- Specialist finishes: Usually £200–£500+ per wall depending on technique
Hiring Both Separately vs Hiring One Team
If you hire a painter and a decorator separately, you pay two sets of day rates, plus the hassle of coordinating them. If you hire a team that does both, you pay one rate and one team handles everything.
Our approach: We quote the job, not the trade. Whether you need painting, wallpapering, or both, we give you one fixed price and one team. No surprises.
How to Choose a Painter or Decorator in Surrey
If you're hiring someone, here's what to check:
1. Do they do both?
If you might need wallpaper or a feature wall later, hire someone who does both. Saves you calling someone else in six months.
2. What's included in the quote?
Some painters quote for painting only, then charge extra for prep, filling, or cleaning. Make sure the quote includes everything — prep, materials, protection, clean-up, and a guarantee.
3. Do they have reviews?
Check Google, Facebook, or Checkatrade. Look for mentions of attention to detail, cleanliness, and whether they turned up on time.
4. Are they insured?
Any tradesman working in your home should have public liability insurance. We carry £1 million cover — if something goes wrong, you're protected.
5. Do they offer a guarantee?
A painter or decorator who trusts their work will guarantee it. We offer a quality guarantee — if you spot a defect, we come back and fix it for free.
Painter vs Decorator: Quick Reference
| Task | Painter | Decorator | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting walls and ceilings | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Painting woodwork | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Hanging wallpaper | No | Yes | Yes |
| Colour consultation | Sometimes | Yes | Yes |
| Feature walls | No | Yes | Yes |
| Specialist finishes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Prep work and filling | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Exterior painting | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Coving and cornicing | No | Yes | Yes |
| Fitted furniture | No | No | No (that's a carpenter) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do painters hang wallpaper?
Some do, but not all. Wallpaper hanging is a specialist skill — it requires patience, pattern matching, and perfect seams. If you need wallpaper, ask specifically whether they hang it. We do, because we have decorators on the team.
Can a decorator paint?
Yes, most decorators can paint. But not all painters can decorate. Painting is the foundation skill — decorators add the design and finishing skills on top.
Is a decorator more expensive than a painter?
Not necessarily. The day rate is similar. The difference is in the scope of work. A feature wall with metallic paint costs more than a standard emulsion wall, but that's because of the materials and technique, not because the decorator charges more per hour.
Do I need a painter or a decorator for a kitchen?
Probably both, or a team that does both. Kitchens need painting (walls, ceilings, woodwork) and often need specialist finishes. If you're adding a feature wall or changing the colour scheme, a decorator helps with the design.
What if I only need one wall painted?
A painter can handle that easily. It's a small job, but most painters will do it. Expect to pay a minimum charge — usually half a day or a full day rate — because they still need to set up, protect your floors, and clean up.
Should I get a painter or a decorator for a feature wall?
A decorator is better for feature walls. They'll help you choose the right colour or paper, prepare the wall properly, and finish it perfectly. A painter can paint a feature wall, but a decorator will make sure it looks like it belongs in a magazine.
Do you need a qualification to be a painter or decorator?
No formal qualification is required, but apprenticeships and NVQs exist. The best painters and decorators learn on the job over years. We've been doing this for 15+ years, and we've seen every type of wall, paint, and problem.
How do I know if someone is a painter or a decorator?
Ask them. Most tradesmen will tell you honestly what they do. If they say "I paint" and you need wallpaper, ask if they can recommend someone. If they say "I do both," you've found someone versatile.
Can you do both painting and decorating?
Yes. We have painters and decorators on the team. We can handle everything from a simple wall repaint to a full room redesign with wallpaper, feature walls, and specialist finishes. One quote, one team, one visit.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you need a painter, a decorator, or both, the first step is the same — a free, no-obligation visit.
We come to your home, look at the room, discuss what you want, and give you a written quote with a fixed price. No pressure, no surprises. If you need painting, we'll paint. If you need wallpaper, we'll hang it. If you need both, we'll do both.
Ready for a Free Quote?
Based in Kenley, covering all of Surrey. Written quotes with fixed prices — no surprises.
Or email: info@recommended-tradesmen.co.uk
Last updated: May 2026. If you're unsure whether you need a painter or a decorator, just give us a call — we'll tell you honestly what you need, even if it's not us.