How to Decide Between DIY Painting and Professional Painters

There’s something deeply satisfying about a fresh coat of paint. It feels like hitting a reset button, wiping away years of weather, wear, and questionable colour choices.

A new paint job can make even the weariest house stand tall and proud again.

A new paint job can make even the weariest house stand tall and proud again.

But here’s the truth no one likes to talk about: painting is only partly about the pretty finish. That glorious top coat is just the cherry on top.

The real work — the lion’s share — happens long before anyone pops open a tin of paint.

I’ve just had my exterior painted, and every time I watch the pros at work, I’m in awe. They aren’t just decorators. They’re house doctors. For instance, all the windows on my front façade had patches of wood rot that needed painstaking repairs with epoxy fillers before any paint could go near them.

The painters didn’t bat an eyelid — they simply rolled up their sleeves, stabilised the rot, rebuilt what was missing, and only then started priming and finishing (and charged me for all the overages).

It reminded me how easy it is to be tempted to skip the prep — I do it myself all the time. Just pick a colour and start, right?

A proper paint job is only as good as what’s underneath.

But a proper paint job is only as good as what’s underneath. The pros never skip prepping, because they know that is what makes a finish last.

It’s More Than a Colour Change

Whether you’re refreshing the outside or giving your interiors a facelift, painting is far more than colour.

Think of all the preparation: sanding down lumps and bumps, filling hairline cracks, repairing water damage, stripping old wallpaper, and sometimes even lining entire walls before the final paper goes on.

Inside, I’ve got beautiful original woodwork, with all its finicky profiles and corners. Painting it myself? Realistically, I’d be at it for six months, and it still wouldn’t match the smooth, precise finish the professionals achieve in much less than that.

My dining room

When DIY Makes Sense

If your walls are smooth, your woodwork is in good condition, and you don’t mind a bit of elbow grease, then absolutely — pick up that brush.

A simple bedroom refresh, a fresh colour on a fence, or touching up interior doors can be deeply satisfying DIY jobs.

When to Call in the Pros

But the bigger, more complex jobs? Those are best left to the experts.

Think:

• Exterior walls with flaking paint or water ingress

• Original windows showing signs of rot

• Staircases with endless spindles and balusters

• Period cornices, panelling, or architraves that deserve a delicate touch

• Damaged plaster that needs smoothing before decorating

• Any high-access work that means ladders or scaffolding

It’s not just about painting neatly — it’s about knowing how to repair, restore, and prepare, so the final paintwork lasts.

It’s not just about painting neatly — it’s about knowing how to repair, restore, and prepare, so the final paintwork lasts.

Maintenance First, Beauty Second

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Painting is maintenance in disguise. It protects your home from sun, rain, frost, scuffs, stains, and everyday wear. It seals cracks, smooths rough surfaces, and keeps everything in good nick.

That top coat may get the praise, but the real heroes are the ones willing to get their hands dirty in all the prep. That’s what gives your home that showroom sparkle — and what stops you from having to do it all again in a year’s time.

The Final Word

If you can do it well, safely, and thoroughly, go for it. There’s real joy in transforming a space with a new colour.

But if you’re up against wood rot, tricky details, or the scale of a full façade, don’t let your house down. Bring in the pros.

They’ll do more than decorate — they’ll safeguard your home for years to come.