Quick answer
Yes, if you book early. Most rooms take one to two days and a hallway, stairs and landing takes two and a half to four days. Aim to have work finished by Friday 18 December, so paint has about a week to harden before guests arrive. Interior jobs starting from November also qualify for our 10% winter saver.
Every autumn the same question comes up: can you get the hallway or living room done before Christmas? The answer is usually yes, as long as you plan backwards from the big day and leave the paint time to harden.
Here is how we plan pre-Christmas work for homes in Romiley, Marple, Bredbury and across Stockport.
When should I book to get decorating done before Christmas?
As early as you can, ideally by early November. November and December are busy because everyone wants the same finish line. Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, so the realistic deadline for finishing is a week earlier.
A simple plan, working backwards:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Late October to early November | Free quote and colour visit. You get a fixed written quote within 48 hours. |
| Early to mid November | Choose colours, confirm the start date and order any wallpaper. |
| November to early December | Decorating work takes place. |
| By Friday 18 December | Work finished, so paint has about a week to harden. |
| Friday 25 December | Christmas Day. |
If you only want one room done, there is more flexibility. A bigger job, such as a whole downstairs or a hallway with stair spindles, needs a firm date booked well ahead.
How long does each room take?
These are our guide times and prices for a typical Romiley or SK6 home in fair condition. Prices include preparation, labour and standard trade paint.
| Job | Time | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Single or box bedroom | 1 to 1.5 days | £335 |
| Double bedroom | 1.5 to 2 days | £450 |
| Living room | 2 to 2.5 days | £500 |
| Kitchen (walls, ceiling, woodwork) | 1.5 days | £380 |
| Bathroom | 1 day | £285 |
| Hallway, stairs and landing | 2.5 to 4 days | £775 |
| Internal door, both sides and frame | 2 to 3 hours | £100 |
Rooms with cracked ceilings, lots of filling or old wallpaper to strip take longer. We will tell you on the quote visit. See the full price list for everything else.
Which rooms should I decorate first before Christmas?
Start with the rooms your guests will see and use most:
- Hallway, stairs and landing. It is the first thing everyone sees, and it takes the most knocks from coats, bags and shoes. It is also the longest job, so it needs the earliest slot. Read more about our hallway, stairs and landing service.
- Living room. Where everyone gathers, and where tired walls show up under lamps and fairy lights.
- Guest bedroom. A quick one-to-two-day job that makes a big difference if people are staying over.
- Downstairs toilet or bathroom. Small, quick and used by every visitor.
If budget or time is tight, a fresh ceiling and woodwork can lift a room almost as much as a full repaint.
How long does paint take to dry and harden?
Paint being dry to the touch is not the same as it being hard. This is why we suggest finishing a week before Christmas.
- Wall emulsion: Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt is touch dry in about 2 hours and can be recoated in 2 to 4 hours.
- Water-based woodwork paint: Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood can be recoated after 6 hours.
- Washability: Dulux advises allowing around a week for paint to develop full washability.
In practice, that means you can use the room the same evening. For the first week, avoid scrubbing walls, keep furniture slightly off the walls, and close freshly painted doors gently.
Drying times depend on temperature and humidity. A cold, damp room slows everything down.
Can you paint indoors in winter?
Yes. Indoor decorating is not held up by Stockport's winter weather, unlike exterior work. The main thing is temperature.
Many water-based paints should not be applied below about 8°C, and some data sheets say 10°C. In a heated home that is rarely a problem. A few tips:
- Keep the heating on at a steady, moderate level while we work and for a day or two after.
- Avoid blasting the heat straight onto fresh paint. Very fast drying can leave marks.
- Ventilate a little. A window open slightly helps moisture escape, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Watch out for cold rooms. Unheated spare rooms and conservatories may need warming up the day before.
How should I prepare my home before the decorator arrives?
A little preparation keeps the job on schedule:
- Clear small items, ornaments and pictures from the room.
- Move furniture you can manage into the middle of the room. We cover the rest.
- Take down curtains and blinds if you can.
- Decide on colours before the start date. We bring large painted sample boards so you can see them in your own light.
- Put up Christmas decorations after the work is finished, not before.
We cover floors, wrap furniture and hoover before we leave each evening.
Is there a discount for winter decorating?
Yes. Our Winter interior saver gives 10% off labour on interior jobs booked to start between November and February. A pre-Christmas job starting in November or December qualifies.
If you are booking three or more rooms as one job, the multi-room offer also gives 10% off labour. Only one discount applies per job, and discounts apply to labour, not materials. We show it on your written quote.
Book your pre-Christmas decorating in Romiley or Stockport
We cover Romiley, Marple, Bredbury, Woodley, Compstall and the rest of Stockport. Every job comes with a fixed written quote within 48 hours and a 2-year workmanship guarantee.
Find out more about our interior painting service, check our prices, or request a free quote and tell us which rooms you want done before Christmas.
Questions
How late can I book decorating before Christmas?
It depends on the size of the job. A single room can often be fitted in at short notice, but a whole hallway or several rooms needs booking weeks ahead. Ask for a quote as early as you can.
Can I put furniture back the same day the room is painted?
Usually yes for walls, once the paint is touch dry. Keep furniture a few centimetres off the walls for the first week, and take care with freshly painted doors and skirting.
Is it too cold to paint indoors in December?
Not in a heated home. Many water-based paints should not be applied below about 8°C, so we keep the heating on at a steady, moderate level while we work.
Does the winter saver apply to work before Christmas?
Yes. Interior jobs booked to start between November and February get 10% off labour. One discount per job, and it applies to labour, not materials.