How to Prepare Your Deptford Flat for Professional Decorating

Getting your Deptford flat ready before the decorators arrive can make a huge difference to the quality of the finished result — and how quickly we can complete the work.

Clear the Room

The more furniture you can remove, the better. Smaller items like lamps, ornaments, picture frames, and curtains should come down completely. Larger furniture can be pushed to the centre and covered — we'll protect everything with dust sheets — but the less there is, the better.

Address Surface Issues First

If you know there are cracks, holes, or damp patches, flag these before we start. We can repair minor surface damage as part of the job, but significant structural issues should be sorted beforehand for the best results.

Choose Your Colours in Advance

Have your colour choices confirmed before we arrive. If you're unsure, test pots are a great investment — paint a large swatch on the actual wall and observe it at different times of day before committing.

Consider Pets and Children

Fresh paint takes 2–4 hours to dry to touch and 24 hours to fully cure. Make arrangements for pets and young children to be kept away from freshly painted areas to avoid accidents.

Protect What Can't Be Moved

Built-in furniture, fitted wardrobes, and kitchen units should be covered. We always bring our own dust sheets but knowing what needs special care in advance helps us plan the job properly.

Written by the team at Residence Decorating — professional painters and decorators serving Southeast London since 2015.