Updated 1 June 2026
How Long Does It Take to Paint a Flat?
A standard two-bed flat in reasonable decorative order takes 4–6 working days to paint throughout, including prep. A single room takes a day. It runs longer if the walls need heavy filling and sanding, or if a colour change needs an extra coat.
Day-by-day for a whole flat
This is the typical sequence for a 4–6 day whole-flat repaint — actual order shifts slightly depending on the layout.
| Days | Stage |
|---|---|
| 1 | Prep: filling, sanding, masking fittings and floors throughout |
| 2 | Mist/undercoat to any new or repaired plaster, first coats in main rooms |
| 3–4 | Second coats throughout, woodwork and trim started |
| 5 | Woodwork and trim finished, ceilings completed |
| 6 | Snagging, touch-ups, clean down and remove all masking |
What extends the timeline
Heavy filling and sanding, common where old wallpaper has just been stripped or plaster is cracked, can add a full day before any paint goes on.
A significant colour change — dark to light, or covering a patterned surface — needs a stain-blocking primer coat in every affected room, which adds roughly half a day per room.