10 Best Painters & Decorators in Southend-on-Sea for 2026

🖌️ 10 businesses · 📍 Southend-on-Sea
✓ Verified Google reviews · ✓ Reviewed regularly · ✓ Updated 4 September 2026
Mark Reid
Written by Mark Reid, Trades Editor · Verified 4 September 2026
Southend-on-Sea throws up a fair bit of variety when it comes to decorating work, and that's down to the housing stock as much as anything else. You've got the Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Milton and Southchurch with their high ceilings and original coving, the 1930s semis out towards Thorpe Bay and Westcliff that often need render or pebbledash treated before any paint goes near them, and newer builds around Shoeburyness where plasterboard finishes and modern trims are more the norm. Sea air plays its part too. Properties closer to the seafront and Chalkwell tend to see paintwork degrade faster on exterior woodwork and metalwork, so a lot of local decorators are used to dealing with salt-affected surfaces and recommend more durable exterior coatings than you'd need a few miles inland.

The businesses featured here are drawn from public business listings and ranked using public review ratings and review counts, with a modest boost given to those showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage as part of this process, confirming that painting and decorating is genuinely their main line of work rather than something offered as a sideline to another trade. Any listing that's flagged as permanently closed gets removed automatically. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge next to a business name, that firm has gone through our fuller verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information. Our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. Businesses without the badge haven't been through that process with us, so it's worth doing your own checks before booking anything.

Before committing to a decorator, ask to see examples of recent work, ideally something similar in scale to your own job, whether that's a full exterior repaint of a bay-fronted terrace or a single feature wall. Check they carry public liability insurance and ask for the policy details in writing rather than just taking their word for it. Get a written quote that breaks down materials and labour separately, and clarify who's supplying the paint, since brand and quality can vary the price considerably. It's sensible to get two or three quotes for anything beyond a small job, partly for price comparison and partly because it gives you a feel for who communicates clearly and turns up when they say they will.
How We Select & Rate The Best Painters & Decorators in Southend-on-Sea

Ranking is driven by review rating and review count pulled from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm painting and decorating is what they primarily do, which keeps unrelated trades off the page. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the full list. Other businesses here haven't been independently verified by us, and inclusion isn't an endorsement, so do your own checks before hiring.

Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →

Quick Comparison — Painters & Decorators in Southend-on-Sea

# Business Rating Reviews Phone
1 Bull-Betts Decor Ltd ⭐ 4.9 49 07943 537542 View →
2 The White Fox Decorating Company ⭐ 5.0 42 07769 536247 View →
3 Adrian Rayfield Painter and Decorator ⭐ 5.0 22 07770 447398 View →
4 Absolute - Painting, Decorating & Repairs ⭐ 4.9 20 01702 861017 View →
5 Mellow Yellow Decorating Co ⭐ 5.0 10 07590 463846 View →
6 Johnsons Decorating Leigh ⭐ 5.0 9 07736 120857 View →
7 Dave Lee Painter & Decorator: Lees of Leigh ⭐ 5.0 4 07770 934758 View →
8 Metski Decorators ⭐ 5.0 3 07727 434003 View →
9 DRF Decor ⭐ 5.0 3 07870 433653 View →
10 Towns Refurbishment ⭐ 4.4 7 07716 773242 View →

Our Top Picks

1
Bull-Betts Decor Ltd
Not Verified
4.9 (49 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07943 537542

Bull-Betts Decor Ltd works chiefly on period properties around Southend-on-Sea, where original coving, sash windows and older plaster need careful preparation before painting. The firm also takes on flats and small commercial units, adapting techniques to suit each surface rather than applying a one-size approach. A 4.9 rating from 49 reviews reflects consistent attention to this kind of detailed work.

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2
The White Fox Decorating Company
Not Verified
5.0 (42 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07769 536247

Families across Southend-on-Sea call on The White Fox Decorating Company for interior and exterior painting work, from single rooms to full property refreshes. The firm has built a following among local households, reflected in a 5 star rating from 42 reviews. Jobs are carried out with attention to preparation and tidy finishing, leaving rooms ready for everyday family life.

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3
Adrian Rayfield Painter and Decorator
Not Verified
5.0 (22 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07770 447398

Families across Southend-on-Sea call on Adrian Rayfield for interior and exterior painting, from tired hallways to full house refreshes ahead of a sale or a new arrival. The work has earned a five star average from 22 reviews, reflecting consistent care with preparation and finish rather than shortcuts. Jobs are arranged directly, with an emphasis on tidy, considered results.

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4
Absolute - Painting, Decorating & Repairs
Not Verified
4.9 (20 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 01702 861017

Plastering repairs and wall preparation sit alongside decorating work at Absolute Painting, Decorating & Repairs, serving Southend-on-Sea households needing more than a fresh coat of paint. The firm handles cracked ceilings, damaged plaster and general repairs before finishing surfaces, an approach reflected in a 4.9 rating from 20 reviews.

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5
Mellow Yellow Decorating Co
Not Verified
5.0 (10 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07590 463846

Landlords and letting agents in Southend-on-Sea use Mellow Yellow Decorating Co to keep rental properties presentable between tenancies, with turnaround times that fit around move-in dates. The company covers interior and exterior painting, working from a five star record built across ten reviews. Property managers looking after multiple units can arrange repeat bookings directly through the firm's website.

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6
Johnsons Decorating Leigh
Not Verified
5.0 (9 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07736 120857

Johnsons Decorating Leigh works as a painting and decorating firm covering Southend-on-Sea, handling interior and exterior jobs from single rooms to full property refreshes. The business holds a five star rating from nine reviews, reflecting attention to finish and tidy site work. Bookings can be arranged through its website for those wanting a specific timeframe.

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7
Dave Lee Painter & Decorator: Lees of Leigh
Not Verified
5.0 (4 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07770 934758

Most calls start with a room that needs refreshing, whether that's tired woodwork, cracked plaster or walls left unfinished by a previous job. Dave Lee Painter & Decorator, trading as Lees of Leigh, works across Southend-on-Sea handling preparation and finishing for interiors and exteriors alike. Jobs are scheduled around the household rather than the other way round.

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8
Metski Decorators
Not Verified
5.0 (3 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07727 434003

Landlords and letting agents in Southend-on-Sea use Metski Decorators for repainting work between tenancies, when properties need refreshing quickly and to a standard that satisfies inspections. The firm understands the turnaround pressures of rental changeovers and works around access arrangements set by agents or property managers rather than fixed homeowner schedules.

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9
DRF Decor
Not Verified
5.0 (3 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07870 433653

Much of DRF Decor's work in Southend-on-Sea involves period properties, where old plaster and uneven walls need careful preparation before any paint goes on. The job often extends to woodwork and staircases as well as walls and ceilings, reflecting the mix of repair and redecoration that older housing stock tends to require.

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10
Towns Refurbishment
Not Verified
4.4 (7 reviews)
Southend-on-Sea 07716 773242

Older terraced houses and period conversions around Southend-on-Sea often need extra planning to fit modern kitchens into awkward layouts, and Towns Refurbishment works with these constraints rather than around them. Jobs typically cover cabinetry, worktops and general kitchen renovation, with a 4.4 rating from local customers reflecting steady, consistent workmanship.

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Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a painters & decorators cost in Southend-on-Sea?
For a single average bedroom, expect somewhere between £180 and £320 including materials, depending on how much prep is needed and whether there's woodwork to do as well. A full interior repaint of a three-bed terrace in areas like Prittlewell or Leigh-on-Sea typically runs from £1,800 to £3,500. Exterior work costs more if there's rendering or pebbledash to treat, and jobs near the seafront often carry a premium because of the extra prep needed on salt-affected surfaces. Always get two or three quotes, since prices can vary quite a bit between decorators for the same job.
How long does it take to paint and decorate a typical house in Southend-on-Sea?
A single room usually takes one to two days including drying time between coats. A full three-bedroom house, inside and out, can take anywhere from a week to two weeks depending on how much prep work is involved, such as stripping old wallpaper or filling cracks in older Victorian plaster. Weather matters for exterior jobs too, so decorators working on seafront properties often build in extra time for wet or windy days.
Should I supply my own paint or let the decorator source it?
Either works, but check this before agreeing a price. Some decorators include paint in their quote and get trade discounts you wouldn't have access to yourself, which can actually work out cheaper. If you've got a specific colour or eco-friendly brand in mind, it's often simpler to buy it yourself, but make sure your decorator is happy working with it, particularly if it's a less common finish like limewash on an older property.
Do I need to move furniture out before decorators arrive?
Most decorators expect you to clear smaller items and will move larger furniture themselves, protecting it with dust sheets. Ask in advance what's included, since some firms charge extra for moving heavy items like wardrobes or shifting a kitchen table repeatedly during a multi-room job. It's worth taking down curtains, blinds and wall art yourself beforehand to save time on the day.
What's the difference between a painter and a decorator?
In practice, most tradespeople in Southend-on-Sea offer both under one job title. Painting covers the actual application of paint, while decorating includes wallpapering, plastering repairs, filling, sanding and general surface preparation. If your job involves stripping old wallpaper in a Victorian terrace or fixing cracked plaster before repainting, make sure whoever you hire is comfortable doing that prep work, not just the final coats.
How do I choose between painters and decorators in Southend-on-Sea?
Read through recent reviews rather than just looking at the star rating, since comments often mention things like punctuality, tidiness and how well they matched colours. Ask to see photos of previous jobs similar to yours and request references if it's a large project. Confirm public liability insurance is current and ask for proof rather than assuming it's in place. Get a written quote covering materials, labour and timescale, and check whether a deposit is required and how much. If a business carries our Trust Verified badge, that means we've checked qualifications, insurance, trading history and company records directly, but for anyone without it, doing that legwork yourself is a sensible precaution before any money changes hands.