4 Best Painters & Decorators in Stevenage for 2026
🖌️ 4 businesses·📍 Stevenage
✓ Reviewed regularly·✓ Updated 23 September 2026
Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Stevenage's housing stock is a real mix, which keeps its decorators busy year-round. You've got the old town's Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Church Lane needing lime-friendly paints and careful work on original coving, then the post-war new town estates like Bedwell, Broadwater and Shephall with their pebble-dashed exteriors and 1960s render that needs proper prep before anything goes on. Add in newer builds around Great Ashby and Chells Manor, and you end up with jobs ranging from full exterior repaints on three-bed semis to feature walls in new-build flats. Most local decorators will know which paints cope with Stevenage's clay soil and damp issues, particularly on older solid-wall properties where breathable masonry paint matters more than it might elsewhere.
The businesses listed here come from public business listings, ranked mainly by review rating and how many reviews they've got, with a small lift given to those showing a working website and phone number. We also read each business's homepage to check that painting and decorating is genuinely their main trade, not just something tacked onto a general building or handyman service. That step keeps unrelated trades off this page. Listings flagged as permanently closed get removed automatically. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone further and passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. Any business without the badge hasn't been through that process with us, so it's worth doing your own checks before booking.
Before hiring, ask to see photos of recent jobs, ideally something similar in scale to your own, whether that's a full house repaint or just a single room. Confirm what paint brand and finish they're quoting for, since Dulux Trade and Farrow & Ball jobs price very differently. Ask if they're VAT registered, whether the quote includes materials or just labour, and how they handle unexpected issues like flaking plaster or damp patches once they've started. Get two or three written quotes rather than relying on one, and check what happens if you're not happy with the finish before any money changes hands.
How We Select & Rate The Best Painters & Decorators in Stevenage
Rankings are driven by review rating and review count from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses that show a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm painting and decorating is their primary trade, which keeps unrelated tradespeople off the page. Listings marked as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses displaying a Trust Verified badge have additionally passed our full verification, covering qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses on this page haven't been independently verified by us, and their inclusion isn't an endorsement. Always 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 Stevenage
A run of 27 five-star reviews sets Lee Lewis Decorating apart among painters and decorators serving Stevenage. The consistency of that feedback points to steady workmanship rather than a single lucky job. Details of the service can be found on the company's website for those wanting to enquire further.
Families across Stevenage call on RGM Decorating for interior and exterior painting work, from single rooms refreshed between tenants to full house redecoration. Feedback from local households has been consistently positive, with a 4.8 rating from ten reviews reflecting careful, tidy finishes. The firm covers the SG2 postcode area and surrounding streets.
Painters and decorators serving Stevenage and the surrounding area, AS-PRO Decorating takes on both residential and commercial projects. The company covers interior and exterior work, from preparation through to finishing. With a dedicated web presence at as-pro-decorating.co.uk, clients can review the firm's scope of work before making contact.
Rated 5 stars by customers in Stevenage, Handyman Steve offers painting and decorating work for domestic properties across the area. Operating under a sole-trader model, the business suits homeowners looking for a single point of contact rather than a larger crew. Reviews consistently note reliability and a tidy finish.
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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How much does a painters & decorators cost in Stevenage?
A single average bedroom typically runs from around £150 to £300 for labour, while a full three-bed semi repainted throughout might land between £1,500 and £3,000 depending on how much prep work is needed. Exterior work costs more, often £1,800 to £4,000 for a full house depending on scaffolding and render condition. Prices vary based on wall condition, whether you're supplying paint yourself, and how much plastering or filling is needed before painting starts. It's normal to get two or three quotes before deciding, since prices for the same job can vary by several hundred pounds between decorators.
Do I need to be in when the decorator is working?
Not necessarily, but it helps for the first morning so you can talk through colours, finishes and any areas needing extra care, like skirting boards or window frames. Many Stevenage homeowners give a key or agree access via a neighbour if they're at work, especially for multi-day jobs. Just make sure you've agreed dust sheeting for carpets and furniture beforehand, and that pets are kept away from wet paint and open tins.
How long does it take to decorate a typical room?
A standard bedroom or box room usually takes one to two days including drying time between coats, longer if walls need significant filling or if you're going from a dark colour to a light one, which often needs an extra coat. A full house interior, say three bedrooms, a lounge, hallway and stairs, typically takes a decorator between five and eight working days. Weather affects exterior jobs more, since render and masonry paint need dry conditions to cure properly.
Should I supply my own paint or let the decorator buy it?
Either works, but check first. Some decorators get trade discounts on brands like Dulux Trade, Crown or Johnstone's and pass some of that saving on, while others prefer you supply your chosen colour so there's no argument later about shade or finish. If you're set on a specific Farrow & Ball or Little Greene colour, it's usually simplest to buy it yourself and confirm the decorator is happy working with it, since some premium paints need different application techniques.
What's the difference between a painter and a full decorator?
A painter typically focuses on applying paint to walls, ceilings and woodwork, while a decorator often covers wallpapering, coving repairs, minor plastering and finishing touches like architrave and skirting board work too. Many tradespeople in Stevenage do both, but if your job involves wallpaper hanging, especially patterned or heavyweight papers, it's worth confirming they've got specific experience with that rather than assuming all-round competence.
How do I choose between different painters & decorators in Stevenage?
Read through recent reviews rather than just the star rating, since comments often mention things like punctuality, tidiness and whether the final finish matched what was agreed. Ask each decorator for two or three references or photos from similar jobs, and check they're happy to put the scope of work, materials and price in writing before starting. It's also worth confirming they hold public liability insurance and asking how they handle any snagging issues after the job's finished, since a reasonable decorator will offer to fix minor issues within a few weeks of completion.
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