6 min read
Painting a hallway, stairs and landing is the job most North Dublin homeowners start and abandon halfway up the stairwell, and it is the space we are called to finish more often than any other. It has the least floor area and the most difficulty: awkward access, huge amounts of woodwork, constant traffic and light coming from several directions at once.
Access is the whole job
A stairwell wall cannot be reached safely from a household ladder. We use a proper stair ladder system or a small tower so the painter is square to the wall, which is what allows a straight cut-in at the ceiling line and consistent roller pressure. That set-up time is why the hall, stairs and landing is priced as its own room.
Choose finishes for traffic, not for looks alone
Hallways take bags, buggies, bikes, coats and hands. A standard matt emulsion marks immediately and cannot be cleaned without polishing the surface. A quality washable matt or a durable eggshell holds up far better and still looks soft rather than shiny.
Woodwork here is relentless: spindles, newel posts, strings, skirting, architraves and often several doors. We sand, prime bare areas and apply two coats of a hard-wearing water-based trim paint that resists yellowing — unlike traditional oil gloss, which goes cream in an unlit hallway within a couple of years.
- —Washable matt or eggshell on walls
- —Non-yellowing water-based satin on woodwork
- —Stain-block old scuffs and marker before topcoats
- —Keep the stairs usable — we work in sections
Colour in a space with no daylight
Most Irish hallways have borrowed light only. Very white shades can look grey and cold; heavy greys can look muddy. Warm off-whites, soft clays and greens with a warm base tend to hold their colour under artificial light. We always recommend testing on the darkest wall, not the brightest.
Frequently asked questions
- Can we still use the stairs while they are being painted?
- Yes. We work in sections and time woodwork coats so there is always a safe route up and down, and we tell you which parts to avoid touching.
- Should the ceiling, walls and woodwork all be different colours?
- Not necessarily. Running one colour from wall to woodwork in a narrow hallway can make it feel wider, while a contrasting trim sharpens period detail. We advise based on the space.