Google Reviews for Painters and Decorators: How to Get More 5-Star Reviews

Decorating is one of the most visually satisfying trades. A freshly painted room, crisp cutting-in, wallpaper hung without a single air bubble — the result is immediately obvious and immediately appreciated. Customers notice. They comment. They tell friends.

And then they don't leave a Google review.

The decorating world runs on recommendations more than almost any other trade. Homeowners ask neighbours, post on local Facebook groups, and pass your number to friends. That word-of-mouth pipeline is brilliant — but it only reaches people in your existing network. Google Reviews reach everyone who searches, including the homeowners who don't know anyone to ask.

Why Google reviews matter for painters and decorators

Decorating is a competitive market on Google. Search "painter and decorator near me" in any UK town and you'll see plenty of results. The decorators who appear at the top of Google Maps — and the ones who consistently get called — are the ones with strong review profiles.

Decorating also carries a unique trust dynamic: customers are letting you into their home for days at a time. They're worried about paint on the carpet, fumes, mess, and whether the colour will look right. Reviews that address these concerns — "left everything spotless," "really careful with our furniture," "the colour matching was perfect" — do more to win work than any photo of a painted wall.

Businesses with 25+ Google reviews earn 108% more revenue than average (Womply). For a decorator charging £200-£400 per day, even a small increase in call volume adds up quickly across a year.

When to ask: timing for decorating jobs

Single room (paint only): Send the review request the same evening or next morning, once the customer has seen the room in natural light and lived with the colour. That first "the room looks amazing" moment is your window.

Multi-room projects: Wait 1-2 days after completing the last room. The customer needs to walk through the whole house and appreciate the cumulative effect. Don't ask while you're still working on the spare bedroom.

Wallpapering: Wait the next day. Wallpaper can sometimes lift or bubble in the first 24 hours (though it shouldn't if done properly). The customer needs one day of confidence that the paper's staying put before they'll want to commit to a review.

External painting (house exterior, fences, gates): Send the request the day after, once the customer has seen the result in daylight. External work is visible to neighbours and passers-by, which often generates compliments — and compliments put people in a reviewing mood.

Commercial decoration (offices, shops, rental properties): Send the request when the work is fully complete and signed off. The person who commissioned the work (property manager, business owner) is your review target.

Templates for painters and decorators

After a single room:

Hi [Name], hope the [room] is looking good in the daylight! If you're happy with the finish, a Google review would really help me out: [link]. Enjoy the new look!

After a multi-room project:

Hi [Name], glad you're happy with how the rooms have turned out! If you get a chance, a Google review would mean a lot: [link]. It's the best way for other homeowners to find a decorator they can trust. Cheers!

After wallpapering:

Hi [Name], hope the [wallpaper/feature wall] looks as good today as it did yesterday! If you're happy with it, a Google review would be brilliant: [link]. Thanks for choosing us!

After external work:

Hi [Name], hope the [house/fence/front door] is looking smart! If you're pleased with the result, a quick Google review would be a huge help: [link]. Cheers!

Follow-up (3-5 days later):

Hi [Name], just a quick one — if you got a chance to leave a Google review it'd be much appreciated: [link]. No worries at all if not!

For more templates, see our complete template library.

Photos sell decorating work better than any other trade

Decorating is one of the most photogenic trades. A room transformation — magnolia to a rich heritage green, tired woodwork to crisp white gloss, dated wallpaper to a modern feature wall — is the kind of before-and-after that makes people stop and look.

Take photos at every job. Before you start, while you're prepping, and the finished result in the best light possible. Upload these to your Google Business Profile. For decorators, photos are arguably more important than the written reviews — they show potential customers exactly what you can do.

Golden tip: photograph finished rooms with the door open, showing depth and the full colour impact. Natural light, no flash. These photos work beautifully on Google and cost you nothing but 30 seconds.

How many reviews do decorators need?

Search "painter and decorator near me" or "decorator [your town]" on Google Maps. In most UK areas, the top decorators have between 10 and 40 reviews. Competition varies by area — city decorators face more competition than rural ones.

Decorating jobs tend to run 2-5 days for domestic work, so you might complete 4-8 projects per month. Aim for 2-3 new reviews per month. Over a year, that's 24-36 reviews — enough to be the best-reviewed decorator in most local areas.

For full benchmarks, see our how many reviews do you need guide.

The word-of-mouth to Google bridge

Many decorators resist Google Reviews because word of mouth "has always worked." And it has — but there's a bridge between the two that makes both more powerful.

When a homeowner recommends you to a friend, that friend will almost certainly Google your name before calling. If they find a Google profile with 30 reviews and photos of your work, the recommendation is reinforced. If they find nothing — or a profile with 2 reviews — they hesitate.

Google Reviews don't replace word of mouth. They amplify it. Every recommendation becomes more powerful when backed by a strong Google presence. And they also capture the customers who don't know anyone to ask — the ones who simply search "decorator near me" and call whoever looks best.

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for a decorator to ask for a Google review?

For a single room, the same evening or next morning — once the customer has seen the finish in natural light. For multi-room projects, 1-2 days after the last room is complete. The key is waiting until the customer has fully appreciated the transformation, but not so long that daily life takes over.

Do decorators need a Google Business Profile or is word of mouth enough?

Word of mouth is powerful, but Google Reviews amplify it. When someone recommends you, the friend will Google your name before calling. A strong Google profile reinforces recommendations and also captures customers who don't have anyone to ask. It takes 15 minutes to set up and costs nothing — see our setup guide.

What kind of photos should decorators put on their Google profile?

Before-and-after room transformations in natural light. Show the full room with the door open for depth. Include close-ups of cutting-in, wallpaper pattern matching, and any detail work. These photos often matter more than written reviews for decorators because customers are choosing based on visual quality.

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