By Claire at BRWSH

Christmas is magical… until you decide to redecorate the living room on the 18th of December and suddenly the dog has stepped in paint, the tree is in the wrong place, and you’re Googling “how long does paint take to dry” like your life depends on it.

Every year, customers walk through our door saying the same thing:
“We thought we’d just give it a quick freshen up before everyone comes round…”
And every year, we gently smile… because we know what’s coming next.

So, here are the real perils of decorating at Christmas — and the BRWSH-approved ways to survive them!

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? 1. The ‘Quick Job’ That Isn’t Quick at All

A “quick coat of emulsion” becomes:

• Moving the Christmas tree

• Vacuuming four metric tonnes of pine needles

• Discovering last year’s Blu Tack marks

• Realising the skirting boards suddenly look very yellow

BRWSH tip:
If you’re going to do it, pick one wall or one room. And for the love of mince pies, don’t start at 7pm.

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? 2. Pets + Wet Paint = A Seasonal Horror Story

We’ve seen it all: tiny paw prints, tail marks, a beagle painted in “Farrow-and-Ball-esque” stripes.

BRWSH tip:
Close the door.
If you have no door… we sell tape, dust sheets, and temporary barricade options.

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? 3. The Tree Placement Crisis

You finally get the walls done… then realise you’ve painted behind where the tree sits and now the unpainted rectangle is laughing at you.

BRWSH tip:
Mark out the tree spot first — then paint around your Christmas chaos, not through it.

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? 4. The Colour Regret

It looked creamy-beige in the shop.
It looks green-ish-grey-pink under your fairy lights.
You hate it. Your family hates it. Even the elf on the shelf is judging you.

BRWSH tip:
Always — always — test colours at home. Different lights, different times of day.
(And yes, we can match any colour across brands.)

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? 5. The Drying-Time Panic

Boxing Day guests are arriving and the paint feels… tacky.
Your heart sinks.
Your walls shine.
Your relatives are on their way.

BRWSH tip:
Use quick-dry trade emulsions.
And don’t paint hours before a party unless you want everyone sticking to the wall when they sit down.

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⭐ In all seriousness…

Decorating before Christmas can be done — beautifully and stress-free — if planned properly.
So if you're thinking about a festive freshen-up, pop in and see us.
Matthew will talk you through the best products, I’ll help with your colours, and Bertie will offer emotional support.

Diolch for supporting your local paint shop,
Claire x