
How to Paint Over Dark Walls with Light Colours
- 1: Make sure you have the right paint supplies. First things first: make sure you have the right supplies at the ready. ...
- Step #2: Prep the walls for painting. When you paint over dark walls, you need to patch and sand all of the holes. ...
- Step #3: Cover the walls in primer. An important tip when painting over dark walls is to apply a primer to the walls first. We recommend using a white primer.
- Step #4: Use the proper technique when painting. Now that your primer is dry, you can move onto painting your walls in the new colour you’ve chosen. ...
- Step #5: Apply two coats of paint. Now that you know how to properly apply the paint, you can get to work painting over dark walls. ...
- Step #6: Look for any spots you missed. Finally, all that’s left to do is take a look over your paint job to see if there are any spots you ...
Can you paint over dark walls with light paint colors?
When painting over dark walls with light paint colors, use a white primer. Using a primer will help to ensure that your color comes out true when dry, with no dark base color muting a light one or a light base color making it impossible to get bold color coverage.
How do you lighten up a dark wall in a room?
Step 1. Paint walls opposite windows a cool, dark color to absorb light in too-bright rooms. If you want a brighter room, paint a dark color on the window wall with lighter colors opposite to reflect light back into the room.
What color primer should I use to paint a dark wall?
Hit up the paint supply store these days, and you’ll notice that primers come in a variety of hues. Intuition might tell you to opt for a gray (darker) primer to cover a darker color, but you should resist the urge. Choose white primer when going from dark to light, experts say, and gray when going from light to dark.
What color should I paint the wall opposite a window?
Paint walls opposite windows a cool, dark color to absorb light in too-bright rooms. If you want a brighter room, paint a dark color on the window wall with lighter colors opposite to reflect light back into the room. Paint short walls dark warm colors like reds and browns to bring them toward you visually.

What's the best way to paint over dark colors?
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Do you need a primer to paint over dark walls?
It is chemically engineered to help paint adhere to surfaces. If you're painting over a dark color wall with a light color, you need to use a white primer. If you're painting with a color that is a little bit darker, you should use a gray primer.
How many coats of primer do I need to cover dark paint?
2-3 coatsIf You Are Going To Paint Over a Dark or Brightly Colored Previously Painted Wall. You will want to use 2-3 coats of primer to ensure there is a good bond between the new paint and the wall, and also to cover up any previous colors, especially if they are red, orange, or a strange outdated color.
Does paint primer cover dark colors?
Some self-priming paints can get the job done in one coat Our tests found that when a paint earned a very good or excellent score in hiding, one coat should be enough to hide the old paint for many surfaces. You'll be able to cover the darkest colors in two coats.
How do you cover dark walls with white paint?
Use multiple coats of the best primer to cover dark paint Usually, you can get away with one coat of primer. But when it comes to painting over a dark color with a lighter one, two coats of primer(literally) put an extra layer between the colors and reduce the chances that the dark color will bleed through.
How do you cover dark colors on walls?
In the case of dark walls, that you intend to cover with a neutral colour such as beige, ivory, or a light eggshell, use a good white primer. In the case of very dark walls, such as black, dark blue, dark green etc., prepare to add a second coat of primer and if necessary, a third.
Can you paint a light color over a dark color?
When painting over dark walls with light paint colors, use a white primer. Using a primer will help to ensure that your color comes out true when dry, with no dark base color muting a light one or a light base color making it impossible to get bold color coverage.
What happens if you don't use primer before painting?
If you skip priming, you risk peeling paint, especially in humid conditions. Moreover, the lack of adhesion could make cleaning more difficult months after the paint has dried. You may find the paint wearing off as you're trying to wipe off dirt or fingerprints.
What's the best primer to cover dark paint?
white primerUse a white primer – White primer is the best choice for covering dark walls, as it provides a base for your new paint colour, especially if your new colour is light. Roll using the M technique – When applying your primer, roll up and down in an M motion. This will give you an even, line-free coverage.
What is the hardest paint color to cover?
According to the paint experts, painting over bright and dark colors are always difficult and is not an easy task to cover in two coats of paint. There are few colors like red, green, blue, orange etc that are very difficult to cover and the task requires proper planning and careful preparation.
Is it better to use primer or paint with primer?
It is recommended that you use a primer to seal the substrate before top-coating with paint. Without a proper primer-sealer, you could be wasting time, money and energy applying multiple coats of paint on your porous surface. Tile, PVC, glass, or any other hard, smooth surface requires a bonding primer.
Step 2
When painting over dark walls with light paint colors, use a white primer. Using a primer will help to ensure that your color comes out true when dry, with no dark base color muting a light one or a light base color making it impossible to get bold color coverage.
Step 3
When rolling the paint on the wall, roll in large, wide “M” or “W” shapes. When re-loading the roller, make sure to roll in on the slanted part of the paint tray to remove some of the paint. This will help to avoid roller lines in the paint finish. Let dry.
Step 4
Add a second coat to areas in which you can still see any of the previous color through the primer. Let dry.
How long does it take for paint to dry?
Drying times vary, but typically take a minimum of two hours between interior latex coats.
Can you paint over dark walls?
Covering a dark-colored wall with a lighter paint color can be a challenging task. When you expend your time and resources to paint over dark walls, you don't want to see shadows showing through your freshly painted walls. Using the right painting tools, primer and paint helps avoid unpleasant surprises when your painting project is complete.
Can you use paint to hide dark paint?
Paint. Using a low-quality paint or diluting paint can result in poor hiding of a dark-colored paint. Higher grades of paint contain a greater quantity of superior binders and pigments than lower grades. These ingredients remain on the wall after the paint dries to produce better coverage.
Does paint adhere to walls?
Paint adheres better to clean walls, providing more opaque coverage. Selecting the correct painting tools helps you apply the primer and paint in a faster, more efficient way. High-quality paintbrushes and roller covers release the paint in a smoother, heavier film that helps to hide the dark-colored walls. A higher-quality paintbrush should feel ...
What to use for dark walls?
If your walls are dark but smooth, opt for a thinner nap or a foam roller. It’ll give smooth coverage (and is usually ideal for indoor walls). Next, choose high-quality rollers. Higher-end products tend to deliver smoother, thicker paint coats than their cheaper counterparts, which can have spottier coverage.
What is the best part of painting?
One of the best parts of a painting project is the built-in break time. You’ve got to let the paint dry between layers, so sit back, relax, and enjoy a good book or take the dog for a walk between coats.
How to make a roller for a paintbrush?
To save on time and sanity, you’re going to need more than an old roller and a paintbrush. An investment in the right supplies will make for a (literally!) smoother process throughout. Start by selecting a roller with the right nap, or thickness, for your project.
Can you paint over a writable surface?
To paint over a writable surface —or any thickly applied coating—be sure to sand the edges until they’re smooth. Otherwise you’ll be able to see the lines underneath no matter how many coats you slather on. You’ll also want to clean the walls—the cleaner they are, the smoother the paint job.
How to cover dark paint with lighter paint?
You’ll need to start by preparing the room you’re working on and getting your painting supplies. Most importantly, you’ll have to prime the walls using the appropriate primer.
What primer should I use for dark paint?
If you’re trying to cancel out dark paint, you can go for a white primer. Conversely, if you were trying to go from a lighter shade to a darker one, I’d recommend using a darker primer, like a gray one. Nowadays, they also make tinted primers, so you can get a good base for whatever color you’re planning to use on top.
Do you need primer for painting over dark walls?
For now, you should just know that primer shouldn’t be used only when you’re painting over dark walls.
Can you use oil based paint on top of primer?
There is one main rule you have to follow when you’re picking out primers. Oil-based paint needs to go on top of an oil-based primer, while other paints can go on top of any primer. As long as you remember that, you should be in the clear. Still, you should pay attention to the color of the primer as well.
Can you paint dark walls lighter?
As you can see, painting your dark walls into a lighter shade doesn’t need to be overly complicated. In fact, you can basically use the same methods you would use for a regular paint job. If you do it right, the prep and drying times will take longer than the painting itself.
Can you paint over dark walls?
For now, you should just know that primer shouldn’t be used only when you’re painting over dark walls. Ideally, you’d use primer on all of your walls. But if you, like me, have several white or very light walls and a dark accent wall, you may be able to get away with just priming the one wall.
Can you put paint on white primer?
Instead, you can just add some of the paint you’ve chosen into your white primer to give it a slight tint. Finally, let’s talk about the application process. Essentially, it’s the same as with paint: Get the extra lint off your rollers. Dip them into the primer. Roll off the excess in a paint tray.
What does it mean when you paint with dark colors?
If you paint with warm, dark colors, you create a closer and cozier feel , while cool, dark colors will seem more distant. Consider the effects you want to achieve before deciding on paint colors. Bold, dark colors are popular in home decor, but some homeowners are reluctant to use them for fear these tones will overwhelm the space. ...
How to make a room brighter?
If you want a brighter room, paint a dark color on the window wall with lighter colors opposite to reflect light back into the room.
