Tools and Materials
Steps to Painting Over Dark Walls
Painting over dark colors might be tricky, but with a detailed guide, you can easily transition your walls. From choosing the right shades to appropriate preparation, follow the steps for your new color to stand out.
Step 1: Prepare Your Surface
Preparing the walls is a crucial step that sets the base for a successful paint job. Keep these steps in mind when painting over dark colors.
- Clean: Wash the walls to eliminate dirt, dust and grease. Mix a teaspoon of dishwashing soap for every quart of warm water. Dip a sponge into it, wring it out and wash the walls in a circular motion. Wipe down the wall, rinse with clean water and let the walls dry.
- Repair: If your old paint is flaking or peeling, scrape it off. Use a putty knife and pre-mixed spackle to fill small gaps or indents in the wall. After the compound dries, go over the patched areas with medium-grit sandpaper until smooth.
Painter’s tape
Use painter’s tape to protect the surfaces you don’t want to paint. Run painter’s tape along the edges where the wall meets the ceiling or the baseboards. To do this, make sure the surface is dry and dust-free. Apply the tape onto the surface, pressing down as you go. Don’t stretch the tape too much to prevent it from lifting or breaking. Press the tape down firmly with a smooth-edged object, like a putty knife so that it adheres properly. Let the tape set for about 30 minutes to ensure it forms a crisp line. Make sure to apply painter’s tape onto windows, corners, and trim. Doorknobs and other hardware should be covered as well. Using a wider tape is helpful since it covers the whole surface and can wrap around corners.
Use canvas drop cloths to protect the floor since they’re durable and can be used for your next painting project.
Step 2: Applying the Primer
Applying primer is important to prevent the dark paint color from bleeding through. The best paint primer for dark walls is often a white primer. Consider the paint color and brand of the paint you’re using to decide which primer to use. This prevents a dark-colored base from overpowering the new light paint.
Start with the corners using a 2-inch angled paint brush. Your roller might not be able to cover the corners as well as a paintbrush. Next, apply the primer evenly to the wall using a roller. This process will help achieve an even base for the light color. Let it dry completely and apply a second coat if needed.
Tinting the primer with a shade lighter than your topcoat can give you the truest version of the paint color you choose.
Selecting the Best Paint Primer for Dark Walls
Your primer makes all the difference when painting over dark colors. You can use a stain-blocking primer when dealing with an intensely dark color. This provides superior coverage and opacity in one coat.
Since we are painting over a darker color, use two coats of primer to neutralize the darker undertones. Let the primer dry completely before applying a second coat. This can take about an hour.
A white primer might work well when going from a darker color to a lighter one while a gray primer might be better when painting a lighter color on a dark wall.
Step 3: Begin Painting
Begin painting the lighter color over the dark wall using a roller with a nap length of approximately ⅜-inch. A 1⁄2-inch nap is suitable for a lightly textured wall. A ¾-inch nap might work better for a textured wall. Start by cutting in on the trim and then painting overlapping strokes across the wall. Make sure to apply even pressure and not leave roller marks.To prevent paint from splattering over the wall, avoid overloading the roller. Roll the roller back and forth across the edge of the tray you’re working on. This will remove excess paint and prevent drips.
Always work in the same direction and make consistent strokes. In a 3-by-3-foot section, make M or W patterns with the paint. To make your work easy, you could use an extension pole. Remember to slightly overlap to get good coverage.
Keep a Wet Edge
When you use a paint brush, keep a wet edge to prevent visible brushstrokes. Work in small sections so that the paint doesn’t dry quickly and leave marks. If the brushes get dry, they lead to lap marks. These are lines where the paint layers overlap, creating an uneven and patchy appearance. A dry edge also requires more effort. This is because you may need to touch the dried areas back. It can also pull semi-dry paint from the surface.
Step 4: Apply a Second Coat
Allow the first coat to dry completely before applying a second coat.
Keep the room well-ventilated for the next 24 hours to air out the paint smell. Once the walls have completely dried, which takes about 48 hours, you can move your furniture back and admire your freshly painted walls.
Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the drying time and number of coats required.