How to Paint a Wall a Midnight Blue With Orange Red Accents

Blue and orange are a bold complementary color combination.

Orange and blue, complementary pairs on the color wheel, make a bold combination on an interior wall. Because dramatic paint jobs are less forgiving than light, neutral colors, it is important to take time for preparation and painting. High-quality paints provide better coverage for dark colors and are worth the extra money. Glossy paints show more surface imperfections, so an eggshell or flat finish may be a better choice for a midnight blue wall with orange red accents.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth
• Spackling compound
• Putty knife
• Sponge
• Sandpaper
• Low-tack painters tape
• Latex primer
• 2-inch angled paintbrush
• Paint roller
• Paint pan
• Accent paint in red orange
• Utility knife
• Wall paint in midnight blue

Instructions

Preparation

1. Move all furniture well away from the wall, and take down pictures and mirrors. Protect the floor with a drop cloth.

2. Fill any holes with spackling compound and a putty knife. Smooth the patched areas with a damp sponge. Apply a second coat of spackling compound if the first coat shrinks when drying. Sand patched areas until they blend in with the rest of the wall.

3. Wipe the wall off with a damp sponge to remove dust. Tape off the wall you will be painting with low-tack painters tape.

Painting

1. Apply primer by cutting in with an angled brush--carefully applying a line of paint where two surfaces meet. Roll out the rest of the wall with a paint roller. Roll in all directions for a smooth, even application with no lap marks.

2. Plan out orange red accents by sketching them on a piece of paper or lightly drawing on the wall with a pencil. Some ideas for compositions include large geometric shapes, wide stripes or a grid of intersecting lines.

3. Apply orange red paint to the accent areas. Use a brush for small areas or a roller for large areas. You don't need to stay inside the lines. Apply a second coat of paint if necessary, and allow the accent paint to dry overnight.

4. Mask the orange red accent areas with low-tack tape and a utility knife. Apply midnight blue paint around taped accent areas and the edge of the walls with an angled brush. Use a paint roller for large areas. You probably will need to apply two or more coats of blue paint for full coverage.

5. Use a utility knife to gently cut the tape where it meets the edge of the painted wall. Remove the tape slowly. This will produce a sharp, clean edge.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint accent colors last, unless the wall color is much darker than the accent colors.

• Take extra care when removing the low-tack tape from the orange red accent areas because those spots may be move likely to peel.

References

• This Old House: The Secrets of Pro Painters