How to Cover Paint on a Wall
Many decorating decisions are a matter of personal taste. For example, while the previous homeowner loved the dark maroon accent wall in the living room, you may consider it hideous. In addition, it does not match your vision of a neutral color scheme. Fortunately, even the darkest paint is relatively easy to cover with primer and paint. This is a one-weekend project for a dedicated do-it-yourself homeowner.
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Things You'll Need
- Painter's tape
- Drop cloth or plastic sheeting
- 1 gallon primer
- 1 gallon paint
- Paint brush
- Roller on a pole
Instructions
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1
Mask the wall with painter's tape. If you are only painting one wall, mask the ceiling, baseboards, corners and any electrical outlets or switches. Use a drop cloth or plastic sheeting to protect the carpet or flooring.
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2
Paint the entire wall with a coat of good quality primer. Cut in around the edges with a paint brush, then roll on the primer. Allow it to dry and apply a second coat if necessary. If you are covering a very dark color with white or a light color such as yellow, you may need to apply up to three coats of primer.
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3
Paint the wall with the new paint color. Again, cut in around the edges with a paint brush, then roll the paint over the primer, covering the entire wall. Allow to dry, and apply a second coat if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Tint the primer to a shade slightly lighter than the new paint color.
Consult with the paint store when purchasing primer and paint.
If the old paint has a gloss-finish, wash the wall with trisodium phosphate (TSP) and rinse thoroughly. Allow to dry completely. This allows the primer to bond to the old paint.
Use safety equipment such as safety glasses and a ladder when painting.
Open doors and windows to allow the paint fumes to vent from the room. A fan in the window provides extra air circulation.
References
Resources
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