How to Paint Over Dark Walls: A Step-by-Step Guide
Going from dark to light? Learn the professional approach to painting over dark-coloured walls for a flawless light finish.
Dark to Light: Getting It Right
Painting over dark walls is one of the most common challenges in home decorating. Whether you’re covering navy blue, deep red, or dark grey, here’s how to achieve a perfect light finish.
Step 1: Assess the Situation
Look at your current wall colour and your target colour. The greater the contrast, the more work required. Going from dark grey to brilliant white is the toughest transformation; dark to a mid-tone is much easier.
Step 2: Clean and Prepare
Dark paint often shows every imperfection once covered with light paint. Preparation is even more important than usual. Fill all holes, sand thoroughly, and clean the walls with sugar soap to ensure perfect adhesion.
Step 3: Apply a Primer
This is the critical step that many DIYers skip. A dedicated stain-blocking primer (like Dulux Trade Supermatt or Zinsser B-I-N) will:
- Block the dark colour from bleeding through
- Provide an even, neutral base for your new colour
- Reduce the number of topcoats needed
Apply one or two coats of primer, depending on how dark the original colour is. Allow to dry fully between coats.
Step 4: Apply Your Topcoats
Over a good primer, you should achieve full coverage with 2 coats of your chosen colour. Without primer, you might need 3-4 coats of topcoat — using more paint and taking much longer.
Step 5: Check in Good Light
Before declaring the job done, check the walls in both natural daylight and artificial light. Dark colours can sometimes show through in certain light conditions, revealing the need for another coat.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the primer: This always leads to more coats and a worse finish
- Using cheap paint: Quality trade paint has better opacity and coverage
- Rushing between coats: Allow at least 4 hours between each coat
- Applying too thick: Multiple thin coats always beat one thick coat
The Professional Approach
At LocalBrush, we handle dark-to-light transformations regularly. We include primer in our process and use Dulux Trade paints for maximum coverage. Our quotes account for the extra work involved — no surprises.