How to Paint Over Dark Painted Walls

Wash the walls thoroughly with warm soapy water. This removes any dirt and dust particles and will help the new paint to adhere to the walls more easily. Rinse the walls thoroughly with clean water after washing.

Remove all furniture from the room and tape electrical outlets and baseboards. Use blue painter's tape, which is easier to remove than masking tape. Remove all electrical outlet plates and cover open sockets with tape.

Apply a high-quality primer before you start painting. According to This Old House, an alcohol or alkyd primer is better than a latex primer, since it provides better cover. "Popular Mechanics" magazine recommends "tinting" the primer by adding a small amount of your topcoat paint to the primer and mixing well.

Allow the first coat of primer to dry and take a look at your wall. If the primer made only a bit of difference and the original paint still shows through, apply a second coat of primer. You might want to devote one weekend to priming your wall, and the next to painting.

Paint over the primed walls with your lighter, brighter color. Always work from the top down when you paint to avoid splatters and splotchy areas. Apply at least two coats of paint, or however many you need to cover the original color. Painting over a dark color may require additional coats, even if you use primer. Allow your paint job to dry completely before removing tape and replacing furniture.