Tips on Painting Over Dark Green Walls

Choose

• Don’t be in hurry when selecting a paint color for your room. Think about your decor and your lifestyle. You may not like the dark green paint but a light shade of green may coordinate with your room beautifully. Warm colors include red, beige, orange and yellow. Cool colors include blue and violet. Look at every shade and hue of many colors until you find one you enjoy. Put swatches of paint on your walls and look at them throughout the day to see how they respond in different nuances of light. Consider colors for trim and other woodwork when choosing colors for your walls.

Clean

• Clean walls guarantee your primer and paint will adhere. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your walls, use a dry, soft towel and vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust or cobwebs. Combine lukewarm water with a small amount of dishwashing liquid and use a gentle cotton cloth to clean all areas of the walls. If you’re painting a kitchen or bathroom, you may want to use a mixture of half vinegar and half water to clean away grease. Dirt and other residue might be more difficult to notice on dark green walls, so look and clean thoroughly.

Prepare

• Preparation includes filling holes with putty. Look for holes in bright light because they will be more difficult to see on dark green paint. Put blue painter’s tape around any windows, corners, trim, doorknobs and molding. Use long strips of paint and make sure the tape covers any part of the trim where paint might seep through. Use a drop cloth over the entire floor to avoid any drops or spills.

Prime

• Ensure equal and complete paint coverage by priming your walls. Because you’re painting over a dark green color, you may need to apply several coats of primer. Don’t rush this aspect of the project because it takes time to get it right. You’ll need to let each coat of primer dry thoroughly before applying another coat. Take an entire weekend to complete this project if you need to do so. Follow the primer manufacturer’s instructions and allow to dry.