Wall Preparations for Painting Over Dark Colors

Scrape, Patch and Sand

• As with any painting project, you must make sure that your walls are in good shape before applying another coat of paint. However, when you are using a light paint color over a dark shade, preparing the wall is even more important because you don't want cracks or flakes coming through the new paint and revealing the darker color below. Scrape any areas where the paint is peeling, flaking or cracked. If you come across holes or cracks in the wall, fill them with patching plaster or drywall joint compound. Use a putty knife to spread the compound so you have an even layer. Next, sand the areas with sandpaper or a palm sander to ensure a smooth surface for painting.

Clean Wall

• After the walls are scraped, patched and sanded, you must clean them to remove any dust, debris, grease or stains that might prevent the paint from sticking to the wall properly. This step is necessary for any painting project, but it is especially important when covering a dark wall color with light paint. Stains and residue are not always visible on dark walls, and if you leave grease or residue behind, it may affect the way that the light paint applies. You can use a regular household detergent with warm water and a sponge to clean the walls. However, if your walls are particularly dirty, you may want to use a cleansing product specifically formulated for preparing walls for paint. Scrub down the walls to remove any dirt, and rinse them off with plain water to remove lingering traces of the detergent.

Tape

• Before moving onto applying paint products, you should tape off any areas where your new paint color will meet another shade or material. Painter's tape is available at hardware and home improvement stores, and is easy to apply and peel off. Place the tape along the edge of baseboards, molding, doorways and other fixed features that you don't want painted. To prevent paint from seeping beneath the tape, press as firmly as possible when setting it in place.

Prime Walls

• The most important step when preparing to paint over a dark wall with a light color is the application of primer. Primer helps paint stick to a surface better, but it can also help lighten a dark wall in preparation for the lighter color. Opt for a tinted primer when going over a dark wall, so it blends with the shade that you will apply over it. It usually takes two or three coats of tinted primer to properly cover a dark color. For the best results, wait for the primer to dry before applying additional coats.