How to Paint Over Dark Glossy Walls

Move as much furniture as possible out of the room. Move any remaining furniture into the middle of the floor, and cover it with a drop cloth. Cover the entire floor with drop cloths to protect it from drops of paint falling on it.

Fill holes and cracks in all surfaces to be painted. Once the filler is dry, sand it level with the rest of the surfaces, using a sanding block wrapped in sandpaper. Vacuum away all dust, and wash surfaces to be painted with a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Allow them to dry thoroughly.

Apply a coat of primer. If you are painting the ceiling, pour a small quantity of primer into a small bucket. Start by cutting in around the edges with a small paintbrush. Pour some primer into the roller tray, and use a roller to cover the rest of the ceiling. Use the same small paintbrush to cut in around the tops of the walls and along the edge of the trim. Once again, use a roller to cover the remainder of the walls. Allow the primer to dry.

Apply a second coat of primer to the dark glossy surfaces. However, if the ceiling was white, or a very light color, one coat of primer will be enough. In this case, you can apply your first coat of ceiling paint once you've finished applying the second coat of primer to the walls. Apply paint, using the same method you used to apply primer.

Allow everything to dry thoroughly. Apply your first coat of top paint to the walls. Give the ceiling its second coat of top paint. Once the walls are dry, apply their second coat of top paint.

Apply wood primer to baseboards, door frames and window frames, if you are painting them. Once they are dry, apply two coats of top paint for wood.

Clean all brushes and rollers. Latex paint is rinsed off under running water. Oil-based paint is taken off with a brush cleaner. Once all paint is removed, wash brushes and rollers in a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Rinse them thoroughly, and allow them to air dry.