Repainting a room might be one of the most economical home improvement ideas around. Surface preparation is key when it comes to painting over a dark color. “Be sure the wall is dull, dry and clean,” says Rick Watson, director of product information and technical services at Sherwin-Williams.
“We recommend using Color-Prime Primer. It will help hide the deep, dark color, especially if you want to put a very light color on top and it will prevent having to paint two, three and four extra coats of paint.”
Watson also recommends sanding a wall if you are painting over a glossy finish. “If you don’t dull down a glossy finish and you just try to roll over it, your paint roller may slide,” he says.