How to Paint Over Bold Colors Using Fewer Coats

Painting is 1 of the quickest too easiest ways to update your home. However, depending on the color you’re trying to cover, icon powerfulness non live quick or easy. Keeping upward amongst the latest color trends tin Pb to pastels, gem tones too everything inwards betwixt – too of course, y'all demand to selection the correct paint sheen: flat, eggshell, satin, gloss. But when you’re create to brand a change, some colors are notoriously hard to conceal nether fresh paint. How tin y'all pigment over bold colors to brand certain that novel colors accept inwards a few coats too don’t bleed through?


Prep work


Painting is 1 of the quickest too easiest ways to update your domicile How to Paint Over Bold Colors Using Fewer Coats


Black is a sleek, fashionable too stubborn color. Image: Ben Akiba/Getty Images



It’s less a affair of what colors are hardest to pigment over but to a greater extent than nearly the transition, according to Jimmy Slattery, senior production director at Valspar. “The to a greater extent than drastic the transition (light to dark, night to light) the to a greater extent than hard it tin live to larn the task done inwards less coats.”


If your pigment task entails a drastic transition, Slattery recommends that y'all purpose a high hiding primer. If y'all can, larn the primer inwards a note around the novel color. “Also, vibrant reds, yellows too oranges tin create create to cover no affair what color they’re going over,” he explains. Slattery recommends applying a calorie-free or medium grayness tinted primer equally this volition cut down the position out of coats that you’ll need.


Painting is 1 of the quickest too easiest ways to update your domicile How to Paint Over Bold Colors Using Fewer Coats


Red too orangish hues are notoriously hard to cover. Image: Peter Zvonar/Getty Images



The importance of primers


Brian Osterried, PPG Paints production marketing manager, agrees that priming is the cardinal to success. This is truthful when you’re trying to embrace night colors amongst calorie-free colors – too he says when trying to embrace calorie-free colors amongst night colors. “When going from dark to a calorie-free or medium color, a greyish or deep base of operations primer is recommended, such equally PPG Paints SEALGRIP® tinted to grey,” he says. “Darker primers allow the lighter hue to embrace inwards less coats too cut down the peril that the night color volition bleed through.”


Painting is 1 of the quickest too easiest ways to update your domicile How to Paint Over Bold Colors Using Fewer Coats


Like the sun, this color wants to shine through. Image: Gladiathor/Getty Images



Tina Nokes, co-owner of Five Star Painting in Loudoun County, VA, adds that “Many people endeavour to skip the primer pace thinking that 2 topcoats volition create the job.” However, she says y'all tin prime number right away or prime number later.  “A primer volition ensure that y'all don’t receive got to larn dorsum too prime number after 2 overstep coats, or y'all may goal upward applying a 3rd too 4th coat of pigment for adequate coverage when the finished final result is non what y'all hoped.”


Nokes recommends using a high-quality stain-blocking primer. “This volition continue night pigment colors from seeping through the fresh topcoat,” she explains. “Applying pigment primer volition also allow for no to a greater extent than than 2 coats of coverage, elevate the paint’s adhesion, too minimize the peril of the complete appearing streaky too uneven.” However, fifty-fifty amongst a primer, Nokes says that 1 coat of pigment is rarely plenty – peculiarly to embrace the most fashionable color of the year. “Two coats are almost ever required after using primer to assure fifty-fifty coverage too no flashing of the former color.”


She agrees that the primer should live tinted a greyish color – or similar to the topcoat that y'all excogitation to use.


Quality products matter


Painting is 1 of the quickest too easiest ways to update your domicile How to Paint Over Bold Colors Using Fewer Coats


This vibrant color won’t live tardily to tame amongst a pigment brush. Image: Wachirawut Priamphimai/EyeEm/Getty Images



While it’s of import to purpose a high-quality primer, this doesn’t hateful that y'all tin skimp on the other materials. “Aside from the surface you’re icon too the previous coating underneath it, the biggest element when it comes to repainting over a colored surface is the production y'all select to purpose when repainting, “ says Osterried.


That powerfulness audio similar simply a sales pitch, but Nokes agrees. She says that a higher character pigment does a ameliorate task of roofing night walls because it contains greater levels of binders too pigments. “And these binders too pigments are necessary for hiding hard colors too boosting coverage.” If y'all purpose lower toll paints, Nokes warns that they may non furnish the coverage y'all need. This could final result inwards your walls needing to a greater extent than than 2 coats after the primer has been applied.


Using top-tier tools is also important. “Use high-quality rollers too pigment bushes to brand your icon projection easier too to a greater extent than efficient,” Nokes says. “These tools deliver the pigment inwards a smoother, thicker coat, which plant to conceal the night color.”


Final Tips


Painting is 1 of the quickest too easiest ways to update your domicile How to Paint Over Bold Colors Using Fewer Coats


Purple is a regal color, but it tin also live a regal hurting to pigment over. Image: Paolo De Santis/EyeEm/Getty Images



Before y'all apply the primer, live certain to prep your walls. “Fill inwards blast holes too sand through stone oil spots to brand certain the surface is shine too costless of structural problems,” Nokes advises.  “To ensure a perfect surface, launder the walls amongst a solution comprised of mild dish detergent too warm H2O to take dirt.” She also recommends using a drywall pole sander. “This volition pause downwards the pigment color, too growth adhesion,” Nokes explains.


In addition, she recommends that y'all cutting too curlicue spell keeping a moisture edge. “This keeps the novel color coverage consistent too assures that the cutting lines won’t present upward on the wall.”