Nothing makes a statement like red. But before you grab that crimson can you’ve got to know that when it comes to red, walls sometimes have a mind of their own.
Painting a white wall with a deep, vibrant color like red isn’t much more difficult than most painting jobs but missing a key step may cost you hours of time and cans of paint. If you’re hoping to change your white walls to red, give our how-to a read.
Evaluate the Room
Your heart’s set on red and you’ve picked the perfect shade. Before committing to painting the entire room, consider whether each wall is ready for this radical change. A deep color on all four walls can make a room feel claustrophobic. Consider highlighting a single wall, it can improve a room’s flow simply by attracting attention.
Find the Flaws
A bright will certainly draw attention, so you’d best repair all those nail holes and divots with some spackle. Even if you think your wall is smooth, it’s best to be sure. Try this test: take a flashlight and shine it at a sharp angle against the wall to expose flaws.
Clean, Clean Clean
With the wall smooth and sanded, it’s time for a full cleaning. Will you be painting with a glossy finish? Is this a bathroom or kitchen that will see plenty of grime? If so, you must wash the wall and let it dry. New paint needs a clean dry surface adhere to.
Tape for Protection
Use painter’s tape to seal any areas that need protection, such as windows, ledges, lighting fixtures, and so on. Remove faceplates on switches and plugs and set them aside with their screws in plastic bags so you can easily find them later. Remove the furniture and lay down the drop cloths. It’s time to prime.
Primed Primer
Here is the absolute most essential step when painting a wall with a drastically different color: Apply a tinted primer! This is a primer with some color added in a shade similar to the intended final coat.
The reason a deep-tint primer is so advisable is because it requires fewer coats and less expense. Simply applying a bright paint over a white wall will result in a streaky finish with much of the white still showing. You’ll need another coat, or maybe three or four, to even out the coverage. Designer paint is expensive, so priming with a deep tint primer will more than pay for itself.
Primer should be pre-mixed at the paint store. Don’t attempt to mix yourself because adding too much color to primer will reduce its effectiveness. Clearly communicate to the paint clerk what you’ll be doing: for example, putting a cherry red over satin white. Ask the most experienced paint specialist for the optimal tint to match your primer base coat. You should end up with a tinted primer that is lighter and likely not even the same shade as your finish coat. Grey or pink tinted primer works best. The goal is a foundation that covers the old color and results in a workable surface.
Okay, you’ve got a clean wall and the ideal primer to get the job done! Come back tomorrow for the second half of Zenith’s painting guide to going from bland to bold. Give us a call at 800-381-4601 for any questions and we can get you started with a free estimate.
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