Tips for Concealing Red Paint on Walls
Painting over a red wall is feasible if you select the right primer, invest in high-quality paint, and pick the appropriate finish. This guide covers expert recommendations on each of these factors.
By Drew Bennett
Depending on your personal style and decorating preferences, a red wall might be a bold design feature or a source of frustration. If you're planning to paint over red walls, you'll need to think about the primer you use, the quality of the paint, and the finish or sheen.
Applying a primer
Because red is a deep, highly saturated color, covering it completely typically requires more than a single coat. Karl Crowder, a painter with 20 years of experience in Colorado Springs, Colorado, advises that although primer isn't always mandatory, it can help conceal darker shades. A primer made from acrylic or latex will adhere to any type of paint, sealing and smoothing the wall for the new coat. Modern primers may also include stain-blocking properties, are formulated thicker to provide better hiding, and are easy to clean up.
Choosing a high-quality paint
The paint you choose influences how the finished job looks. Crowder points out that better paint is denser, so you'll need fewer layers to hide a stubborn underlying color. Higher-quality paint also lasts longer and gives a more professional foundation for any future coats. Behr Process Corporation notes that a top-tier primer or paint can improve how well the topcoat sticks and extend the lifespan of the newly painted surface. While painters and paint manufacturers obviously want you to purchase their products, their professional credibility depends on the advice and products they provide. Keep in mind that price is a separate consideration, and quality often rises along with cost. Buy the best paint your budget allows, and don't try to save money by using less coverage.
Selecting the right sheen
"The ability for a paint to cover an existing color is directly affected by the sheen of the new paint. A general rule is that flat paint covers the best while gloss is the worst. Example; if it takes two coats of flat paint it will take three or more coats of semi-gloss or gloss before perfect coverage," (Crowder, ). Crowder, who works as a professional painter, explains that flat paint is ideal for covering a color such as red because it has a matte or flat finish. Your aim is even coverage with as few applications as possible, and flat paint achieves that. Crowder advises painters to carefully read the labels in paint stores before making a purchase, since different manufacturers use different standards to define sheen. Just make sure the flat paint you pick has the lowest possible sheen, and you'll be well on your way to hiding that troublesome red wall.
