Does anyone have any tips for painting a dark red wall a lighter color?

Question

I recently moved into this house and the walls in the front room are dark red. I would prefer to have a lighter color. Is there anything I can use so the dark red won't bleed through?

Answer 1

surely prime it, then i guess paint it the color you want, or other you put the primer on paint it white and then paint it the color you want.

for decorating tips visit

http://livelovelaughdesign.blogspot.com/

Answer 2

I recommend a stain blocking primer, but prefer Zinsser.  It just gives a better finish and goes on better than Kilz for me.  You can tell how many coats of primer you require after the first coat has dried whether you can still see the red bleeding through it.  You need to let it fully cure before applying the new latex color on top of it.  You can do this by sinking your fingernail into an obscure area, if it leaves a mark, let it dry longer.  If you live in a particularly humid area, paint takes longer to cure.

Answer 3

There is a sealing paint called Kilz, as mentioned by the answerer above.  it is truly heinous stuff, and lead based.  If you put on one coat (and sleep someplace else) letting it dry *completely*... Then apply another coat in the same way, nothing will show or bleed.

If you do not like lead, you can also seal it with an enamel - but if you want something else to stick to it you will have to get a non-gloss... not easy to find, and also heinous, use the same method... but if you use the enamel you may need 3 coats.  do it in dead white.  wait a week to be sure there is no bleed before painting with anything else.

Answer 4

Whitewash it one or two times before you paint over it, or put plain wallpaper over it and paint on that.

Answer 5

Get a good primer like Kitlz.  Once you paint that on the red will not bleed through.

Answer 6

put a couple of coats of primer and then whatever color you want you will probly need a few coats of that as well.

Answer 7

Kilz.

Answer 8

prime the wall, a time or two, try keils (not sure about the spelling, you can find it at walmart, lowes, etc.   then you can paint over it

Answer 9

Hey Myra - a couple coats of primer should do the trick. Not only is red a hard color to put ON the wall, but, it's just as time consuming to cover it up. Good luck - LT

Answer 10

Primer ... and then maybe a couple coats of paint

Answer 11

Wash it down good and you'll need at least of couple of coats of primer, then paint whatever color you want. Primer is the key though....you might need 2-3 coats depending on how dark the color is.

Happy painting and good luck!!