Interior Painting in Redan, GA

Navy, forest green, deep charcoal and other saturated shades have become common choices for interior painting, and they behave differently from the pale neutrals most walls start with. For a home in Redan, picking a dark color affects the primer, the number of coats, the sheen and even how touch-ups are done later.

Why deep colors cover differently

Light colors are tinted from a white base that already contains plenty of hiding pigment. Deep colors are mixed from a clear or deep base with a much larger dose of colorant, and that base hides less on its own. As a result, a dark color can look streaky or patchy after the first coat, even over a well-prepared wall.

Some reds, yellows and bright oranges are the hardest of all, because those colorants are fairly transparent. Without the right primer underneath, they can take three coats or more.

Tinted primer and how many coats

The usual solution is a primer tinted toward the finish color, often a gray shade the paint store matches to the topcoat. It evens out patches and old colors so the finish coats only have to build depth. Over a tinted primer, two finish coats are typical for most deep colors. Coverage is then checked in daylight and under lamps, since thin spots in a dark color are easy to miss under only one kind of light.

Sheen choices on dark walls

Dark paint shows surface flaws and lap marks more than light paint does, and sheen magnifies both. A flat or matte finish hides patching and roller marks and gives deep colors a soft, rich look, though some flat paints mark when rubbed. Eggshell wipes more easily and is still fairly forgiving. Glossier finishes look striking on trim and doors in a deep color, yet they demand very smooth surfaces.

Touch-ups take more care, too. A dab of dark matte paint brushed onto a rolled wall can show as a shiny or darker spot, so larger touch-ups are best rolled edge to edge.

Preparing walls for a dark finish

Drywall repairs need extra attention, because a dark finish shows every ridge and dip. Patches are feathered wide, sanded smooth and primed so they do not flash through the color. Stains are sealed first, even though a dark paint seems likely to cover them; water and smoke stains can bleed through any color.

Surface preparation also covers the existing coating. Glossy paint is deglossed or scuff-sanded, and caulk joints at trim and corners are renewed where they have cracked, since a dark gap line stands out against white trim. Protection matters more with deep colors as well, because a drip of navy on a light carpet or countertop is much harder to hide.

Clean lines between dark walls and light trim

A deep wall beside white trim creates a hard edge, and that edge is what people notice. Color transitions are planned at inside corners, casings and crown molding rather than across open wall. Accent areas, such as a single wall behind a bed or the back of a bookcase, are marked on the plan so everyone agrees where the dark color starts and stops. Cutting in is done by hand with a steady brush, and the trim edges get a close look before the job is closed.

Putting the plan in writing

The estimate should spell out what is included: the surfaces, the preparation standard, the primer and number of coats, and finish details such as how far a dark color wraps into a closet or onto a ceiling edge. Items left out, for example ceilings or the inside faces of doors, should be stated just as plainly so the price is easy to compare.

DeKalb County permits for Redan homes

Redan is in DeKalb County. If repainting grows into a larger project that touches framing, pipes or wiring, ask the DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability Department whether a permit applies. For siding, doors and trim on the outside of the house, see our Redan exterior painting page.

Questions about dark paint colors in Redan

Why does a dark wall need more coats than a light one?

Deep colors are mixed from a base with less hiding pigment and a heavy dose of colorant, so each coat is more see-through than a light color would be. Over an old pale wall or patched areas, the first coat often looks uneven. A gray or tinted primer followed by two finish coats is the usual way to reach solid, even color.

Do dark painted walls show scuffs and touch-ups more?

They can. Scuffs on a dark matte wall sometimes appear as light, shiny marks, and a small touch-up may look different from the rolled paint around it. Choosing a durable matte or an eggshell finish helps, and touch-ups blend better when they are rolled from corner to corner instead of dabbed on with a brush.

Should the ceiling be painted when the walls go dark?

It does not have to be. A white or off-white ceiling keeps contrast and makes the room feel taller, and it is the most common choice. Some homeowners carry a deep color onto the ceiling for an enclosed, cozy effect. Either way, the line where wall meets ceiling needs careful cutting in, because any wobble is obvious against a dark color.

Talk about your color

Thinking about a deep color for a room in your Redan home? Call 404-409-4448 and tell us the shade and the rooms. A visit lets us look at the current walls and work out the primer, coats and preparation the estimate should cover.