What is the best white paint to cover dark walls?

Author: Destiny Langosh  |  Last update: Thursday, November 20, 2025

For some of the best paint to cover dark walls, try an all-in-one Primer and Sealer tinted in a light grey. Colours like Seagull Grey or Ultra Pure White in the Behr Marquee are great choices. For a warmer white, look for Behr's Polar Bear Tint, for a cooler white, go with Behr's White.

What is the best paint to cover dark walls?

Intuition might tell you to opt for a gray (darker) primer to cover a darker color, but you should resist the urge. Choose white primer when going from dark to light, experts say, and gray when going from light to dark.

Can you paint white over dark walls?

You can certainly do it. However, it will require at least two coats of tinted white primer to do this. You'll have to apply the first coat, wait for it to dry and then apply the second. Depending upon how even you get the coatings, there shouldn'...

What is the best white paint to cover dark colors?

So, follow my recommendations and save yourself the agony of trying to find the right shade of white to paint over dark walls:
  • Best quality: Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion or Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion.
  • Best value: Dulux Once Matt Emulsion Paint or Crown Breatheasy Matt Emulsion.

What is the best shade of white for a dark room?

Comments Section Low light? These are all greys. Try Simply White. It has a bit of cream in it so it glows a little more. These will look dead and grey in low light conditions. This. You need a bit of warmth if you don't have a ton of light. Simply White, White Dove, and Cloud White are good options.

How To Paint Over A Dark Wall - Ace Hardware

What color to paint a room with no natural light?

Vibrant yellows are especially effective at reflecting artificial light, making them the ideal options for windowless rooms. Swap darker flaxen shades for buttery, brighter mixtures like Hot as Mustard, and add extra warmth with white accents and light wood details.

Which white makes room look bigger?

Off-White

Off-white paint is such a simple, clean color, making it easier to work with. The soft color makes the space look more inviting and open. The room also begins to feel larger if you contrast it with natural greenery and vibrant colors.

How many coats of paint to cover a dark color?

Typically, you need two to three coats of paint to cover dark paint thoroughly.

What color paint brightens a dark room?

But choosing the right paint colours can instantly uplift a room and make it feel lighter, brighter and nicer to spend time in! This might seem obvious, but a light-coloured paint, rather than a darker one, will do the best job of brightening a dark room. And white paint is the best colour for the job.

What color paint absorbs the most light?

Dark colors have a lower LRV and tend to absorb more light, making them appear less intense in spaces with limited natural light.

Can I use white paint instead of primer?

No, white paint doesn't work as a paint primer. This is because the composition between paint and primer is quite different. Primer has more resin and less pigment than regular paint.

How many coats of white paint to cover blue?

You don't need a primer. You need to give it a decent coat of white paint and then 2-3 coats of your top coat.

Do you need to sand walls before painting?

You can get by with sanding only the areas that have been patched, but walls look much better after painting when you very lightly sand the entire wall. The point is to get rid of any little imperfections, not to remove roller texture, so this is a quick sanding. Use a sanding sponge with 100-grit sandpaper.

How to paint white over dark walls?

How to Paint Over Dark Walls
  1. Step 1: Sand & Patch. Before painting, fill holes with filler, then sand smooth. ...
  2. Step 2: Choose a Primer. Choose a high-quality white primer when painting over dark walls with light paint colors. ...
  3. Step 3: Rolling the Paint. ...
  4. Step 4: Applying Second Coat. ...
  5. Step 5: Add a Fresh Color.

What is the best product to cover dark paint?

Dulux Wash&Wear® +PLUS Super Hide Low Sheen is ideal for covering most dark colours in just two coats of paint, saving you precious time.

Can I paint over a dark wall without a primer?

A primer or base coat is necessary to completely cover the darker colour and really make your wall look great. Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your new paint job.

What color is replacing white?

For a fresher, cozier aesthetic in your home for 2024, we suggest swapping white for brown. There are many warm golden browns, beiges and tan, and richer, darker browns like chocolate, chestnut and coffee, and cool browns like taupe and ash brown, so the choices are endless.

What color looks best on dark?

Dark skin tone

Vivid reds and pinks are your go-to classics, but mauve pink, fiery red-orange, deep purple, blacks, bronze, green, almond, mocha and caramel based neutrals are all going to look terrific. As will bold, bright colours. And even yellow.

What is the brightest white paint for walls?

What is the brightest white paint color? The paint colors with the highest LRV (aka, the brightest white) are Kelly Moore Whitest White (LRV: 94.6), Behr Ultra Pure White (LRV 94.4), Sherwin Williams High Reflective White (LRV: 93), Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (LRV: 90).

What is the hardest paint color to cover?

Painting over bright, wild or dark colors is an easy design fix, but may not be as easy as it seems. Color families such as reds, greens, oranges, and blues can be a real challenge.

What is the best paint to cover dark colors?

The best paint primer for dark walls is often a white primer.

How many coats of white paint to cover dark grey?

Colour change complexity

White colours tend not to hide very well and often require two or more coats of paint to completely cover the darker shade.

What color makes a room look elegant?

Elegance doesn't have to be boring. Gray and yellow are fun combinations that look exceptionally good in living rooms or open, airy kitchens. Use the lighter Benjamin Moore November Rain 2142-60 for smaller spaces or the deeper Benjamin Moore Wolf Gray 2127-40 to make spacious areas feel more intimate.

What color house looks the most expensive?

Colors that make your home look more expensive
  1. British green (Racing green) This is a color trend that is reflected in the increased popularity of indoor plants and the desire to spend more time outdoors. ...
  2. Pale pink. ...
  3. Sky blue. ...
  4. Accessible beige. ...
  5. Light coral.

What is the calmest color to paint a room?

A soft white or gray creates a peaceful and clean ambiance. They can make a small bedroom feel more spacious and airy, promoting a clutter-free mind. What's more, white and light gray are excellent for those who prefer a minimalist approach.

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