Colour correction on a feature wall

Over the last few years the trend for interior painting has been towards bold colours and interesting paint textures. But unfortunately one person's bold decorating choice is another person's decorating disaster. Simply painting over with multiple coats until the original colour isn't visible can be a very long and frustrating task.

Here are some tips on colour correcting a feature wall.

Red-based colours

The red-based colours are red, pinks, oranges and some purples. These are notoriously dark and hard to cover with layers of white paint so start by layering with a coat of green-tinted, stain-blocking primer to counteract some of the red, then a grey to take out the green tone. After that you will be able to paint with a lighter neutral tone.

Blue-based colours

Dark blues and purples are common vivid blue-based shades. Start painting with a coat of yellow-tinted, stain-blocking primer, and then overlaying with a grey again to neutralise the yellow tones.

Very dark shades

Dark blacks and browns are challenging to cover if you head straight to the lighter shades. Start with 2 coats of stain-blocking primer, then a grey undercoat before painting in a lighter colour.

Paint with additional textures (i.e. suede finishes)

Remove the bulk of the texture by sanding the wall with an orbital sander to an 80 grit. (Make sure to use a dust mask and goggles as very fine dust is likely when sanding textured paints.) Following sanding, coat with a primer that has been tinted to counteract the base colour, then paint over with your chosen colour.

Application tip

If the feature walls have a gloss finish, make sure to sand the walls before you start. Also, even if the walls look relatively clean, sugar soap cleaning will remove any hidden dirt or oils and create better paint adhesion.

When painting over particularly vivid shades, airbrushing paint application often gives a more opaque finish than a roller or brushed finish. Ensure that you practice on spare piece of wood before you start as the speed of application makes a difference the final finish – too fast and it won't cover enough; too slow and you'll get dripping.

Good quality paint will make a substantial difference to your final finish, as cheaper paint often has a lighter level of pigmentation and will experience much more bleed-through.

Of course, if none of this works or it seems too hard, calling in a professional painting service like Glendening Painting Services can save you big bucks in the long run and create an impressive finish.