How to Change the Color of Interior Paint

There is a lot of preparation that must be done before you can slap a new paint color on an interior wall in your home. Simply putting new paint over the old stuff can cause the job to look unprofessional.

Items Needed:

• Water


• Paint


• Primer


• Sandpaper


• 8-foot ladder


• Putty knife


• Dust mask


• Paint roller


• Paint tray


• Paint brush

1. Remove any bumps or imperfections on the walls you’re going to paint using a putty knife and sandpaper. An electric sander equipped with sandpaper will make the job easier, but you can hand sand the wall if you choose.


2. Put on a dust mask and get a broom to sweep the dust from the wall.


3. Paint the sanded down walls with a coat of primer. Simply pour a little primer into a paint tray, roll it onto the roller and spread it on the wall. Get a smaller paint brush that is about 4 inches wide to paint around the trim areas near floors, ceilings, windows and doors. Use a ladder to reach the high points if needed.


4. Wait until the primer dries. You can read the label on the primer can to see how long the drying process will take.


5. Rinse your paint brush, roller and tray with water to remove all the primer.


6. Paint over the primer with the new paint color you’ve chosen after the primer has completely dried. Put on the new color using the previous painting technique.


7. Take a break until the new color dries for the recommended amount of time and see how it looks. If you can still see the primer under the new paint, put a second coating on the wall to finish the job.