What is the Hardest Color to Paint?


In this article, we will discuss what the hardest color to paint is. Are you thinking about what color to paint your room? The right room color will transform the look of your room into whatever you wish it to look like. There is a wide array of paint colors that you can choose from. However, choosing the right paint can be confusing. Take note that there is a difference between a paint chip and the final color that appears on the wall. Moreover, there are a few colors that are naturally are harder to paint. What colors are they? We will find out the answer below.

What is the hardest color to paint? The hardest to paint are those that have deeper colors. This is because they are transparent colors and most paint companies do not load up much pigment in the paint. Hence, if you are going to use dark colors on your walls and furniture, you need to apply many coating. To make the task easier, you can use a base prime with a grey pigment that matches your desired color.

Usually, painting bright and dark colors is not an easy task because you need to apply more coating. You need to spend more time, money, and effort painting using dark colors as compared to the lighter ones. Moreover, colors such as orange, red, blue, and green are difficult to cover. You will need to do some planning and careful preparation. Read the rest of the article below for more information.

What Colors are Hard to Paint?

Deep and dark colors like taupe, red, gray, and blue are colors that are hard to paint. You will need to do some planning and preparation when you paint using dark colors. Take note that it takes longer to paint using dark colors because you need to do several coating until you have achieved the right look. Moreover, you will need more paint to do the job properly.

Taupe

This is one of the colors that are hardest to paint. While it looks like it is an easy shade, it can be difficult to match with other things. The underlying tones of taupe can either go green or pink. The main problem happens when combining the two colors. For instance, mixing the two colors in a two-toned display does not look good. It is best that you search for the right hues by comparing it to the shades of green and red. Make sure to match with that color combination to achieve the right look.

Red

This color is also difficult to paint because there are so many hues to choose from that are not compatible with the wall space. For instance, the rich raspberry red color that looks fabulous in lipsticks can be overpowering in a room. Moreover, having too much shades of brown in your red can make the room look boring. Take note that the color red requires subtlety and depth. You will need to touch it up after a few months to maintain its look.  

Gray

This paint color come in a wide array of hues. Most shades of gray are too metal-looking when applied to the walls. While gray can be paired up with various colors, it can be hard to work with. Make sure to choose gray colors that trend towards blue so that you can avoid the metallic look on your walls.

Blue

This color can be overpowering when the wrong shade is chosen. Blue is usually associated with the color of the sky or the ocean. However, when these shades of blue are painted on the walls, they do not provide the right look and can be overwhelming. There are blue that tends to look like gray. To tone down the color, you can add gray to the blue.

What is the Hardest Color to Paint Over?

The hardest colors to paint over include dark colors like orange, red, green, and blue. These colors are too dark that they are hard to cover up. Most of the time, it is ideal that you remove the paint using a sandblaster or a paint stripper rather than painting over it. Painting over dark colors requires time, effort, and a whole lot of paint. Because these colors have a dark tone to them, they are hard to cover up especially if you are using pastel or light colors.

How to Paint Over Difficult Colors

To paint over difficult colors, there are a few steps that you need to follow which include cleaning the walls, using a primer, and using high-quality paint. What you need to avoid is for the old paint to show through the new paint and mess up the painting job that you have done. Take note that if you are painting over a porous surface, the light colored-paint can appear streaky and uneven when the dark color bleeds through. To avoid this, you need to use a high-quality stain-blocking primer. Below are the steps that you need to do when painting over difficult colors.

Step 1 – Clean the Walls

The first thing that you need to do is to clean the walls. The surface should be free of any peeling paint or structural issues like holes and cracks. Make sure that you follow the usual methods that are done when preparing the walls for painting like filling nail holes and sanding uneven spots. Next, wash the walls using a solution that is made from mild dish detergent and warm water. This will get rid of the dirt, grease, or grime on the walls. Moreover, washing and cleaning the walls also improves the adhesion of the primer and paint.

Step 2 – Use a Primer

Once you have prepared the surface of the wall, the next step that you need to do is to apply the primer. The paint primer has many benefits and is an important step that you need to do especially when you are painting over paint. Applying the primer will help prevents stains and makes it easier to cover colors preventing them from bleeding through the topcoat. Moreover, the primer enhances the adhesion of the paint and also reduces peeling flaking.  

Step 3 – Use High-Quality Paint

Using high-quality paint is a must if you want to have the best result. Using low-quality paint will not completely cover the old paint and there is a big chance that it will bleed through the new paint color. High-quality paint is recommended when covering dark colors because they have high levels of pigments and binders. These ingredients are important when it comes to hiding difficult colors. Furthermore, the tools that you are using for painting will also affect the speed and efficiency of applying both the primer and paint. Hence, you need to use a high-quality roller and paintbrushes to achieve a smooth and thick coat that works best to cover dark colors. You can also check out this article that discusses if it is goof to paint your house white. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.

✅ Video – How to Paint over Dark Colors

Cown Paints shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to paint over dark colors. In the video, shows how to paint over dark colors and still get a great finish. Watch the video for more information.

What is the Hardest Color to Paint Match?

The hardest colors to paint match are silver and other metallic paints because they are light colors that have high metallic flakes content which has a bright appearance when exposed to the light. Moreover, overly saturated colors such as black and dark blue are also hard to match. Check out this article titled, why you shouldn’t paint your house white. We have shared more information about the topic.

What Colors Make the Room Spacious?

The colors that make the room bigger are those that have soft tones such as off-white, green and blue.  Bear in mind that brighter rooms feel spacious and more inviting. You can also paint your wall trim in a lighter color than the walls to achieve maximum effect. You can also check out this article that discusses if white trim is going out of style. We have shared more tips and ideas for decorating your house.

Which is the Best Paint for Home?

The best paint for the home is the one that is durable, high-quality, and can last for a long time. Latex paint is a popular option because it is easy to clean, to apply, and is also durable. Moreover, it is fade-resistant and breathable as compared to oil-based paints. To choose the right paint for your home, you need to understand how one type of paint differs from another. Take note that each type of paint has its own set of properties that determines how it functions.

Conclusion

You have reached the end of this article that discusses what the hardest color to paint is. We have learned that dark colors are usually hard to paint because they need more coating. Likewise, they are also among the paints that are hard to paint over because they can bleed through the new paint. Painting your house is an investment so make sure that you choose the right paint that is high-quality, easy to work with, and can last for a long time. Thank you for reading!

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