Painting a room can be one of the most budget-friendly ways to makeover a space or prepare a home for sale, but some commonly held myths may prevent some homeowners from finding the truly perfect hue that enhances their space.
Realtor.com spoke with painting experts to address some of these common myths about painting a home. Some of those include:
- Dark paint colors make a room look small
It’s just the opposite in many cases, says Ashley Blackmore, a real estate professional with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Western Colorado Properties. “If you use a dark color for an accent wall, it can truly make the home look much larger by adding variation to the eye,” Blackmore says. - Primers aren’t necessary
Many homeowners believe they can skip the primer step, but it’s a crucial one to ensure the paint goes on correctly, experts say. “In order for your project to look like it was done professionally, you absolutely need to use primer,” says Kayla Martin, owner of Acme Home Interiors. “It helps make the paint job look smooth and allows the paint to adhere to the wall.”
- You always need two coats of paint
Don’t assume this one is always true – many times you may not. “If you apply primer and are using a quality brand of paint, you can absolutely get away with one coat of paint,” Martin says. However, it depends. Blackmore says in some cases she has seen rooms need six coats of paint, particularly where the walls weren’t properly prepped for painting or where there was a previously darker color painted. - Trim must always be white
White trim is the most common color, but it doesn’t always have to be, says Morgan McBride of Charleston Crafted. She says that extending wall color to the trim for both the top and bottom can make walls appear taller. It can also emphasize details in the room’s moldings.
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