If your walls are dark, or your home exterior is dark, and you want to put a light color of paint over top of this color, then there are some steps you need to take to ensure you get good results.

Just as you would with light colors, you need to have proper surface preparation. This is especially important for a project where you are trying to cover dark colors because inadequate surface preparation can result in paint failure, and paint failure is not something you want, especially if it means that the color showing through your cracked or peeling paint is several shades darker than the coat you applied to cover it. Trust me when I say that if you do not prepare the surface properly you will regret the results, because navy blue or some other dark color is going to show through a lighter color.

Once the surface is properly prepared, meaning it is clean, dry, and smooth, you will want to prime it. Using a tinted primer is the best way to cover a dark color with a lighter one. For primers for painting, it is better to put on two thin coats than a single thick coat. This will give you better coverage, and hide the dark color better. Also, make sure the primer is a high hide style (Kilz, Behr Enamel Undercoater, etc), and a top quality product. It is not going to do you any good to prime the surface if the primer you use is of an inferior quality. Also, some primers tend to have too much silicates to really hide. Look at the percent titanium dioxide, TiO2, listed on the label and buy the highest, this will hide the dark color the best. Don't worry if after you prime the surface if it still looks a little dark after the primer is on, the paint will cover it.

You want to make sure that the primer is completely dry before you apply your paint, or a second coat of primer. Once your primer has dried, and the dark color is somewhat covered by the primer, it is ok to paint. Use the proper paint tools for the job, use a roller nap that will hold enough paint, and use a high quality latex or oil based paint that has good coverage. If you get a paint that has a low pigment amount, it will be difficult to cover dark paint. So, use top-quality, and paint it over the primer. This should be sufficient to cover a dark color. If you are worried, use two coats of paint, but allow for proper drying time between coats, or you will run into other problems.

So, a quick recap. in order to cover a dark paint start by properly preparing the surface. Clean it well, scrape off any loose or flaking paint, repair any damage, etc. Make sure the surface is smooth, dry, and clean. Then apply a top quality primer that does not have too many silicates in it. Allow for the primer to dry completely and then assess whether or not you need a second coat. Apply a second coat of primer if needed, let dry, and apply top quality paint.