Many homeowners consider making their interior painting a DIY job—it’s easier to access than exterior walls, it’s away from the weather, and after all, it’s just slapping paint on a wall. Why not tackle it yourself and save some money?
Unfortunately, as people tend to spend a large amount of time inside their homes, the results of a DIY paint job are often on full display. Both natural light and artificial light will highlight the imperfections in different ways. If you’re happy to live with this, there’s nothing wrong with giving it a go.
However, we do have some cautionary advice: if you’re thinking of using dark colours in your interior, we’d highly recommend using a professional.
Here’s why dark colours require a skilled touch:
They show up surface imperfections
Dark paint colours highlight all surface imperfections! Lower-sheen paints tend to be more forgiving than glossy ones. However when it comes to dark colours, even those with the flattest sheen level showcase imperfections.
A premium painter has high standards for their painting, ensuring that the results are as close to perfect as possible. It begins before any paint even touches the wall; a level five plaster finish is a pre-requisite if you don’t want to see any blemishes.
Hot tip: Remember to replace any white power socket plates on your dark painted wall with a dark one. A white one will stand out like a sore thumb!
They are more challenging to get right
Your average homeowner might not be aware that dark paint colours are technically challenging to apply. As mentioned above, brush and roller marks are more visible and it’s tricky to create an even shade throughout the room. High-contrast transitions, such as those between the wall and skirtings and scotias, make any errors much more obvious.
If spray painting the surfaces is practical and achievable, that is a good way to guarantee a quality finish. This is best left to the professionals, even if you can get your hands on a spray gun—especially when done inside your home. The potential for DIY disaster is high.
High quality paint products are required
Choosing the right paint for your specific walls is trickier than it sounds! It is particularly important with darker colours to get a good product.
Paint pigments provide colour and sheen. High-quality paint products usually contain better quality pigments, which influences the depth of colour. With dark paint colours, the depth of colour truly influences the outcome. Even tinting across cans is also a consideration. A premium painter is adept at choosing and procuring the right products and managing the moving parts to achieve the best possible colour.
We love the look of dark interior colours. Whether used for a feature or throughout an entire room, they add cosiness and character. Pantone’s colour of the year for 2025 is PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a rich and warm brown that we think would look amazing in a living space or bedroom!
If you want a result that relaxes you, and not one that gets under your skin due to obvious imperfections, then get in touch with Wall Treats about your repaint project! We’d love to make your colourful interior dreams come true.
