How hard is it to paint over black paint?

[Missda]

Title says it all really. How hard is it to do this? In house that me and DP are looking at buying they have painted around a mirror and light socket in black.

The easiest way to avoid the need to use lots of coats of a lighter colour is to use a stain blocking primer before you apply your chosen colour. Most DIY stores will stock this.

3mum thank you so much for reply. I really don't have much clue when it comes to DIY!!

is it emulsion on plaster, or is it gloss on wood?

or is it (easy easy) paint on wallpaper?

Piglet sorry I know I am being dull here but what difference does it make? I think it is emulsion on plaster but I will have to check.

different sort of paint.

Stain blockers for emulsion on plaster are common and cheap (mostly white or neat-white). If they are water based they will adhere to emulsion but not to gloss.

If it was gloss, I would suggest a pale grey undercoat, followed by a white undercoat. Undercoat has much more pigment and obliterating power than gloss/topcoat.

If it was on paper you could score it carefully with a craft knife and pull off that bit of paper.

My decorator swears by this stuff www.zinsseruk.com/product/b-i-n/

I think you can paint over it in both gloss or emulsion if I was listening right. Might be what you're needing.