How do I paint...

[chocolatedrem]

Hello, bit of a newbie with this...

We want to paint our new living room. It's currently a darkish blue painted onto the plaster I believe (ie no wallpaper).
We want to paint it School House White (F&B).

Do we need to do anything first, such as use obliterating white?

Any recommendations?

Thanks

I would maybe undercoat first with a bog standard white emulsion before painting with the colour you want

Be prepared to put several coats of bog standard white emulsion before the School House White.

You will need several coats to cover the blue.

Even painting white on white you often need 2 coats to stop it being patchy.

I wouldn't waste F&B paint for the initial coats but wouldn't go too cheap either as that won't cover well at all. Something like Johnstones of Wilkos own white emulsion for probably 3 coats at least to cover the blue - keep covering til the blue is gone before you even think about using the F&B.

I hope it's not too big an area.

Johnstones OR Wilko - not 'of'

Just check if the existing blue paint is a silk or sheen (is it shiny?) you might have to lightly sand it first if you're going to put a matt paint on it or it might be prone to lifting off.
I tried to paint over a powder blue silk with magnolia matt and had to give it about 5 coats. I wish I'd have put a lining paper up first.
As others have said, a couple of coats of white first to neutralise before spaffing the F&B.

Thanks guys - so not an "obliterating white" just a standard decent white emulsion?

Light grey is better for killing colours or patterns, than white.

I've just painted over a blackish/blue box room with a very light beige/grey (like f&b skimming stone). Got johnstones. Did 3 coats not undercoat & you can't see a bit of blue. The room is small though so could afford to do the 3 coats in the more expensive colour paint. If it was a big room I'd be tempted to do 1 or 2 coats of white or grey primer.

PP is correct that grey primer is better for covering dark colours.

Just get big tubs if contract white emulsion...usually £10 per tub and lots cheaper until you want to use the final coat paint.

Suggest you use oil based undercoat and final coat for wood

You may have a good quality paint place locally that the traders use, they will sell you a base coat that will make it easier for the top coat to hide the colour, lots of special paints might be worth an Email?
We have had excellent results and good tech help here
bedec.co.uk

I’d just use a standard white emulsion to cover the blue initially. If it is now a dark blue, I think it might require a total of 4 coats so I’d personally do 2 of white before starting with the F&B colour.

light grey will kill the colour in fewer coats.