Interior Painting · Mar 2021
Interior repaint: red and orange lower walls to gray, chair rail
Interior repaint: red and orange lower walls to gray, chair rail. These are before, in-progress and after photos from the job, taken Mar 2021. This interior painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Red and Orange Lower Walls Repainted Blue-Gray Below a White Chair Rail
This home had strong colors in several rooms. The lower-level family room had rust red walls below a wide white chair rail ledge, with beige walls above. The dining area had burnt orange below the chair rail and beige above, and the living room had a deep maroon accent wall under a vaulted ceiling. A bedroom was a dark purple-gray. In progress, the walls are dotted with white spackle patches over nail holes and dings, blue tape runs along the chair rail and baseboards, and furniture is wrapped in plastic. In the after photos, the walls below the chair rail are a calm blue-gray and the walls above are a light, cool gray. The living room, hall and loft are the same soft gray from floor to vaulted ceiling. Crisp white chair rails, half-wall caps, door casings and baseboards tie each room together over tan carpet and dark wood floors.
How We Repainted These Dark Walls Gray, Room by Room
- We moved and wrapped the furniture in plastic, laid drop cloths on carpet and wood floors, and taped the chair rails, baseboards and window trim.
- We patched nail holes, anchors and dents with spackle, then sanded each patch flush so it would not show through the lighter new color.
- We spot primed the patches and used a primer over the rust red, burnt orange and maroon walls to keep those strong colors from showing through.
- We caulked open joints along the chair rail ledge, half-wall caps and door casings, which gives the gray walls a straight, clean edge at the trim.
- We cut in and rolled two coats of blue-gray on the lower walls, keeping the line tight under the chair rail with a steady brush.
- We rolled the light gray on the upper walls, the vaulted living room and the hallway, then touched up the white trim where needed.
Paint Colors Similar to This Blue-Gray and Light Gray Two-Tone Look
If you like this two-tone gray look, these are similar colors to consider. They are not the exact colors used in this home, so sample them first.
Sherwin-Williams Morning Fog SW 6255
A mid-tone blue-gray close to the lower walls here. It works well below a white chair rail and hides scuffs better than a light color.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170
A light, cool gray similar to the upper walls and the vaulted living room. It keeps rooms bright and pairs well with white trim.
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52
A soft, pale gray that works for hallways and lofts that connect rooms. It flows well between a blue-gray lower wall and white trim.
Questions About Painting Over Red and Dark Wall Colors
How many coats does it take to cover red or orange walls?
Strong reds and oranges often need a primer coat plus two finish coats to cover fully, especially with a light gray. A gray-tinted primer helps a lot. Skipping primer can leave a pink or orange cast that shows in daylight. The exact number depends on the old color and the new one.
Should the color below a chair rail be darker or lighter?
Most people put the darker color below the chair rail. It hides scuffs from chairs, feet and pets, and it grounds the room visually. The lighter color above keeps the space bright. Reversing it can work in some rooms, but darker on the bottom is the more common choice.
Do I need to patch walls before repainting them?
Yes. Nail holes, anchors and dents show more once the wall is a fresh, even color. Painters fill them with spackle, sand them smooth and spot prime each patch so it does not flash through the new paint. Good patching is a big part of why a repaint looks clean.
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