How to Paint a Wall Red

Benjamin Moore is my favorite brand of paint. I use their "Aura" line of paint whenever possible, because it usually covers in just one coat.

They just announced their 2018 color of the year, and wow! What a color!

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore Paints

It looks like they're moving on from the white-and-gray trend. This is called "Caliente" and it's an incredible scarlet hue.

A color like this can really make a room, but from the painter's perspective, crimson paint offers a few challenges. With that in mind, here are a few Tips for Painting with Red:

• Even with a high quality paint like Benjamin Moore's, red often requires multiple coats, so keep that in mind when making your budget.
• To improve paint coverage, check with your paint store to see what kind of primer they recommend. With this color, I would have my primer tinted at the store to match the paint. It won't be a close match, but it will still be less likely to show through.
• Red pigment often changes a lot in hue from wet to dry, so if you brush it on the wall and it looks like you bought the wrong color, don't panic! This is one time when watching paint dry can be kind of fun.
• My wife, who is an artist, has often mentioned that crimson is notorious for taking days or even weeks to dry on an oil painting. The dry time won't be that long for your red walls, but it might take a little longer than usual. Consider setting up fans to circulate the air and speed up the process.

• Be sure to mix the paint well before applying it. You've got a lot of pigment in that can, and you want it to go onto the wall evenly.
• If you're painting an accent wall, remember that it's the first thing everyone's going to look at when they walk into the room. You really want to get that texture right, so be sure to patch any holes.
• Brilliant colors can be a challenge to paint when they're paired with light ceilings or trim, Some people recommend using painter's tape to get a crisp line, but I advise against it, because the paint can still leak under the tape and leave a huuuuge mess. If you can, it's better to cut in carefully by hand with a good-quality brush.

Painting with bold hues like Caliente can be a challenge. If you're nervous about doing it yourself, why not hire a professional interior painter like me? I'm good at it!

Get Red Done Right

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore Paints