How many coats of paint should you use for dark colors?

Applying a dark paint over drywall or over a previously light-painted surface requires an average of two coats, according to Zenith Home Painting. When covering a darkly painted surface or scuffed or otherwise damaged drywall, a primer may be necessary beneath the two coats of paint.

The Family Handyman suggests that the primer be picked according to the wall material being covered as well as the state of the wall's surface. There are several types of primer, including primer meant to seal drywall surfaces while providing a smooth painting base and tinted primer that eases the transition between colors to reduce paint layers.