Painting over Semi-gloss

In addition to a good primer- I would wash the wall with TSP. It will remove the dirt and takes some of the sheen off the paint- combined with the primer you should be fine (from experience- just painted an all blood red semi-gloss room a much lighter color and have had no problem)

Have fun!
M.

Lowes, Home Depot, Menards they all sell KILZ. It's a great primer.

I would just prime it, it's the cheapest and easiest way to cover it. I saves you from doing more coats of paint, which cost about twice as much. I only use flat paint on the ceiling, I would recommend going with a Satin or Eggshell finish. These are more washable then flat and will hold up better.

I would go and ask the home improvement store if they have a special primer for that that will help dull the surface. KILZ is a gret primer. I know someone who did this without priming and the new paint actually bubbled and fell off.

Here is some good advice I came across:

When repainting glossy surfaces, sufficient cleaning materials must be used to dull surfaces, or they should be lightly sanded. An alternative to sanding is the use of a liquid cleaning/dulling solvent. High-gloss surfaces typically do not provide good adhesion for new coats of paint.

Painting over wallpaper is not recommended; the old covering should be removed. Once painted, wallpaper is extremely difficult to remove.

Do's of Interior Painting

* Wash all grease and dirt off walls and woodwork.
* Patch cracks in walls and ceilings before painting.
* Seal all new surfaces with a primer.
* Scrape off all loose paint and sand the surface to a smooth finish.
* Stir paint thoroughly before any applications.
* Allow new plaster to dry before painting.
* Properly ventilate area to be painted.

Don'ts of Interior Painting

* Don't expect good results on dirty surfaces.
* Don't paint over a damp surface with oil-base paints.
* Don't apply the second coat of paint until the first coat has dried properly.
* Don't sand woodwork across the grain.
* Don't change cans of paint in the middle of a wall area.
* Don't add thinner to the product unless directions call for it.

You need to prime it first.
Because it is a high gloss finish and because it is a dark color.

you need to do a primer on the wall first go to home depo or where ever you are getting your paint at and ask them for their oppinion

I'm with everybody else. (So why am I posting?) A primer will help you. It will provide the stick-to-it-iveness you'll need, and will help your new color to cover the dark.

Are you repainting to sell? Just for the thought, if I were repainting for myself (not for resale), I'd use an eggshell finish rather than flat. It is a little sturdier and more cleanable without being shiny.

You need a primer, probably oil based before you paint your new color. Kilns is a good brand.

Do not use an oil based primer if you're going to paint the wall with latex. Latex paint does not stick to oil based paints.