I just bought a pretty rough weekend cottage that I plan to fully renovate over the next 6 to 12 months. In the meantime, I want to make it look a bit cleaner by giving the walls and ceilings a fresh coat of white. I'm looking for the most affordable option, and I'm wondering if I can just use primer instead of regular paint since it's cheaper. Is this a viable option, or will I regret it?
3 Answers
Definitely! I did something similar with my parents—we used primer and mixed in some cheap sale paint we found, and it turned out fine for what we needed. It was way cheaper than doing a full paint job, and it made our house look a lot better. Just be aware that you might want to keep the mixed colors pretty neutral, like a boring beige—works like a charm!
You can use primer, but honestly, you might be disappointed with how it looks in the end. Primer isn't designed for final coats. If you're aiming to save some cash, consider Glidden paint; it's a good cheaper alternative to Behr and has improved quite a bit over the years.
Just a heads up—over time, primer can start to chalk and then cause problems with any topcoat if you decide to go that route later. Since you're planning to renovate in a few months, it might hold up for that short time, but good luck with the timing!

Totally agree! Glidden is actually a solid choice. Thanks for mentioning it!