When you think of updating a room, most folks immediately think of painting the walls, which is a great idea for instant results. But have you ever considered painting your ceiling? Painting a ceiling is another creative way to elevate the look and feel in your home, although it often overlooked.
As we were considering design options for our home office, we thought that painting the ceiling would bring a modern feature to a classic home and breathe new life into this sometimes neglected fifth wall.
Keep reading to learn our painting techniques that will have your paint job looking seamless and polished. We’ll cover everything from prepping the space to choosing the right tools for your project. And have your next painting project looking like the pros did it!
What You Will Need:
Before you start painting, head to your local home improvement or paint store to get all the necessary materials:
Painter’s tape – To cover the edges of your walls and ceiling
Drop cloth – To protect floors and furniture from paint drips and paint splatters
Latex paint – For your interior walls and ceiling (we recommend semi-gloss for trim, flat paint for the ceiling or satin finish for a smooth look)
Primer – To help your paint adhere to the surface
Roller tray and paint pail – To hold your paint
Roller and roller covers – To roll on the paint
Angled brush – To cut in around window frames and corners (this our absolute favorite brush!)
Extension Pole – Attach to roller so you are able to reach the ceiling without a ladder
Plastic wrap for storing tools between coats
Putty knife – To apply drywall compound or spackle
Drywall compound or spackle – To repair damaged areas in the ceiling or wall
Sanding sponge – To sand down the spackle before painting
Prep the Room
Start by moving furniture out of the room or covering big objects with a drop cloth. Remove light switch plates, outlet covers and any wall decorations. Apply painter’s tape to the edges where the ceiling meets the walls and around any fixtures. For a professional looking paint job, don’t skip this step—it ensures clean lines when you finish painting.
Note: If you’re comfortable painting without using the aid of painter’s tape, then you can skip this step and by using a steady hand you can cut in around the ceiling. While you can use painter’s tape to get clean lines during your project, we strictly relied on cutting in with an angled paint brush. With an angled paint brush and a steady hand, you can practically eliminate the need for painter’s tape. Learning this along with other painting techniques will make you a well rounded painter since interior painting goes along with so many other renovation projects around the home.
Clean and Repair the Surfaces
Use a damp cloth to wipe down the ceiling and walls, removing dust, cobwebs, or grime. For smooth walls, lightly sand any rough spots with a sanding sponge and fill in any holes with spackle or a premixed drywall compound using a drywall or putty knife. Allow the compound to dry before sanding again. This step is essential to ensure your new paint adheres well.
Choosing the Right Paint and Tools
For ceilings, a flat paint is recommended, as it hides imperfections better than a high gloss or semi-gloss finish. For an accent wall, consider using a dark color that contrasts with lighter shades on the ceiling. Before committing to a paint color, test paint samples on a small section of the wall and ceiling under different lighting to make sure it’s to your liking.
We’ve been using the Sherwin Williams lineup of products to accomplish any paint projects we come across. With their endless line of coatings, we’ve been able to find the perfect finish for anything we come across whether inside or outside. Their paint colors always come out rich and saturated even when using a lighter color.
Prime the Ceiling
If you’re covering up a dark ceiling or you have oil-based paints already on the surface, apply a primer first. Use a roller with a fresh roller cover, applying the primer in a “W” pattern to ensure even coverage. Let the primer fully dry before you start painting the final color.
Paint the Ceiling
For cutting in around the edges, use an angled brush to create sharp lines. Be careful not to use excess paint during this process as drips and runs will quickly make your paint project look subpar and will not result in the clean look you’d ideally want.
Pour your paint into the paint tray and load your roller with just enough paint to cover the surface. This is key to applying ceiling paint without creating drips all over your floor! Apply the first coat of paint using the “W” pattern, overlapping each stroke to avoid roller marks.
Apply a Second Coat
If the first coat doesn’t provide even coverage, apply more paint to the ceiling with a second coat using the same technique. This will ensure a smooth, professional-looking finish. There may be occasions where three coats are needed to complete the job. Going from a dark paint to a light paint color is a case when a second coat may be needed.
Paint the Walls
Now that your ceiling is done, move on to painting all the walls of your room. You can use the same roller cover and roller tray for the walls. Just be sure to clean them well first if you don’t have another set to work with before changing colors. Work from top to bottom and always maintain a wet edge to avoid streaks or patchiness. Work one wall at a time before moving onto the next wall, as keeping a wet edge on the wall allows the strokes to blend and dry together properly.
For walls, latex paint works well, especially in high-traffic areas like living rooms. If you’re using semi-gloss paint, make sure it’s for areas like trim or doors, while flat paint is great for the entire wall to minimize imperfections.
Clean Up
After you finish painting, remove the painter’s tape carefully to avoid damaging the fresh paint. Use warm soapy water to clean brushes and rollers if you used water-based paint. Store any unused paint in its original paint can to prevent it from drying out between uses.
Final Touches
Once the process is complete (usually after two coats or more), allow the paint to dry, then reinstall the outlet covers and light switch plates.
Bonus Tips for Painting Ceilings:
Use a paint calculator to ensure you have enough paint. Its likely that more than one gallon of paint is needed for a whole room and ceilings can also soak up a lot of paint, especially the flat sheen.
If painting the ceiling the same color as the walls (color drenching), be mindful of how the room’s different lighting will affect its appearance.
For high ceilings, consider using an extendable roller handle for ease and safety.
Hopefully this simple guide gives you the confidence to try your hand at tackling your next paint project like a pro! Whether you’re updating your ceiling or painting an entire room, these tips and painting techniques will help you achieve the clean, fresh look of your dreams.
And click here to read more about our dual home office makeover that we’ve featured on this post!
