Many people ignore their ceiling when decorating their home and almost pretend that their plain white ceiling doesn't exist.
Interior designers refer to the ceiling as the 5th wall because it is just as important as the other 4 walls.
You might also like the article Ceiling Paint Color Ideas.
If you are interested in painting your ceiling, follow the steps below.
Painting a ceiling may seem like a daunting task, but it is only a tiny bit more difficult than painting a wall - it just requires more preparation.
Special Equipment
You may need special equipment in order to reach the ceiling.
You will most likely need an extension for your paint roller, which is like a broom handle that screws into the paint roller handle (some are telescoping, which is convenient).
For a lower ceiling, you can use a step ladder or sturdy chair. For average ceilings, you will need a traditional step ladder.
For very tall ceilings, you will need an extension ladder.
If you have a very tall ceiling and have to paint around things in the center of your ceiling, you will need scaffolding.
If you are painting a large area, you might want to rent a scissor lift to make the process faster, easier, and safer.
You might also want to wear something on your head so you don't get paint drips in your hair (since paint is not easy to remove from hair).
Prepare Your Floor and Walls
If your ceiling paint drips, it will drip down on the floor and maybe the walls, so every inch of floor space must be covered and anything protruding from the walls must be removed or covered (wall sconces, art, etc).
Larger pieces of furniture can stay in the room as long as they are covered by a drop cloth, but make sure they will allow your ladder access to reach all parts of the ceiling.
If you can't remove the larger pieces of furniture, try to push them towards the center of the room so you can access the edge of the ceiling with a paint brush.
You may wish to use painter's tape to stick the drop cloth to the wall to ensure it does not shift while painting.
Clean
Check your ceiling for any cob webs, insects, dirt, whatever stuff the kids put up there, and dust.
You can clean your ceiling with a vacuum, feather duster, dust cloth, and a bit of soap and water if necessary (but not too much water).
CAUTION......if you have a popcorn ceiling, it might contain asbestos (which has been linked to cancer), so make sure you don't disturb it. Use caution when working your ceiling so that the popcorn is not damaged. You might want to wear a dust mask to be extra careful.
Make sure your ceiling is completely dry before proceeding to the next step.
Repair
If you noticed any cracks or holes in your ceiling when cleaning it, now is the time to repair them before you start painting.
You can use drywall compound or spackling #ad to fill cracks. Some spackling is pink that dries to a white color so you know when it is dry.
Since these fillers often shrink when they dry, you might need more than one coat.
You might need to lightly sand the area once dry to make it look like the rest of your ceiling.
Follow the manufacturer's directions on the particular drywall compound or spackle that you purchase.
Painter's Tape
Use painter's tape to tape off the top of the walls so that your ceiling paint does not get on your walls.
See the article Painter's Tape Tips & Tricks: Achieve Flawless Lines in Your Next Painting Project for more information on using painter's tape effectively.
If you are planning on painting the walls a similar color after you have painted the ceiling, this step can be skipped.
Prime
If your ceiling has never been painted, using a primer is necessary else the fresh drywall and texture will absorb your paint and not give you a consistent look. Primer seals the drywall and texture so that paint can be applied smoothly over a uniform surface.
If you are painting the ceiling a much lighter color or a much darker color than it currently is, primer is necessary.
If your ceiling has a stain, perhaps a stain from a water leak, you will need to use a primer so that the stain does not bleed through your finish coat of paint.
If you are painting the ceiling a similar color and the current paint job is in good condition, you can skip the primer step or use a paint with primer added.
To prime the ceiling, start by using a roller to roll on primer to as many parts of the ceiling as possible.
You may want to add an extension pole to your paint roller to allow you to have more reach (but it adds a little weight to the paint roller).
Do not put too much paint on the roller else you will end up with paint dripping on your head.
Use a wet cloth to remove any paint that drips as soon as possible.
Make sure you do not paint smoke detectors else they may not function properly.
After the paint has been rolled on, use a paint brush to cut in the remaining sections around the perimeter of the room and around light fixtures, air vents, and other items that will not be painted.
Paint
After your primer has completely dried, it is time to apply your paint.
Make sure to purchase the highest quality of paint that is within your budget. Higher quality paint tends to easier to clean, more durable, not fade as much as cheaper paints, hide stains better, and usually require fewer coats that cheaper paint.
Be very cautious of paint stores that claim to be able to color match another manufacturer's paint color. They can often get close, but not exact.
Most people prefer to use a flat sheen paint on the ceilings because it hides imperfections better than glossier paint.
Using the same technique as above, apply your paint to the ceiling by rolling then brushing around the edges..
You may need to apply more than one coat to get your desired richness of color and to ensure that the paint has a consistent color.
Remove your painter's tape before the paint has completely dried for easier removal. If the painter's tape is starting to take the paint off your ceiling, you might want to use a utility knife to score the line between the tape and the wall.
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