How to paint ceilings.
A freshly painted ceiling gives a nice overall impression of a space. Whether it is white or coloured, here are a few helpful tips for painting a ceiling.
A freshly painted ceiling gives a nice overall impression of a space. Whether it is white or coloured, here are a few helpful tips for painting a ceiling.
You will need
Prep supplies (check out our guide How to prep a wall for paint)
A pouch of paint
Brush
Roller with roller sleeve
Paint roller extension (trust us on this one)
Ladder
How to paint a ceiling
1. First things first. You need to prep before you start painting. We recommend you check out our prep guide. Remember to cover the floor so you do not get paint on your floor or carpet. Use sandpaper on bumps and fill in any large holes in the ceiling.
2. Next step is applying masking tape. It is important that you use masking tape to protect key areas. If you are not planning to paint the walls, you first and foremost need to apply masking tape around the edges to protect your trim and/or walls. When applying masking tape start at the corner of the room. Apply your tape by firmly pressing down the edges to ensure a tight seal to prevent any paint from bleeding through. Make sure to apply tape around light fixtures. For more tips and tricks check out our guide on how to use masking tape when painting.
3. Now it is time to paint. We know we already said it, but we cannot stress this enough: Remember to start with the ceiling and then the walls. Begin by grabbing your ladder and brush and start brushing along the edge of the ceiling. Start in the corners. Don’t worry if you get paint on the walls (you are tackling those after the ceiling).
4. Now it is time to switch from your brush to your roller - use the paint roller extension here, it makes the job faster and easier than using a ladder. Work in small sections whilst your brush-painted areas (step 3) are still wet. Start painting in a zig-zag pattern, before painting in the same direction (this helps distribute the paint evenly). If possible, roll towards the light (this could be a window). Do not take your time here. You want to paint the ceiling while the edges are still wet.
Pro tip: A good idea is to separate the ceiling into four sections. Focus on one section at a time so you paint the edges in one section, use your roller, and then paint the edges in another section, use your roller in that section…
5. If you are just going to brush up your white ceiling with another coat of white, one coat will often suffice. If you apply a different colour, we recommend two coats. Allow your first coat to dry for four hours before applying a second coat.
6. Voila! Your ceiling is done! Now, it’s time to work on the walls. Check out our guide How to paint a wall for tips and tricks.
