An Easier Way to Paint the Ceiling

Most people don’t like to paint and painting the ceiling is the most dreaded job of all. While you may think that your ceiling looks fine as is, if you are going to repaint the walls, it may be well worth the time, effort and expense of painting the ceiling as well. The ceiling may be dingier than you realize and once it’s seen against a new wall color, it may look even worse. Painting the ceiling does not have to be a back-breaking ordeal; try these tips to make it easy on yourself.

Skip the Ladder

Painting the ceiling from a ladder is just a back ache waiting to happen. Your back, shoulders, arms and neck will be sore and stiff in no time and your legs get worn out from going up and down the ladder to reposition it and reload the roller with paint. Then there is the danger of falling off the ladder, injuring yourself and making a major mess. A better way to paint the ceiling is to attach an extension pole to the paint roller and work safely and more comfortably from the floor. While you can purchase an extension pole at any hardware or home improvement store, you can also substitute any broom handle that has screw threads.

Consider a Paint Sprayer

In many cases, a ceiling is an ideal application for paint sprayer because there is enough surface area to accommodate the overspray that typically occurs with sprayers. Paint sprayers cost more than a roller kit, but do the job much faster and easier. Sprayers are particularly useful when you plan to also paint the walls because if you should spray some of the ceiling color on the wall, you’ll be painting over it. They’re also a good choice if you are painting the ceiling and wall the same color.

The only drawback to a sprayer is that everything that is not to be painted must be covered, such as the light fixtures, electrical outlets and windows, or you risk damaging them with paint. Of course, even with a roller, it’s essential to protect flooring and remove and furniture, accessories and wall decor before painting.

Tips, Techniques and Style

There are few tips and techniques to consider before you paint your ceiling. Most people opt to paint their ceiling white or off-white which generally makes the ceiling seem higher. However, if your walls are painted in a dark color, a white ceiling can make them seem even darker; one way around this is to add a few drops of the wall color to light colored ceiling paint.

To make a ceiling feel even taller, designers use the following technique. Take the ceiling paint down the wall about one foot below the ceiling all the way around the room; this creates the illusion of a taller ceiling.

You can also use the ceiling to make a style statement in a room. For example, paint it to look like blue sky and fluffy clouds; this is a great effect in a kid’s room. Or use faux painting techniques to give your ceiling a marbleized effect. Any faux technique use on walls, like sponging or ragging, can be done on a ceiling to give a room unique appeal.

Photo credit to jdigger.