Different Ways to Paint a Ceiling

Preparing the Room

• Before painting, you must prepare the room to make sure your ceiling paint does not end up on the floor, other walls and any furniture in the room. Use drop cloths or plastic tarps to cover the floor and any furniture in the room. Line the edges between the ceiling and the walls with painter's tape to keep the paint on the ceiling. If you do not plan on painting your walls along with the ceiling, attach a plastic drop cloth to the wall with painter's tape as you paint near it to avoid getting paint splatters on the wall. Cover any decorative molding with painter's tape or plastic, as well.

Painting Materials

• You must decide to paint your ceiling with a brush, paint roller or spray gun. Unless you are planning to paint a small area of ceiling, even a large brush may take a long time. You may choose to paint the edges of the ceiling with a small one-inch brush to give you a small border to keep paint away from the walls. If using a roller, choose one with an extension handle to keep from having to stand on a ladder while painting. A thicker roller works better for a ceiling that is already textured. Spray guns are messy, so while this method will cover a ceiling quickly, it should only be used in an unfinished room.

Adding Textures

• Texture adds visual interest to your ceiling and helps hide any imperfections. The most common type of textured ceiling, a popcorn ceiling, may be applied as a spray-on aerosol or by mixing granules with latex paint. Experiment with adding your own textures to the ceiling using unique painting materials such as balled up newspaper, a broom, special brushes or creating different patterns with a roller or brush. Practice painting a large piece of cardboard or wooden board to make sure you have the process down before starting on your ceiling.

Faux Finishes

• A faux finish adds additional decoration to the room. Make your ceiling look more expensive by giving it a faux marble finish or give it sparkle with a metallic finish. Add a stenciled design to the ceiling or hire an artist to paint a mural directly on the ceiling. For an alternative to traditional paint, cover the ceiling with hand-painted wallpaper to give it more depth, texture and visual interest.