How to Crackle Paint a Ceiling

Cover the top foot of your walls with butcher paper. Secure the paper with painter's tape, placing the top of the tape along the very top edge of the wall. Tape off all edges of the paper, including inside corners where the walls meet. Lay down a drop cloth on the floor to protect it.

Stir the paint thoroughly and pour it into a paint tray. Dip a 2-inch brush into the paint, and apply a layer of paint along the perimeter of the ceiling; cover at least 2 inches around the perimeter.

Dip the roller into the paint and begin applying your first paint color to the ceiling. Start in one corner of the ceiling, moving the roller in a W formation. Work in areas no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet, filling in one section completely before moving on to the next. Once the ceiling is entirely covered, let the paint dry per the manufacturer's instructions.

Use a clean brush and roller to apply the crackle glaze to the ceiling. Just as with your first coat of paint, apply glaze with a brush around the perimeter and with a roller on the rest of the ceiling. Always apply the glaze in the same direction, brushing or rolling in a straight line. Keep in mind that the thicker you apply the glaze, the wider your cracks will be. For small crackles, only use a thin coat of glaze. Let the glaze dry for 1 hour.

Add your second color of paint. Use a clean brush around the perimeter and a clean roller to paint the remainder of the ceiling. Do not use a W formation on top of the glaze; apply the paint in the opposite direction as the glaze was applied. The crackles will begin to appear through the top coat.