How to Use Paint to Make a Slanted Architectural Ceiling

Select a color scheme for the ceiling and surrounding walls. One option is to paint the ceiling and all four walls the same color. The slant of the ceiling accents the ceiling and separates it from the walls. A second option is to paint the ceiling one color and the walls a different color. Some homeowners prefer a third option, which is to accent the high wall where the sloped ceiling is by painting it a different color than the three other walls.

Dust the ceiling with a broom. Knock down all the loose dust and cobwebs prior to painting.

Cover the floor with a painter's tarp. Cover baseboards, door trim and window trim with painter's tape to prevent paint drips.

Cut in the edges between the ceiling and the walls with a 2 1/2- to 3-inch angled brush. Start in the left-hand corner of the highest wall. Secure the paint pail to the ladder with a ladder hook. Dip the paint brush into the pail to cover the bottom 2 inches of the brush. Tap the brush on the interior sides of the pail to prevent paint dripping from the brush when it is removed from the pail. Paint along the ceiling side of the edge of the ceiling and wall, painting the ceiling and not the wall. Cut in about 2 inches so you don't hit the wall when painting the ceiling with the roller. Cut in as much as you can comfortably reach from the ladder. Move the ladder a few feet to the right and continue cutting in. Repeat the procedure until the the edges of the ceiling are completely cut in.

Cut around the light and electrical fixtures. It is nearly impossible to roll around the fixtures without making a mess. If the ceiling has skylight windows in the ceiling, cut around those as well.

Attach the roller to an extension pole. Pour the ceiling paint into a paint tray. Roll the roller back and forth in the tray several times until the roller sleeve is saturated with paint.

Place the roller on the ceiling about 2 to 3 feet from the corner overlapping the cut-in line. Roll the roller left toward the corner until you touch the cut-in line for the adjacent wall and then roll the roller back to the right, going 2 to 3 feet in the opposite direction. Dip the roller in the paint tray again and continue painting the ceiling. Work your way around the room until the ceiling is completely painted.