Remove or cover the furniture. The best strategy is to remove all the furniture to an adjacent room. It is much easier and faster to paint the ceiling in an empty room. Cover the floor with tarps.
Dust the ceiling. Dust prevents paint from securely adhering to the surface. Use a duster or a clean broom to remove the dust.
Prime the ceiling with a primer that is not water based. Fill a paint tray with primer. Place the roller on an extension pole. Dip the roller in the primer and roll it in the tray to smooth the paint out evenly on the roller. Start in one corner of the ceiling and slowly work your way across the ceiling with the roller. Leave a 1/2-inch space between the ceiling and the wall. Keep the roller saturated with primer. Check for heavy spots and missed spots. Cut the edges in with a brush once the ceiling has been rolled.
Allow the primed coat to dry thoroughly. It helps to turn on a couple of fans and aim them at the ceiling. Inspect the walls for any drips and clean them with paint thinner and a rag.
Paint the ceiling. Pour the paint into a clean paint tray. Place a clean roller on the extension pole. Repeat the process used for priming the ceiling. Overlap the paint lines and keep a wet edge. Inspect the ceiling as you go, checking for missed and heavy spots. Once the ceiling has been rolled, cut in the edges with a brush. Allow time to dry.
Apply a second coat.