How to Paint a Patched Ceiling

Take down ceiling fixtures such as lamps and fans. Remove as much of the furniture in the room as possible. Rearrange the furniture that you cannot move to allow you to paint in the manner most comfortable for you.

Spread plastic or canvas sheeting -- even old sheets in a pinch -- along the base of the walls to protect your floors and any remaining furniture or appliances. Consider using plastic on the furniture and cloth or canvas on the floors.

Sand over the ceiling with sandpaper, particularly the patched areas, working from medium- to fine-grit. Use a palm or belt sander alternatively, although you must work carefully with a power sander to avoid gouging surfaces. Aim to smooth the patched areas and scuff the existing paint to provide a good surface for the new paint to stick to.

Pour warm water into a bucket and add up to 1/4 cup of bleach. Mix in a few drops of dish soap. Dip a sponge or cloth into the water, wring it out well and wash over the entire ceiling to remove sanding residue, dirt, oil, smoke or other contaminants. This is essential to proper paint adhesion as well as a proper surface texture when complete. Air dry the ceiling thoroughly before proceeding.

Apply a quality primer and sealer to the ceiling using a paint roller; an acrylic or oil-based primer/sealer usually works well, but consult the instructions on both the primer and the paint to ensure compatibility. Cover the entire ceiling with long, wide strokes. Feather the edges by allowing the roller to become fairly dry and running the roller in various directions along the edge of the area you just primed to blend the primer into the unprimed area. This prevents a buildup where the strokes overlap. Allow the primer to dry for the time specified on the product directions.

Cover the entire ceiling with paint using a ladder and a paint roller with 1/4-inch nap for best results. Consider matte emulsion paint for better coverage or mix a texture additive with a latex paint, following product instructions. Either choice will hide the patches and blend the ceiling better than paint alone. Apply the paint with broad strokes, feathering the edges again to avoid overlap. Switch to a paintbrush along the edges of the ceiling to prevent excess paint on the walls. Dry the paint and apply a second coat as desired; two thin coats generally look better and last longer than one thick coat.

Remove the furniture and floor coverings and replace the furniture as appropriate. Clean out your paintbrushes and reinstall light or ceiling fixtures to complete.