HOW TO PAINT A CEILING

When decorating a room, painting the ceiling should ideally be the first job you do,
so the paint does not drip onto other surfaces.

Before you start

To get started, cover the floor with a dustsheet and remove all furniture or place it in the middle of the room.

Whilst a brilliant bright white can give the illusion of taller walls, a darker ceiling can make a room feel cosy and inviting. Perfect for lounges and bedrooms.

Sand any rough bits until you’re left with a smooth surface. Skip this step if you've got an Artex ceiling.

Mask the edges and around any fixtures such as lights or alarms. Prep this the night before if you want a head start.

Cutting In

Cut in around the edges of the ceiling and around any fixtures - cutting in is where use a paint brush to paint areas that are too tight for rollers (such as at corners or the trim). This part needs precision, so take your time to get a nice clean finish. As you don't need to load up your brush, try tipping a little paint into a small container to prevent it from dripping. Cut in at the edges using a 2 inch brush. Use the brush on its edge and work in long sweeping movements.

Rolling

After you have cut in, finish the job with a roller attached to an extension pole, dampen the roller first to help it pick up the paint. Start in one corner, applying with a W motion. Work in square sections across the ceiling, overlapping each one by a third. Apply your first coat and let it dry for about 4-6 hours, make sure you open windows and doors to keep the room well ventilated.

Apply a second coat of paint. Let it dry and remove all the masking tape.