How to Paint a Ceiling Like a Pro, and Pick the Color

Painting a ceiling is harder than painting a wall: you're working overhead, drips land on everything, and flaws show in the light from the windows. Here's how professionals get an even ceiling, and how to choose a ceiling color.

Paint the ceiling first

Work from the top down. Paint the ceiling before the walls and trim, so drips and splatter land on surfaces you haven't painted yet.

Prep before you paint

Cover floors and furniture, repair cracks and stains, and prime any patches or water marks. A stain-blocking primer keeps old water stains from bleeding through. See repairing drywall stains and water damage.

Cut in the edges

Use a brush to paint a band along the edges where the ceiling meets the walls before rolling. This gives you a clean line and keeps the roller away from the walls.

Roll in sections, keep a wet edge

Work in sections a few feet wide, rolling back into wet paint so you don't get lap marks. Finish each section with light passes in one direction, ideally toward the main window, so roller marks don't catch the light.

Use the right paint and tools

A flat ceiling paint hides imperfections best. A thicker roller nap helps on textured ceilings. An extension pole saves your back and gives you more even pressure than working from a ladder.

Painting textured and popcorn ceilings

Textured ceilings take more paint and a thicker nap. Popcorn can loosen when it gets wet, so painting it is risky. See can I paint my popcorn ceilings? and painting after popcorn removal.

Choosing a ceiling color

• White and off-white reflect the most light and make a room feel taller.
• A lighter tint of the wall color makes a room feel finished and cohesive.
• Darker colors make a large room or high ceiling feel cozier.
• Soft blues and greens work well on porches and in bedrooms.

Test a color on a large board held up to the ceiling before committing. Ceiling colors look darker overhead than on a paint chip.

Ceiling painting in Orlando

New Ceilings repairs and paints ceilings across Orlando and Central Florida with Sherwin-Williams paint. See interior and exterior painting.