Home Home Improvement Painting How to Paint a Ceiling in Quick and Easy Steps Our ceiling painting guide includes when to do it and what tools to use. By Katie Holdefehr Katie Holdefehr Katie Holdefehr is the associate editorial director at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 07, 2023 Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Close Photo: Getty Images If the mere thought of painting a ceiling makes your neck hurt, we hear you. But this step is necessary to make a freshly painted room look complete. To ensure the process is as easy and pain-free as possible, follow these tips to finish the job quickly and efficiently. From starting with the correct supplies—a sturdy ladder is a must—to adopting the best technique, here's how to paint a ceiling the right way. Considerations Before You Get Started One question everyone asks: Should you paint the walls or ceiling first? If you're planning to paint the entire room, start with the ceiling. That way, you won't have to worry about splatters from the roller getting onto the walls—it will all get touched up once the walls are painted. The one caveat: If you're painting the ceiling a dramatic contrasting color to the walls, you'll want to tape off any molding and be careful not to get paint on the walls. Should You Paint Your Ceiling and Walls the Same Color? What You'll Need Equipment / Tools 2- to 3-inch paintbrush 3/4-inch nap roller Roller extension pole Ladder Materials Painter's tape Plastic tarp Small bucket Paint tray Ceiling Paint Instructions Steps to Paint a Ceiling Apply Painter's Tape Getty Images If you're only painting the ceiling, start by taping off the edge of the wall or crown molding. Use a wider painter's tape to get the roller close to the corner without getting paint on the wall. This allows you to be less precise, so you can work faster.Tape around any light fixtures or vents and cover ceiling fans. Cover Everything Getty Images Sometimes, what slows down a paint project isn't the painting itself but the cleanup afterward. Save yourself the headache by removing as much furniture as possible from the room and covering anything with plastic tarps. Paint the Perimeter Getty Images Like painting a wall, you'll want to start by "cutting in" or using a paintbrush to paint around the perimeter of the ceiling. Using a 2- to 3-inch brush, start at the edge of the ceiling and paint into the ceiling a few inches.Feather the strokes so the edge will blend in seamlessly once you use a roller to paint the rest of the ceiling.If you plan to paint the ceiling and the walls, skip the painter's tape and cut in on the ceiling and the wall as you work around the room's perimeter. To make cutting in easier, make sure you're using the appropriate ladder for the ceiling height. Straining to reach is not only dangerous, but it will likely result in sore muscles the next day. Pour some paint into a small bucket to keep at the top of the ladder rather than attempting to bring the heavy can, which could cause disaster if it spills. If you have particularly high ceilings you can't comfortably reach with a ladder, it may be time to hire a professional painter. Choose a Roller duh84/Getty Images For smooth ceilings, a low-nap roller works well; for textured ceilings, try a 3/4-inch nap roller. When shopping for supplies, keep the ceiling height in mind and get the shortest roller extension pole to reach you comfortably. Getting too long of an extension pole means you'll be carrying more weight than is necessary. Roll On the Paint eyecrave / Getty Images Roll into the paint, and then use the textured side of the paint tray to roll off any excess. It may seem that more paint would help get the job done faster, but it will cause more drips and splatters. Roll on the paint with overlapping strokes to create a smooth, uniform surface starting in one corner of the ceiling. Allow to Dry Once the entire ceiling is done, allow the paint to dry for 30 minutes. Then check if the surface needs any touchups. If the ceiling needs a second coat, wait until the first coat is completely dry. With latex paint, that means waiting between 1 - 4 hours before applying the second coat. Clean Up Painting a ceiling may require more post-project cleaning than painting a wall (ceiling paint may cause more drips and splatters), but many steps are the same. Minimize clean-up efforts by prepping properly. At a minimum, move out as much furniture as possible and use drop cloths. Rinse out rollers and brushes. Wipe down any splatters on ceiling fixtures and ladders. Remove drop cloths and inspect for additional splatter marks that need to be cleaned. Buff out marks on walls and flooring (and take additional steps to clean any paint out of a carpet). Open windows in the room for additional ventilation for at least a few hours. Frequently Asked Questions Can I use wall paint to paint the ceiling? Most paint brands specially formulate ceiling paint with a flat finish to minimize light reflections and imperfections. Another benefit of ceiling paint is that many formulas are more splatter-resistant than wall paints, which will minimize clean-up. However, you could use a flat wall paint if that's what you have on hand. Should I paint my ceiling and walls the same color? Whether or not you paint your ceiling and walls the same color depends on your personal preference. Experts suggest that a lighter ceiling brightens up a room. On the other hand, a matching hue can create a dramatic effect, especially when that color is dark and moody. Lighten the wall color by 50% and use a flat finish for the best results when painting a ceiling the same color. How do you avoid a streaky-looking ceiling? Always paint over a wet edge to avoid a streaky ceiling where you can see roller marks. This means that when rolling, you must work quickly so that each roll goes over paint that is still wet. If you paint over a newly dried section, you risk streaks.Make sure your first coat is completely dry before doing a second coat, then cover the entire surface again. Large areas of touch-ups are not recommended for a second coat.Also, check that your roller is fully loaded with paint because a roller that's too low on paint can cause streaking. But roll off any excess because too much paint can cause splatters. 14 Creative Crown Molding Ideas to Add More Charm to Your Home