A: Painting clouds on a ceiling with sponges is a fun, creative and simple way to make your ceiling pop, whether redoing a kid's bedroom or adding style to your sunroom. First, apply the base color to your ceiling to mimic the sky, like Bluebell SW 6793. Then, use your sponge to apply your desired white cloud color to the shape of clouds. To achieve this look, lightly press the sponge into your paint tray or bucket, then press it against the ceiling like a stamp. We recommend giving the clouds varying asymmetrical shapes to make them look more realistic.
How to Paint a Ceiling
Painting your ceiling is a project that often gets overlooked despite its low cost and ability to deliver transformative results. While completing this task can be slightly messy, the results will have you spending more time admiring the fifth wall in your room - whether you're painting your living room or bathroom ceiling. And you'll be glad to know that you have the friendly experts at Sherwin-Williams to help along the way! We're happy to provide this comprehensive guide outlining how to paint a ceiling, including detailed instructions and insightful tips to keep you on track for beautiful results.
Cost: $
Skill Level: Beginner
Duration: 1 day
STEP 1
Prepare the Room
Like painting a wall, properly preparing your ceiling and room will help ensure results you like. Start by clearing as much furniture from the room as you can. Then, cover the remaining furniture and flooring with plastic sheeting or old blankets to protect them from paint drips or spatter. If you plan to remove the texture from your ceiling, begin that process after you've covered your furniture and floor to simplify clean-up.
Tip: Removing your ceiling fixtures and vents makes it easier to paint your ceiling. However, it is vital to turn off the power to electrical fixtures before detaching them from the ceiling.
STEP 2
Tape the Edges & Cut In
Next, apply painter's tape along the edges of your walls where they meet the ceiling. Then, use an angled bristle brush to paint a 2" to 3" strip around the entire ceiling using Sherwin-Williams Premium Ceiling Paint. Creating this edge will help you avoid getting paint on the walls later. Be sure to start each stroke away from the edge and work towards the tape while feathering the edges.
Tip: If you plan to paint the walls after you've revamped your ceiling, you can skip the taping and paint down the wall a few inches instead. When it's time to paint the walls, you can tape off the ceiling instead.
Tip: We encourage you to use a quality primer for ceilings with water damage or other stains. Consider using Sherwin-Williams Extreme Block Interior/Exterior Stain Blocking Waterbased Primer to prevent imperfections from showing through the final coating.
STEP 3
Paint the Ceiling
While the paint is still wet around the edges of your ceiling, start applying paint to the rest of the surface. We recommend attaching your roller to an extension pole to make this process more manageable without needing a ladder. For the best results, start in a corner and paint straight, overlapping rows until the entire ceiling is covered.
Tip: Use a low-nap roller cover if your ceiling is smooth and untextured. Otherwise, use a higher nap, like 3/4-inch, for textured ceilings. The thicker roller cover will help the paint reach deeper pockets in your textured ceiling, promoting a more uniform finish.
STEP 4
Remove Painter's Tape & Reattach Ceiling Fixtures
Lastly, remove the painter's tape while the paint is still wet to create a crisp, clean border. Then, you can move furniture back into the space and remove drop cloths. After the paint fully dries, you can begin reattaching fixtures and vents. Once this step is complete, you can enjoy the breathtaking look of your freshly painted ceiling and its positive impact on the space overall.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Project Supplies
Paint & Primer
BRUSHES, ROLLERS & FRAMES
FAQs
A: The most common ceiling color is white, which provides a clean and bright look to any room. However, you can also express your creativity by painting your ceiling a bold, unique color. It's helpful to remember that darker colors can make a room feel cozy and warm, while lighter colors can make a room feel taller and more spacious.
A: There are a couple of tricks to reduce paint spatter when painting your ceiling. First, we recommend using a high-quality ceiling paint and primer in one formulated to minimize spattering, like our Premium Ceiling Paint. Secondly, rolling on ceiling paint slowly is best because fast motions can cause the paint to flick off the roller cover.
