The ceiling often takes a back seat when it comes to home decor, but that doesn’t mean this overlooked area can’t be made to feel brighter, bigger or cozier – depending on the color you choose. If you’re thinking of adding a pop of color to your ceiling, be sure you take the time to properly prep before you start. To help, we spoke to a few professional ceiling painters for tips and tricks on painting the perfect room.
Do professional painters prep walls?
The first thing to do before you start is clear the room of any furniture, cover floors with a drop cloth and mask the walls where they meet the ceiling with painter’s tape. It’s also a good idea to open any windows for ventilation. Next, grab your supplies. VP of Marketing for Sherwin-Williams Jeff Winters recommends getting a canvas drop cloth with a rubber backing, which allows the paint to soak in so you won’t track it on your floor. You’ll also want to have a roller frame and a handheld brush to get into tight ceiling corners where your roller won’t reach.
To speed up the process, it’s a good idea to have two people work together: one person can cut in the edges and around fixtures while the other paints with a roller. This method is faster and will make the painting go much quicker.
Another trick to speeding things up is to use an extension pole on your roller. This is a long handle that screws into your paint roller and allows you to paint without having to get off and on the ladder all the time. If you don’t have one of these, a broom handle will work just as well.