I have this itch where I constantly need to update my surroundings. It can be as easy as moving a bookcase to the other side of the room—or as complicated as repainting my bedroom. (Remember the time back in high school when I bedecked my ceiling in Hawaiian print?) There’s just something about a reorganized or freshly painted room that gets to me.
So despite having only painted one ceiling in my life, I have a special interest in the topic, and I’ve recently spent time delving into the process. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
1. Clear the room. Take down curtains and light fixtures—and don’t leave anything to chance. You may think you’re pretty handy with a paintbrush, but mistakes happen. And you wouldn’t want a nice dollop of paint ruining the curtains you spent months scouring the Internet to find.
This is also the time to remove furniture from the room. If anything is too heavy or bulky to move, push it to the center and cover it in an old sheet or drop cloth. And to make sure no cobwebs or dust make it into your fresh coat of paint, take a damp cloth and wipe down the ceiling.
2. Roll out the tape. If the ceiling is a different color than the walls (which this interior decorator and I strongly urge you to consider), you’ll need to tape off the ceiling. Using painter’s masking tape, begin at a corner and carefully place short (for better control) pieces at the top of the wall, overlapping each piece by an inch or two. To finish it off, use a clean putty knife to securely press the tape down.
3. Fill in the corners. Next, grab your paintbrush and get ready to paint. You should have picked up a thick, splatter-resistant paint, like this one from Behr, at the paint store. It’ll help keep your head from looking like a Jackson Pollock painting when all is said and done. Start by painting the corners to make sure they get filled in properly.
4. Paint away. Now break out your roller and get to town. Use the technique detailed in this previous post, always remembering to roll into wet paint and move at the same angle throughout. If your ceiling is textured, be sure to use a roller with a higher nap to get in the nooks and crannies.
5. Peel back the tape. Wait three to four days, and then remove the tape to unveil your masterpiece.
Good luck!
Until Monday,
The Home Know-It-All
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