Painting Ceilings Without a Sore Neck (or Drips in Your Hair)

Ceilings are the hardest part of painting a room for most beginners. These tips make it much easier.

1. Paint the ceiling first. Drips and splatters land on walls you haven't painted yet.
2. Use an extension pole. Stand on the floor, not a ladder, and roll with steady, even pressure. Your neck and shoulders will thank you.
3. Choose flat ceiling paint. We recommend Behr's ceiling paint. It hides imperfections and reduces glare. Some ceiling paints go on tinted and dry white so you can see missed spots.
4. Cut in first. Brush a band around the edges where the ceiling meets the walls.
5. Load less paint. A slightly lighter load on your roller means fewer drips.
6. Work in small sections. Roll areas about 3 x 3 feet, keeping a wet edge as you go.
7. Protect yourself. Wear a hat and safety glasses. Paint in your eyes is no fun.
8. Check your work with light. Shine a work lamp at an angle to spot thin areas before the paint dries.

Bottom line: Ceiling first, pole in hand, light load, small sections.

← More painting tips  ·  Interior painting  ·  Exterior painting