by Joe Symmes

Created on: August 03, 2011   Last Updated: December 10, 2011

Want to make make a dull room feel brighter and more open?  Ever wish for a bigger space but didn't want the expense of a remodel?  A lighter look and a spacious feel may be easier than you think.  The answer is ceiling paint!

But what if you have a textured ceiling?  Doesn't this prevent you from being able to paint overhead?  No, not if you follow a few simple steps to ensure top quality results.  You'll need to pick a color, gather the paint and materials, prepare the room, then apply the primer and paint and your done.

• Color

First decide what color will work best for your space.  Generally ceilings are white or very light pastel colors.  Don't be afraid to try something like a light blue to replicate a serene summer sky.  This can have a calming effect and works especially well on a porch.  The truly adventurous can even add clouds for authenticity.  Sponges work best for replicating cloud formations.

• Materials

Along with traditional painting necessities like painter's tape, brushes, stir sticks, and drop cloths, you will need a ladder/step stool that will allow you to reach the ceiling.  A long handled brush and paint roller will also save you a great deal of time and effort.  The more textured your ceiling, the longer the nap you will want in your paint roller.  Finally, you'll need a small bucket and roller pan that you can use to dip your brush or roller.

• Preparation

As with any painting job, preparing your work area is the single most important step.  First remove easily relocatable furniture.  Pull any furniture that remains away from the walls slightly; this will make covering the remaining items with drop cloths much easier.  If there are any overhead fans, either remove the whole unit or at least the blades.  Now go through and thoroughly tape off all air ducts, trim pieces, fire sprinklers, and anything else that may get painted inadvertently.  Finally, open, stir, and pour your primer or paint into a small bucket that you can use to dip your brush.  Not only should you never dip directly out of the paint can because of possible contamination, but the smaller bucket will be much easier to move about the room.

• Painting

The first items to paint are the tricky areas around the anything you tapped off.  First use a paint brush to ensure a wide enough zone around each obstruction has been painted

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