How to Paint a Ceiling

Paint a Room Like a Pro

Protect the room from paint

Cover anything you don't want to get paint on, such as furniture and the floor. Use a plastic sheet, a canvas drop cloth, or both.

Prep the walls for the new paint

Use a trisodium phosphate cleaner and clean the walls with a sponge to rid it of any dirt.

Don’t run out of paint

One gallon of paint will cover approximately 400 sq ft. Measure the room to figure out how much paint you’ll need for the entire room.

Strain your paint

No one wants to see small chunks or strands of hard paint on their wall. Strain your paint before you begin to prevent this.

Work from the top down

Start by painting the ceiling before moving onto the walls. Finally, finish by painting the trim.