Pro painting tips will usually tell you to follow a certain order when painting a room. They paint the trim first, then the ceiling, then the walls. That's because it's easier (and faster) to tape off the trim than to tape off the walls. And you certainly don't want to tape them both off!
Painting a room in the correct order will also reduce drips and runs. A good rule of thumb is to always start with the ceiling, next the walls and end by painting baseboards, windows and door trim. Tip: Maintain efficiency by getting enough paint.
Can you paint the ceiling and the walls on the same day? If you're painting both the same color, you certainly can. This is especially true when using primer paint. Just make sure you keep a wet edge, don't make these painting mistakes!
From a professional point of view, with interior painting, it makes the most sense to paint your trim first, then ceilings, and then your walls. It's much easier and faster to tape off trim than to tape off your walls.
How many coats of paint do I need? Generally, you will want a minimum of two coats of paint – this is a good rule of thumb for any wall or ceiling you're painting. You'll rarely get a seamless finish from just one coat of paint, and even if you do, coverage isn't the only goal when it comes to painting a room.
Tape the Tops of the Walls
If you're only painting a room's ceiling, mask off the tops of the walls or the crown moulding with 2-inch painter's tape to keep roller marks off the walls. Avoid 1-inch tape, which is not wide enough to prevent the paint roller from touching the wall.
Although a flat finish is most popular, more ceiling paint finishes are available: Eggshell finish: After flat, eggshell finish is the next most popular ceiling paint finish. Eggshell paints offer a low sheen while still absorbing most light and hiding ceiling imperfections.
Although bright white is generally considered the safest choice for ceiling paint colors, it's not your only option. There's a whole kaleidoscope of colors that can work for your ceilings if you're willing to step outside the box. Of course, a refreshingly crisp white is sometimes the best solution.
Evidently, white ceiling paint is everyone's favorite, and for good reason. Certainly, it can illuminate any room. Further, matching your walls to the ceiling creates a cohesive and clean look. At the same time, it can double the size of a room visually.
The bristles should flex only slightly as you brush – don't over press – let the paint flow from the brush. Start at the top and work down, painting with light even strokes, working back into the wet edge.
Painting the wall from left to right is better and easier for a right handed person. Paint the opposite way if you're a lefty. The trick is to start on that side, roll your paint roller up and down once, then move three inches over and repeat until the wall is done.
Two coats of paint ALWAYS looks better and more professional than just one. The best paints sold by top paint vendors recommend a two coat system.
How long does it take to paint a ceiling? It takes, on average, about 30 minutes to paint the ceiling in an average-sized room. This does not include prep work, such as taping off trim, laying drop cloths or moving furniture.
If you're working with another person, the most efficient way to paint the room is one of you cuts in and then the other one rolls out. It is important to remember that you shouldn't let your paint dry after cutting in because rolling out over dry paint may cause the edges to flake.
You probably don't need a primer. If the current wall is smooth, clean and covered with the same type of paint (both are oil-based for example), you can head straight for the paint. You need to fill holes, spackle and sand*, maybe even cut a new piece of drywall in to the existing wall.
In general, brushes are better for painting the edges of your ceiling and around fittings. Rollers, however, are better for quickly filling in large areas of space.
A normal challenge associated with painting ceilings is that the paint will blister or bubble. The issue is a bonding problem between the existing ceiling and the new coating of paint. There are various causes, such as contaminants on the surface or moisture in the surface being painted.