Should I paint the ceiling or walls first?

Author: Maybelle Paucek  |  Last update: Thursday, April 10, 2025

Start with the ceiling We recommend you start your decorating project at the top and work your way down. Taking this approach will allow you to avoid dripping any paint onto freshly painted areas. Before you start painting, clean your ceiling, fill any holes or cracks and sand it.

What is the correct order to paint a room?

What is the correct order to paint a room? When painting a room, I recommend starting with the ceiling, followed by baseboard and window trim, and finishing with the walls. This sequence allows for less precision with ceiling and trim paint, as any imperfections can be covered when cutting in with the wall paint.

What is the trick to painting ceilings?

Go heavy on the paint to help keep a wet edge. Ceilings are much hotter than walls and the paint dries faster. Make sure you are laying out your paint. After you get the paint on the ceiling, finish all over your strokes in the same direction. The stippling needs to go in the same direction or you will get shadows.

Can you paint ceiling and walls the same day?

Yes you can paint the ceiling and walls at the same time but make sure that the ceiling painting is completed before you paint the walls. This is because when you paint the ceiling, paint tends to bleed from the top edges. So when you are doing wall painting, these bleeds/stains get covered under 2 coats of paints.

Can I paint a ceiling after walls?

When painting a room, it's usually better to start with the ceiling. By painting the ceiling first, you prevent drips and splatters on the freshly painted walls below. Once the ceiling is done, proceed to paint the walls. This approach creates a neater finish and minimizes the need for touch-ups.

What Should You Paint First? DIY Painting Ceiling, Walls, Or Trim?

Should the ceiling be painted before the walls?

1. Start with the ceiling. We recommend you start your decorating project at the top and work your way down. Taking this approach will allow you to avoid dripping any paint onto freshly painted areas.

Is it better to roll or spray paint walls?

Ultimately, the decision between using a sprayer vs rolling paint for your next project depends on your preferences and goals for the job. If speed and efficiency are your top priorities then spraying may be the better option; however, if you're looking for a more precise finish then rolling is the way to go.

Do professional painters paint the ceiling or walls first?

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.

How many coats of paint should you put on a ceiling?

We recommend using only the highest quality paint for your ceiling if you want to avoid the most headaches as possible. We like to use Benjamin Moore Ceiling paint because of its quality and the fact that you'll only need one coat of paint. After you apply your primer, you only need one coat of paint.

Do you roll or cut in first when painting?

Always cut in first then continue painting with a roller. Cut in and paint with a roller one wall at a time. If you cut in all areas first and then roll the entire room, the paint that was applied when cutting in will have dried quicker and you will be left with a patchy, uneven finish.

What not to do when painting a ceiling?

Ceiling painting mistakes to avoid
  1. Leaving it 'til last. ...
  2. Neglecting to prep the space. ...
  3. Skimping on paint. ...
  4. Picking the wrong finish. ...
  5. Skipping out on drop sheets. ...
  6. Forgetting to remove light fittings. ...
  7. Painting in the wrong direction. ...
  8. Not taking breaks.

Is it better to paint a ceiling with brush or roller?

Paint rollers are very popular, especially when painting large areas of space like walls or ceilings. They are much quicker to use than brushes, covering the area in a fraction of the time. Plus, when used properly can create a smooth, even finish.

What is the best tool to paint a ceiling?

The best way to paint a ceiling is to use a paint roller and work in grid-like sections of 3 square feet to 5 square feet each. This helps keep edges wet and allows you to see your progress to ensure an even coat. For smooth ceilings, use a low nap roller.

Can you cut in one day and paint the next?

Cut-in and painting on the same day are recommended for the best results.

How much does it cost to paint the interior of a 1500 square foot house?

The cost to paint a 1,500 square-foot double-story home will average between $6,000 to $21,000 depending on the size of all floors. The price may vary if your 2nd floor is smaller than the ground floor.

What order do you paint ceilings?

From Ceiling to Wall Painting - Decorating in the Right Order
  1. Step one: start with ceiling paint.
  2. Step two: wall painting.
  3. Step three: windows, doors and skirting board paint. The last steps in your guide to decorating include the windows, door frames and skirting boards.

Which direction do you roll ceiling paint?

When painting smooth ceilings, the best strategy is to roll parallel with the main source of natural light, such as a big window, as it helps prevent roller lines. If you roll perpendicular to the dominant light source, the roller lines can form a slight shadow. The same applies when spraying.

Can I paint 2 coats of paint a day?

Semi-gloss: It takes roughly 1 hour to dry and 2 hours before applying the second coat. Matte Paint: 30 minutes to an hour for drying and 1-2 hours before applying the second coat. Eggshell paint: 1 hour to dry and 2 hours before applying the second coat.

What happens if you don't paint over primer?

Unlike paint, primer does not contain the same level of binders, pigments, and additives that help create a durable, moisture-resistant barrier. So unpainted primer can be damaged by water, UV rays, and other environmental factors. This could eventually cause it to crack, peel, and possibly harm the surface underneath.

Why paint ceiling before walls?

To avoid paint splatters on your walls, it's better to paint the ceiling before the walls. Begin by using a 2 ½ in. angled brush to "cut in" the edge of the ceiling surrounding the room. Then, use a ⅜" nap roller to paint the rest of the ceiling, rolling in a single direction.

In what order should I paint a room?

Dr Dulux: What order to paint a room in
  1. Ceilings. Once any repairs you've made are dried and smooth, you're ready to paint. ...
  2. Walls. ...
  3. Windows and doors. ...
  4. Skirting.

Can you let cut-in paint dry before rolling?

If you leave the cutting in to dry before you roll the paint on the surface, you could end up with an uneven finish. To solve this problem, I'd recommend completing the cutting in one section at a time. This way, you can roll your surface while the cutting in is still wet, ensuring it blends well.

Do you waste more paint with a sprayer?

Paint sprayers generally consume 30% more paint than traditional brushing or rolling methods, with some of that paint being lost to over-spray or remaining in the hose.

Is it better to roll paint on a ceiling or spray paint onto a ceiling?

Rolled paint goes down thick on the initial coat and bonds better to the surface. The tiny paint droplets produced by spraying do not connect with each other as well as rolled on paint. Professional painters have a clever technique that combines the best of spraying and rolling: back rolling.

Why backroll after spraying?

Back-rolling right after spraying works the coating into the surface more efficiently than spraying alone, promoting better adhesion between the coating and the substrate (which is most often drywall when working on residential interiors).

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