The ceiling is usually the most exposed part of the room. The walls are interrupted by doors and windows and are often decorated with paintings, photos and other household items. A smooth white ceiling can feel dull after some time. The easiest way to add character to the ceiling, and sometimes radically change the look of a room, is to apply a texture to it. This, on the other hand, can also be a good way to hide flaws.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Room and Paint
Step 1. Protect the walls and furniture
First move all the furniture you can out of the room. Cover the remaining furniture items and the floor with protective sheets. Finally, attach plastic sheets around the perimeter of the ceiling to protect the walls.
Step 2. Repair cracks and defects in the ceiling
You want to make sure the base layer is in perfect condition, so fix the cracks with plaster and make sure the ceiling is as smooth as possible. Cracks can get worse over time and defects will be more visible once the job is done.
Some cracks and defects can be easily fixed, but others can be structural and should be checked by an inspector or contractor
Step 3. Paint a preparatory layer on the ceiling
Paint the ceiling with a first coat of preparatory paint before adding the texture. This helps to completely cover the previous color, but will also make sure that the new paint adheres well to the wall. Use as a base a color that is as similar as possible to the final color.
Step 4. Mix the paint
There are so many ways to add texture to the ceiling. You can buy pre-textured paint (which is likely the easiest option). You can create the texture by adding latex materials or oil paint. Buy a material that was created to texturize paint, such as faux sand, and mix it according to the manufacturer's instructions and your preferences.
Generally you need to mix one part additive with ten parts of paint, roughly one and a half cups of material for every 4 liters of paint
Step 5. Give it a try
Once the paint is mixed properly, you can test it on a small surface to be sure of the texture. Take the test in a corner of the room or in an inconspicuous area. If you are not satisfied, make the necessary changes.
Method 2 of 3: Painting the Ceiling
Step 1. Paint the ceiling
You can use both rollers and a brush. Apply the paint in the shape of a W, X, or N, to make sure you spread it in all directions. Make sure you remove any excess paint from the brush or roller before you start, as otherwise it could fall on you!
If your paint, being too thick, fails to adhere to the roller, you can try putting it on a trowel or similar tool, spread it over the area you want to paint, and then use the roller to smooth it out
Step 2. View and paint the ceiling in sections
Divide the ceiling into sections and complete them one at a time. Painting the ceiling in sections allows you to not forget any areas, organize the work to finish earlier and help keep you motivated.
Step 3. Let it dry completely
When you have painted the entire ceiling, allow it to dry completely before doing anything else (if any changes or additions need to be made). Usually the time needed is a few hours. Adding more paint, texture, or touching too much dry paint will cause it to retract inward and make the ceiling uneven.
Open the windows to make the ceiling dry faster
Method 3 of 3: Create Alternative Textures
Step 1. Texturize the ceiling with a rag
Use paints of slightly different colors and apply them with a rag to give a textured effect to the ceiling. You can also use a sponge to create a different texture.
Step 2. Texturize the ceiling with thick paint
You can mix paint with putty to get the effect of faux plaster. You can buy a mix or use ready-made putty. You will probably need a lot of material, but how much exactly depends on the area you are covering and the thickness you want to give the paint.
Step 3. Texturize the ceiling with a special roller
You can also texturize the paint rollers, so you won't have to add multiple layers. There are usually examples on the packaging of what the final result should be.
Advice
- If you buy pre-textured paint, make sure it's for ceilings. Some are designed to be used on walls only.
- If you want to use some spray to apply the texture, you can buy or rent a machine with this precise function at stores that sell home renovation items.
- You can use the spray to apply the texture if you don't want to touch the ceiling and risk ruining it. Either way, this process is quite confusing.
- When painting the ceiling, be sure to use a large roller to smooth out the texture.
- You can create specific, detailed or repeating patterns by using a stencil and applying the texture with your hands. This method can be tedious and can take a lot of time and effort if you don't have large stencils to cover a large part of the ceiling in one go. You must first attach the stencils to the ceiling with masking tape and wait each time the area dries before removing them to continue the work.
- If you need to cover a very small area or fix a ceiling you've already worked on, think about using spray paint, which is most appropriate for covering or repairing a small area.
