Use a ladder to get close-up for detail work.
Decorative ceilings can feature a texture, pattern, color or scenery. These elements can enhance the overall room design by adding points of aesthetic interest or altering the visual atmosphere, but they can also overpower a room and draw attention away from the rest of the design. To avoid this problem, use a light touch and set tasteful rules based on designs that you enjoy, e.g., remain within the same color family, do not mix decorative texture with pattern or use only matte paint.
Instructions
Texture
1. Put on safety goggles, gloves and a mask.
2. Lay tarps or drop cloths on furniture and over the floor.
3. Tape plastic tarps to windows.
4. Pour powdered texture into a bucket.
5. Mix powdered texture with water in the proportions stated within the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Stir the mixture until well incorporated, allow it to rest for 15 minutes and then stir it again.
7. Scoop the mixture into the hopper of the texture spray gun. Fill the hopper halfway.
8. Hold the spray gun 1 foot to 2 feet your body above your head so that the nozzle of the gun is pointed at the ceiling and the mixture in the hopper is not at risk of spilling.
9. Pull the trigger of the gun and oscillate the gun to coat the ceiling evenly.
10. Scrape overspray off walls as soon as you are finished coating the entire ceiling. Use a narrow trowel to remove the texturizer where the wall meets the ceiling. Wipe off additional residue with a damp sponge.
11. Use a knockdown knife to smooth the textured mixture and create plateaus instead of pointed peaks.
12. Cure for 72 hours or as directed by manufacturer. Use fans and open windows to improve air circulation.
13. Apply one to two coats of paint over the texture, if desired. Some texture powders include pigment and do not require additional coats of paint.
Pattern/Color
14. Wear safety equipment. Put on a breathing mask if you are sensitive to paint fumes.
15. Open the windows and turn on a fan to improve air circulation.
16. Tape off areas of the ceiling to create stripes, circles, rectangles or other patterns.
17.Screw the roller head attachment onto the threaded end of the extension pole.
18. Pour paint into a paint tray and load the brush. Dip the brush into the paint and roll the head against the textured half of the paint tray to remove excess paint. Continue to roll against the texture until the brush makes a tacky sound similar to paper ripping.
19. Hold the extension pole with two hands and press it against the ceiling at a 45-degree angle. Push and pull the pole to move the brush.
20. Use multiple colors to make stripes and designs stand out.
21. Remove tape while paint is still moist.
22. Cure the paint for 72 hours.
Ceiling Mural
23. Select a subject that is suitable for your room; an unrelated mural can appear tacky. Use a neutral subject such as clouds and the sky for more flexibility in room use. The authors of "The Living Age" recommend using a design that can be viewed from any angle, so that any point in the room offers a clear view.
24. Sketch the mural on a sheet of paper that has the same proportions as the ceiling. Invent a scale, such as 1 inch equals 1 foot. Calculate the dimensions of the ceiling space in the smaller proportions. Cut a piece of paper to size. Sketch using only colors and lines that you can replicate on the ceiling with paint.
25. Transfer the design to the ceiling in tape, pencil or chalk; using these temporary materials enables you to erase the guidelines later.
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Paint the ceiling with rollers and brushes, erasing the guidelines as you go.
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Remove tape before the paint dries completely to avoid seepage. Cure for 72 hours.
Stenciling
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Apply a pattern, mural or solid color as a base. Allow the base coat to cure for 72 hours.
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Determine the placement of stencils; images can be randomly scattered, placed at intersections or used to create borders and stripes.
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Spray the back of the stencil with stencil glue and press onto the ceiling. Attach strips of tape to the edge of the stencil for added security.
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Select a color that contrasts with the base coat.
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Mount a ladder with a small container of paint under the area where the stencil is located.
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Fill in stencils with a small foam or bristled brush; a roller could potentially damage the cut-out. Use a dabbing or stroking motion to apply paint.
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Remove the stencil while the paint is still moist.
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Cure for 72 hours. Use a fan and open windows to increase air circulation and decrease the drying time.
Tags: away from, base coat, ceiling with, coats paint, Cure hours