Use tape to achieve the perfect meeting of ceiling and wall paints.
When you put a lot of time and money into your paint job, you want it to look spectacular. Few things can distract from a great paint job like a sloppy line, especially if you have a big color difference between the ceiling and wall color. If you are not very experienced as a painter, using painter's tape is by far the best way to paint the perfect edge between wall and ceiling. If you are comfortable with a paint brush and are feeling confident, you can freehand the job.
Instructions
Painter's Tape Method
1. Pull all the furniture away from the wall. Cover the area with drop cloths.
2. Place tape on the wall at the ceiling joint all the way around the room. Get the tape all the way into the corner, but don't overlap onto the ceiling. You will be aided in this by the ceiling and wall being on different planes.
3. Dip the paintbrush into the paint for your ceiling color. A cup or plastic container big enough for the brush but small enough for your hand is helpful to hold paint. Don't overload the brush; start by submerging about a quarter of the bristles and loading more paint as you become familiar with the brush.
4. Sweep the loaded brush lightly across the ceiling at the joint, back and forth, covering the ceiling from the wall joint to about 3 inches in -- where the roller can cover.
5. Work your way around the room until you reach your starting point, and remove the tape when dry.
6. Roll the ceiling and allow it to dry before continuing with the walls, to avoid spatter.
7. Apply tape to the ceiling in the same way you did to the walls, and use the same technique to apply your wall color.
Freehand Method
8. Pull all the furniture away from the wall. Cover the area with drop cloths.
9. Place the ladder close to the wall where you will begin painting the ceiling, and take a test swipe at the ceiling joint with a dry brush. You want to be at a comfortable angle, with the brush pointed at an upward angle, not horizontal; and you also should be able to clearly see the joint between wall and ceiling.
10. Dip the paintbrush into the paint for your ceiling color. A cup or plastic container big enough for the brush but small enough for your hand is helpful to hold paint. Don't overload the brush.
11. Slowly apply the paint to the ceiling. Start an inch or so from the joint and work your way toward it with your stroke until you are used to the brush. Use the natural angle of the brush's bristles to get into the corner.
12. Work your way around the room until you reach your starting point.
13. Roll the ceiling and allow it to dry before continuing with the walls to avoid spatter.
14. Repeat the process and technique for the walls, this time using the brush with a more horizontal orientation. Keep a damp rag nearby. If you make a mistake and get a little paint on the ceiling, wipe it up quickly so it is unlikely to leave a stain.
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