Step 1 — Clean Ceiling and Walls
Remove dust, dirt, and
grease spots (which can ruin a smooth finish) with water, a little mild
dishwashing detergent, and a cellulose sponge. Rinse ceiling and walls
with clean water to remove the soap residue.
Step 2 — Cut in Around Edges
Beginning
at the corner of the room, use a two-inch or 2.5-inch trim brush to
"cut in," applying a three-inch strip of coating along the perimeter
where the wall and the ceiling meet.
Cut in a section at a time,
alternating between cutting in and painting the ceiling to maintain a
wet edge and prevent a visible line between the cut-in area and the rest
of the ceiling.
Step 3 — Rolling the Ceiling
Before
you begin painting the ceiling, remove excess paint on the roller by
slowly rolling it back and forth over the ridges of the paint tray.
Start
painting near the corner of the room, blending the coating into the
ceiling line painted previously. Paint across the width of the ceiling,
rather than the length, and make sure to roll in a motion across your
body, rather than along your body, to avoid straining your neck and
back.
Step 4 — Painting the Walls
Once your ceiling
is dry, return to the spot where you began painting. Use a trim brush to
carefully cut in along the wall-ceiling line. Extend out two to three
inches from windows, doors, and moldings. Once you've cut in around an
entire wall area, use a roller to fill in the field.
For
efficiency, start in the corner of a wall and roll on a
three-by-three-foot W pattern, then fill it in without lifting the
roller. Continue in sections until you're finished. Paint one wall at a
time.
Step 5 — Painting the Trim
Once the walls are
completely dry, place painter's blue tape where the trim meets the wall.
Paint the moldings, baseboard and the door and window frames with a
two-inch angled brush. When painting your trim, paint the tops of the
doors and windows first and work your way down so that you can remove
any runs as you go. Paint your baseboards last.