These tips are applicable to any ceiling that you intend to paint. Painting a ceiling can be a tough job, much more so than painting walls. It takes a good deal of both time and stamina.
Painting over your head will likely leave you sore, even if you’re in pretty good shape, so instead, try using a paint roller with an extension for as much of the area as possible. You won’t have so far to reach and your arms and shoulders won’t be as sore.
Another piece of good advice is to take a break in between sections. Looking up for long periods of time can give you a really stiff neck. Ask your spouse, or whoever else is helping you improve the space, if he or she will switch jobs with you and work on the ceiling for a while. If you’re working by yourself, stop and rest for a few minutes between sections and massage your neck a bit.
Be sure to cover any furniture, accessories, or flooring that needs to be protected before beginning. Painting a ceiling can create a lot of spatter. To keep spatter to a minimum, don’t load the roller too heavily or apply too much pressure when rolling.
Still, it is a good idea to wear a cap or bandana over your head, and to use protective eyewear. Wear work clothes or and shoes (or something that you don’t mind getting paint on), because no matter how careful you are, you are bound to end up with some paint on you.
As with any painting project, fumes can become a problem, so make sure the area you are working in is ventilated or wear a mask while painting. Even opening a window and placing a small fan in the window to draw the paint fumes outside will help. Also note that water-based paints do not usually have as strong fumes as oil-based paints, so use the former where possible. If you still feel like the fumes are too strong, try opening all windows and doors and turning on more than one fan. Even if it’s cool outside, take a few minutes to air out the space every so often so you are not overwhelmed by fumes.