How to Paint a Ceiling with a Color Block Design

Learn how to paint a ceiling with a color block design. I’ve shared how I used a paint sprayer to add color to a ceiling and the top part of the wall.

Do you consider the ceiling a fifth wall? Until about a year ago I never thought I would want to paint a ceiling anything other than white. Since then I’ve noticed more and more painted ceilings and you know what- they are stunning!

My daughters room has had a few different looks. If you’ve been following me on social media you know I’m once again transforming it. She used to have a peel and stick wallpaper accent wall with two twin beds that sat against it.

I loved the look, but she needed more room.

P.S. Head to my YouTube channel for a detailed video where I walk you through how I painted my daughters ceiling with a color block design.

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We removed the twin beds and instead purchased a bunk bed to save space.

I’ve been gathering some painted ceiling inspiration via Pinterest and brainstorming how I wanted the room to look.

Ultimately I decided on creating a painted ceiling with a color block design. When I say color block what I mean is rather than painting the whole wall, only a “block” of it will be painted.

The idea is to paint the entire ceiling and a small portion of the top of the walls. Let me show you a fun picture I found on Pinterest that inspired me.

So where do I start?

Materials to paint a ceiling with a color block design

• paint – I used a Magnolia Home paint in Dutch Tulip in a flat finish
• paint sprayer- I used the Wagner Flexio 5000
• plastic drop cloths
• Frog Tape
• laser level
• Extra paper/drop cloth to cover the wall for overspray

How to paint a ceiling

1. Determine the dimensions of the color block design
2. Remove any fans, AC vent covers, or outlet covers
3. Lay the drop cloths over any furniture
4. Using your laser level, mark where you want the paint to end
5. Apply the Frog Tape on the laser level line
6. Wet a damp washcloth or paper towel and wipe the Frog Tape down
7. Pour paint in the paint sprayer
8. Using the paint sprayer, begin by spraying in long even strokes in the opposite direction of how you look into the room
9. Let the first coat dry and apply the second coat of paint
10. Remove the Frog Tape before the paint is fully dry

Seems fairly easy, right? There are a few tips I want to discuss before we dive into painting a ceiling in more detail.

Tips on painting a ceiling

• Always use a flat paint for a ceiling
• The best tool to paint a ceiling with is a paint sprayer. That being said, if you don’t have one then a roller will work.
• Apply the paint in long even strokes in the opposite direction of how you look into the room. This helps eliminate the look of “brush strokes.”
• Frog tape is the best painters tape to get a smooth, crisp line. Make sure you wet it to activate the bonding technology.
• Make sure to remove the painters tape before the paint dries so it won’t bond to the outside of the painters tape. If it does, use a knife to score it so it won’t pull the paint up when you remove it.

This is the current state of her room now after I applied the Frog Tape.

You can see her room includes a small vanity area that I’m also painting.

Once the Frog Tape was up, everything on the ceiling was down and the furniture was protected, it was time to paint!

Remember to apply a wet washcloth or wet paper towel to the Frog Tape before painting.

Now it’s time to paint!

I chose a color from Magnolia Home called Dutch Tulip (I can’t find this color anymore! I wonder if they stopped making it). It was just enough color to accent the pinks in my daughters room. I felt like it added just enough color without making things look too dark. After all, her ceilings are low so I didn’t want to make the room feel small.

The folks at Wagner were kind enough to send me a sprayer for this job. They gifted me a Wagner Flexio 5000 and it made the job so much easier than having to roll the ceiling with a roller. I would highly recommend using a sprayer to paint a ceiling rather than a roller if you can.

This paint sprayer made the job so much easier!

I sprayed the top of the four walls first before moving to the ceiling. You can see in the picture I used a large piece of paper for the “overspray.” I worked in sections and moved the large piece of paper as I went.

Note; always think about overspray when you are using a sprayer (even a roller too). Obviously I didn’t mind the paint spraying into the ceiling but I wanted to keep a crisp line below the Frog Tape.

After I finished two coats of paint on the top of the four walls, I moved quick to remove the Frog Tape. Like I said earlier, it’s always a good idea to remove painters tape before the paint dries and bonds to it. That’s when you have issues with the paint pulling off the wall.

Look at that crisp clean paint line!

Once I removed the Frog Tape I worked in sections to spray the ceiling.

I ended up applying two coats of paint to the ceiling. The first coat looked streaky but the second looked good.

Ready to see my newly painted color block ceiling?

I love how when you walk into the room your eyes are drawn up to the ceiling!

We moved the fan from our cottage style bedroom into here because it was too small for our bedroom anyway.

I love how the subtle pink color on the ceiling ties in all the other elements in her room. Remember the closet reading nook I created?

My little girls room with pink and green is coming together! I’ve got one more fun project to the wall on the right when you walk in her room.

Lindsey**