Do you paint the ceiling or walls first? A colourful guide to the order of painting a room

At splat, we’re no strangers to decorating. From small upcycling hacks like retouching wooden furniture to repainting your entire kitchen – cupboards and all – we’ve got plenty of detailed DIY tricks up our sleeves. But what about the bigger picture, the sequence of painting an entire room? With a big painting project on the horizon like this, it can be daunting to get started, especially when you’re uncertain about whether to paint the ceiling or walls first. Then you’ve got to think about all the extra details like radiators and trim. Sounds like a headache?

Then we have good news! You’re in the right place to learn from the experts. In this guide, we’re going to put all of these worries to bed, and hopefully give you a flying start to your interior renovation by walking you through the process step by step. But first, why does the order matter?

Does the order of painting a room make a difference?

Good question – we’re glad you asked! The order in which you decide to paint a room can have repercussions on your project’s success, from the final look to added strain for whoever’s carrying out the decorating. To put it into perspective, here’s an example:

You’re redoing your living room with a fresh lick of paint on every surface to improve your home’s value before you put it on the market – a crisp new ceiling, complementary trim, and perhaps even a feature wall on one side. If you start with the walls and then move to the ceiling, you’ll likely find yourself dealing with unwanted drips and splatters on your freshly painted walls, leading to additional touch-ups and, of course, frustration.

Alternatively, painting the trim last allows you to cover any accidental wall paint that may have gotten on it, ensuring a cleaner, more precise finish. Opt for a washable, water-based paint and you can easily reduce any tiny marks with a scratchy cloth and some water.

Look at it this way – it’s all about making life easy for yourself.

Factors that influence the process

There are several factors that may determine how you want to approach painting your room. It’s worth getting your head around these to make the process as smooth as possible, so here they are for you to explore.

Painting method

The implements you decide to use when painting may have an effect on which order you want to tackle the job, applying paint to the ceiling or walls first. Generally speaking, a paintbrush is a more controlled tool, while a roller may cause more backsplash. If there’s an area you’re concerned about being particularly messy, it’s best to start with the ceiling and work your way down.

Paint type

In comparison with water-based paints, oil-based products – particularly gloss paints – are prone to making a mess. While you can paint over them, sure, it’s going to be trickier to fix this mistake. Thus, it’s a good idea to work from top to bottom starting at the ceiling. The thinking behind it is that if you do happen to splash paint, it’s more likely to hit something lower than what you’re currently painting while making it easier to keep your lines sharp along woodwork.

Wallpaper

If wallpaper is going to come into the mix, you should always do that last. This is because paint splatters won’t be very kind to your lovely, new wallpaper. Unlike other painted surfaces, you won’t be able to wash it easily and touch things up so quick.

The best order to paint a room according to the experts

So, what’s the proper order to paint a room as recommended by the experts? You might be surprised to hear that while there’s a clear winner, there isn’t a 100% consensus on the matter. Most experienced painters will say that ceiling > walls > trim is the way to go, but sometimes professionals will opt for ceiling > trim > walls as painting the trim before the walls makes it easier to cut in.

Occasionally, you will see painters try a secret third thing – trim > walls > ceiling. This final method is popular among painters who are tasked with getting their lines – i.e., the seams between ceiling and walls – as crisp as possible, especially when working with textured, problem surfaces. Taping off the wall to the ceiling and sealing the tape with your ceiling colour of choice will create wonderfully neat borders.

If you’re a beginner to competent DIYer, we suggest the following order: ceiling > trim >walls. (This is under the assumption you are using a water-based paint). Partially because it’s foolproof and easy to do, and partially because it provides darn good results. Now, let’s get into the details.

Step 1) Get prepping

The first thing you should do before you even think about opening your first tin of paint is getting the prep underway. This means filling in and sealing off any imperfections to your surfaces, be they walls, woodwork or ceiling before sanding them down. Don’t forget to block any stains and get rid of residual dust and debris.

Step 2) Deal with the ceiling first

Painting the ceiling first ensures that any drips or splatters can be covered up when you move on to the walls and trim, and it’s also the most physically taxing bit. Use a roller for large areas and a brush for cutting in around the edges to avoid picture framing, and make sure to keep the walls taped off if they’re going to be a different colour.

Step 3) Next get the base coats on the skirting boards

Apply two base coats to the skirting boards. This will give them a solid foundation and ensure they’re well covered before you finish them off after painting the walls. On the whole, this will help your paint job look neater and more professional.

Step 4) Now paint the walls

Start with a good-quality primer if needed, followed by your chosen paint. Apply in smooth, even strokes, and remember to use a brush for edges and a roller for larger surfaces. Uncertain about how many coats to apply? We’ve written an entire blog on the subject that you can reference, but to put it bluntly, 2 to 3 coats are typically ideal for a durable and vibrant finish when touching up or covering existing colour.

Step 5) Add the final coat to the skirting

After the walls have dried, add the final coat to the skirting boards. This will cover any splashes or marks from painting the walls. As we alluded to earlier, you can always use a scratchy cloth and some mild soapy water to wipe away these splashes.

Step 6) Finally, get to the finishing details like windows & doors

The last step involves painting the details like windows, doors, radiators and other trim. These areas can be done last to ensure a clean and polished look – just remember to tape around them properly and remove any hardware that may get in the way.

Final tips

As you wrap up your painting project, keep these final tips in mind:

• Check for touch-ups: Once everything is dry, inspect the room for any missed spots or drips that need touching up.
• Clean your tools: Clean your brushes, rollers, and other tools promptly, using eco-friendlier alternatives to white spirit.
• Ventilation: Ensure good ventilation as the paint cures to avoid lingering fumes and to help the paint set properly.
• Remove painter’s tape gently: Remove painter’s tape carefully while the paint is still slightly wet to avoid peeling off any paint in an unsightly way.
• Recycle any leftover paint: Either look for a Community Paint scheme near you or give your paint to someone you know would use it. If no one bites, why not use it for an upcycling project.

Time to spring into action

Now you’ve got the full and uncut answer to whether you should paint the ceiling or walls first, all that’s left is to get out there with your paint can and brush.

Remember, the order does make a difference, not just for the final look, but for your sanity throughout the process! By following our steps above, you’ll achieve a room that you can be proud of without too much hassle, despite your DIY skill level. Ready, set, paint!

Ready to try your hand at more painting projects? Then navigate to the main page of our paint and decorating blog – there’s plenty to peruse!