One of the big downsides of decorating has to be how sneaky paint can be. Just when you think you've covered everything, a stray droplet can ruin your new carpet or furniture. Not ideal. The best ceiling paints will deliver drip-free results, so you can decorate with confidence.
Painting a ceiling is an overlooked task when it comes to home improvements, and that's because general advice recommends that you repaint every ten years. However, many homeowners will know that ten years is much too long to wait.
Related: How to choose the best paint for your walls at home
Anytime you get the roller out to give your walls a new lick of paint, you need to refresh the ceiling as well. That's because ceilings discolour from your environment - this can be caused by dust, the sun and even candles.
If you're considering picking up the paintbrush but don't know where to start, then follow our guide to the best ceiling paint for your home improvement project.
Best ceiling paint shortlist:
• Best ceiling paint to hide imperfections: Johnstone's Matt Emulsion Paint
• Best ceiling paint for cracks: Polycell Crack free White Matt Emulsion paint
• Best fast drying ceiling paint: Dulux Silk Emulsion Paint for Walls and Ceilings
• Best anti-mould ceiling paint: Dryzone Anti Mould Paint
• Best scuff resistant ceiling paint: Wilko Durable Brilliant White
• Best colour ceiling paint: The Little Greene Paint Company Intelligent Matt Emulsion
• Best budget-friendly ceiling paint: Crown Matt Emulsion Paint
Check out the best ceiling paint now:
Best ceiling paint
1 of 7Johnstone's Matt Emulsion Paint
Pure brilliant by name, purely brilliant by nature. This ceiling paint has thousands of reviews for a reason - it's good value for money, has a low odour and it dries quickly. What more could you want? Size: 2.5LReasons to buy:• Hardwearing• Good coverage• Available in a range of colours**Verdict:**This ticks all of our boxes when it comes to giving the ceiling a bit of a lift. It's one of those jobs you never want to do, but this paint makes it easier. We'd recommend not applying too much, as it and can end up looking patchy.
£17.70
2 of 7Polycell Crack-free White Matt Emulsion paint
There's nothing more frustrating than taking hours out of your day to paint your ceiling, only to realise the paint has cracked, right? You'll never have to experience this again thanks to Polycell Crack-free White Matt Emulsion paint.Size: 2.5LReasons to buy:• Excellent crack coverage• Easy to use **Verdict:**This paint is so good that it's comparable to getting plastering done on your ceiling. Now, that's what we call an impressive paint job.
3 of 7Dulux Silk Emulsion Paint for Walls and Ceilings
Want to get your first and second coat of ceiling paint done and dusted in a day? The super-fast drying time means that you don't have to wait a couple of days – just hours. Size: 5LReasons to buy:• Silk finish• Long-lasting paint• Chromalock technology creates an invisible protective barrier**Verdict:**It's clear that we love this paint for its time saver benefits, but we also like that the incredible features don't stop there. Did you know that this paint won't drip or run? Plus, it's great value for money, too.
4 of 7Dryzone Anti Mould Paint
We've only gone and found the best ceiling paint for bathrooms. The high-quality paint has mould-resistant qualities, which are perfect for any areas in your home that are likely to experience condensation.Size: 1LReasons to buy:• Low odour• Reduces mould growth• Fast drying**Verdict:**Yes, this effective against condensation, but it is expensive and you don't get a lot in a tin. That said, the benefits make it worth it, if you have mould.
5 of 7Wilko Durable Brilliant White
When it comes to painting, especially ceiling painting, you want great value for money, good coverage and quick-drying capabilities. Thankfully, this number from Wilko does the lot. Size: 2.5LReason to buy:• Washable• Hard-wearing• Quick-drying**Verdict:**Gold stars all around from our shopping experts. If you're passionate about DIY, then this is the paint for you. Big bonus that it can be used on walls, wood and metal, as well as ceilings.
6 of 7The Little Greene Paint Company Intelligent Matt Emulsion, Mid Blues, Bone China Blue
Take a risk and ditch the white emulsion for some coloured paint like this grey shade from John Lewis. A bold ceiling is a fun way to transform a space and when it's done well, it looks mega chic. Size: 2.5 or 5LReasons to buy:• Lots of incredible colours to choose from• It's a fun and bold change• Can purchase tester pots**Verdict:**This is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but if you see DIY and interior design as self expression, you can have some fun here.
7 of 7Crown Matt Emulsion Paint
There's nothing worse than starting a job and being unable to finish it because you run out of paint. However, this is something you'll never have to fear with the Crown Matt Emulsion Paint because there's plenty of it to go around. Size: 10LReasons to buy:• Matt finish• Two hour drying time• Good size**Verdict:**Well, this paint does what it says on the tin - it's a brilliant matt emulsion. It gets five out of five stars from us.
How we chose the best ceiling paint:
All of these paints have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching the best ceiling paint, so you can choose the best one. We'd never recommend a product we don't believe in. Find out why you should trust us here.
But, we didn't stop there... We enlisted the help of Frenchic Furniture Paint's brand ambassador, Craig Phillips, to help answer some questions when it comes to re-decorating.
How to prep a room before painting a ceiling:
Craig Phillips says, "Painting a ceiling can be a tricky job, therefore preparation is key. Like with any DIY project, prepping efficiently will often make the job a lot easier, quicker and give you an overall better finish.
- Remove as much furniture as possible from the room or move it to the centre of the room and cover it with dust sheets. Make sure that you protect all flooring with dust sheets; you can buy disposable dustsheets made from thin plastic if you don’t have any old material you can use. It's also a good idea to stick these sheets down with masking tape, as they are easy to trip over.
- Wash down the surface with Frenchic’s sugar soap to remove all grime, dust and debris. Inspect the ceiling for cracks, holes and any loose plaster that may need attention before you start painting.
- Repair any imperfections on the ceiling using a suitable filler. Take your time preparing the ceiling, leaving any filler you've applied for the correct drying time, before sanding smooth. The better you can get the surface before you start painting, the better the final finish will look."
Do you paint the ceiling first or last?
The age-old question - do you paint the ceiling first is always up for debate. Well, luckily Craig's on hand to help.
He said, "I would advise painting the ceiling first to avoid any over-spray (the effect of excess paint being sprayed on the walls). If the ceiling you're painting is a kitchen or an open plan living room, it may need several coats to cover any stains."
How many coats of paint should you give a ceiling?
Craig stated, "Normally two coats of paint is plenty, depending on the type of paint and coverage. If you are using a cheaper brand, you can often end up having to apply at least two or three at times, but when using Frenchic Wall paint, it is often possible with just one single coat. " Amazing!
Tips on how to stopping paint from dripping:
"The biggest mistake people make when painting a ceiling is trying to apply too much paint at once." Craig goes on to add, "Soaking your roller in paint increases the risk of dripping. Instead, use a shallow paint tray to apply just a small amount of paint to your roller for each stroke, making sure you're evenly spreading the paint across all areas of the ceiling."
Is it best to use a roller or a paintbrush on the ceiling?
When it comes to the type of paintbrush, Craig said, "For the cutting around the edges, you’d normally start with a large paintbrush.
"After you have cut in, finish the job with a roller attached to an extension pole, dampen the roller first to help it pick up the paint. Or of course, you could always spray into the ceiling area, masking in around the top edges of all walls - then the masking tape does the cutting in for you." What a great tip!
Is there a way to paint a ceiling without leaving roller marks?
Craig explains, "Yes, of course. If using a roller, the key is to apply the right amount of paint on each area as well as cross-painting. This means once you have rolled the ceiling one way, wait for it to dry completely, then apply another solid coat over the whole area, but rolling in the opposite direction."
When to applying a second coat:
Craig said, "If your ceiling requires two coats, simply wait four to six hours for your first coat to dry, then cut in at the edges again where the roller does not meet the edges. Drying times can vary depending on the weather and how warm the room is. Also, different paints have different drying times, so always check the instructions on the can."
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Lily Anderson is a writer at Bauer Media, where she tests products for titles such as Heat, Closer, What’s the Best and Mother&Baby.
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