How to Stencil a Pattern on a Ceiling
A ceiling is a fifth wall most people forget. A soft stenciled pattern on a powder room or bedroom ceiling looks custom and costs one stencil and a sample pot of paint. It's slow work, but it isn't hard.
- Time A day for a small room
- Skill Moderate, overhead work
Before you start. Practice the stencil on a large piece of cardboard first. You'll learn how much paint the roller needs and how hard to press, without anyone watching from below. Move the furniture out or cover it with drop cloths, and set up the ladder so you can reach without stretching.
What you'll need
- A large repeating wall stencil
- Paint a few shades from the ceiling color, for a subtle look
- A dense foam roller or stencil brush
- Repositionable stencil spray adhesive or painter's tape
- A sturdy step ladder
- A chalk line and pencil
- Paper towels
How to make it
- Plan the center. Snap two chalk lines from corner to corner to find the center of the ceiling. Start the first print there so the pattern looks even at the edges.
- Stick the stencil. Mist the back of the stencil with adhesive and press it flat against the ceiling.
- Load lightly. Dip the roller, then roll most of the paint off on a paper towel. Too much paint bleeds under the stencil.
- Roll. Roll over the openings with light pressure, then peel the stencil straight off.
- Repeat. Line up the stencil's registration marks with the last print and keep going. Do the edges last, bending the stencil into the corner.
Make it your own
- Stencil only a border around the edge of the ceiling.
- Use a metallic paint that catches the light at night.
- Try the same stencil on a wall first, if you're nervous about overhead work.
Care and storage. Keep the leftover paint, labeled with the room and date. Small touch-ups blend in better with the same paint.