Penticton Herald

How to perfect a boldly painted ceiling

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(NC) — Embracing the latest décor trends is important for many homeowners, and one of the most inexpensiv­e ways to stay up-to-theminute is with paint.

Nothing transforms a space faster than a fresh coat, so think beyond just your walls. Painted ceilings can add visual appeal or ambiance to any room. Jim Moncada, senior merchant for paint at The Home Depot Canada, breaks down easy tips to tackling that fifth wall.

Choosing the colour. Consider what elements of the room you’re keeping and the desired atmosphere you wish to achieve. If you want to coordinate with your favourite piece of furniture, snap a picture and bring it in to be colour matched; or get inspired by new shades and colour families. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, put them to the test with sample cans that let you try out the colour selection in the room with minimal investment.

Picking the paint. Ceiling paint differs from wall paint with formulas that minimize splatter and provide more coverage. Low sheen is a popular choice because it hides imperfecti­ons; a flat finish is great for textured ceilings.

Painting a textured ceiling? Painting an uncoated texture with latex paint will cause the surface to soften and pull off from the ceiling. Avoid this by first coating with an alkyd texture paint. It seals and hardens the stucco so you can use latex ceiling paints in the future. Start by testing your stucco by soaking a small area with water. Saturate completely using a sponge or spray bottle — if it’s soft and crumbles, you’ll need to apply the alkyd ceiling paint; if it’s firm and sharp, you should be good to go.

A popular trend in some design circles is to remove stucco and get back to smooth ceilings. If you choose to remove, first repair by skimming the drywall joints with drywall compound and sand them smooth. Then follow up with BEHR Premium Plus Ultra Paint & Primer in One Ceiling paint to seal and provide a profession­al looking finish.

Find more informatio­n online at homedepot.ca. newscanada.com

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