Interior Painting · Sep 2019
Vaulted living room, stairwell and textured ceilings painted
Vaulted living room, stairwell and textured ceilings painted. These are before, in-progress and after photos from the job, taken Sep 2019. This interior painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Textured Vaulted Ceilings Repainted White in a Living Room and Two-Story Stairwell
This home has a tall vaulted living room that opens to a two-story stairwell and a balcony with an oak railing. The ceilings have a heavy brushed texture with a swirled, branching pattern. In the before photos the ceiling looks tired and uneven. Gray streaks and shadows run along the seams and ridges, and the white has dulled to a dingy cream in spots. To get ready, almost everything below the ceiling was wrapped. Plastic covered the walls, windows, curtains and the large stone feature wall. The sofa was sealed in plastic, and paper and tape covered the floor. In the stairwell, the oak handrails, turned spindles and carpeted steps were fully wrapped, and green tape lined the top of every wall. In the after photo the vaulted ceiling is a clean, even white from the peak down to the walls. The texture still shows, but the dark streaks are gone, and the taupe walls and oak railing stand out against it.
How We Prepped and Painted These Textured Ceilings
- We wrapped the walls, windows, stone wall and furniture in plastic and taped paper to the floors, since spraying a ceiling sends fine mist in every direction.
- In the stairwell, the oak handrails, spindles and carpeted stairs were sealed in plastic so no paint could settle on the wood or carpet.
- Tape was run along the top of each wall where it meets the ceiling, giving us a clean, straight line to spray against at every edge.
- We checked the ceiling for loose texture and stains. The gray streaks and any water marks were spot primed with a stain-blocking primer first.
- The textured ceiling was sprayed with a flat ceiling white, working in passes from different angles so paint reached every ridge and valley.
- A second coat went on where needed for even coverage, then we removed the tape, plastic and paper and cleaned up the room.
Ceiling Whites Similar to This Vaulted Living Room
These are similar ceiling whites and wall tones to consider for a room like this, but they are close options, not the confirmed products on this ceiling.
Sherwin-Williams High Reflective White SW 7757
A very bright white close to this fresh ceiling, and it bounces light around a tall vaulted room nicely.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
A clean, crisp white for ceilings that keeps texture looking even and does not turn yellow next to warm walls.
Sherwin-Williams Balanced Beige SW 7037
A warm taupe similar to the walls in this living room, a soft partner for a bright white ceiling and oak trim.
Questions About Painting Textured and Vaulted Ceilings
What causes dark streaks on a ceiling?
Gray lines along ceiling seams or joists are often called ghosting. They can form when warm, moist air carries dust that settles on cooler spots. Candle and fireplace soot add to it. Cleaning or spot priming before repainting helps, and a fresh coat makes the ceiling look even again.
Why are textured ceilings usually sprayed?
Heavy texture has deep grooves that a roller can miss or even pull loose. Spraying gets paint into every ridge without pressing on the surface. It does require full masking of walls, floors and furniture, which is why rooms look wrapped in plastic during the work.
What sheen is best for ceilings?
Flat is the standard for ceilings. It hides bumps, seams and texture well and does not reflect glare from lights or windows. Ceilings do not get touched, so washability is less important than on walls. Some bathrooms use a slightly higher sheen to handle moisture.
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