How to Paint Clouds on a Ceiling

By favefive, eHow Member Rating

A ceiling painted with clouds.

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Painting clouds on a ceiling is a wonderful way to enhance the room. Oftentimes the ceiling has been ignored in decorations, but using simple faux-painting techniques, you can add beauty and whimsy both the young and the young at heart will enjoy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Laser level to mark the demarcation lines
Painter's tape
Paint trays
Paint roller
Blue paint (for the sky)
White paint (for clouds)
Paint brush
Sea sponge
Imagination and inspiration
Photographs of clouds
Ladder to reach the ceiling

Step 1

Prepare the ceilings. Clean cobwebs and dust. Using the laser level, highlight the demarcation areas of where the painter's tape will be placed. Put blue painter's tape to mark the areas where the paint will end. A good height would be at least a foot from where the ceiling and wall meet.
Step 2

Pour flat blue paint on the paint tray. Using a roller, paint the ceilings. Paint also up to where the blue tape was placed. Apply 2 coats for a more even finish. Let dry for 2 hours.
Step 3

On another paint tray pour your white flat paint. Make clouds by using a paint brush and sponge. For inspiration, go outside and look at the clouds in the sky. You can also examine photos of clouds to help you paint the different cloud formations. You do not have to do it too perfectly, clouds by nature have different forms, sizes, and shapes.
Step 4

Cirrus clouds.

Cirrus clouds are made by using paint brush by creating thin, wisplike strands, accompanied by tufts. Paint using dry brush technique by removing excess paint with a paper towel then make random brush strokes.
Step 5

Cirrocumulus clouds.

Make a cirrocumulus cloud using sponge and paintbrush by creating white patch or tuft. Create them in patches or sheets along with other cirrocumulus.
Step 6

Stratocumulus cloud.

To paint a stratocumulus cloud use a sea sponge to create large dark, rounded masses. Add waves and lines using paint brush with soft bristles. Create this type of cloud in groups.
Step 7

If you have a light fixture in the middle, make it a focal point. If it is a round ceiling light fixture, it would act as your sun or moon. Paint the waves that twirls around it with varying length and thickness. Cirrus clouds would be good next to the light fixture.
Step 8

Do not paint too many clouds. You would want as much of the blue sky to show to better appreciate the design. Once done, let dry then remove the painter's tape.

Comments

AbbyNormal said

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on 3/14/2008 Use a tad of glow-in-the dark paint to shadow part of the clouds ....... this is too cool .... I did that in a friend's nursery!

grouch said

on 12/5/2007 Thanks for all the tips. You could also use a spray gun to make the break line around the top of the room lighter and fade well into the next color. This is a great idea.