How to Add Paint to a Textured Drywall Ceiling

Lay a drop cloth over the floor. If you are not painting the walls, extend the drop cloth up the walls about 6 inches and tape it in place with painter's tape. Set up a ladder in one of the room's corners. Twist a paint roller onto a roller extension. Push a roller cover onto the paint roller.

Pour paint into a painter's tray. Use just enough to fill the well. Dip a paint edger tool into the paint. Climb the ladder. Position the edger in the corner, with the front edge touching the wall, and drag it along the ceiling.

Move the ladder down and dip the edger in the paint again. Continue to edge along the ceiling, all the way around the room. Refill the paint tray with paint as necessary.

Dip a roller cover into the paint and roll it back and forth over the paint tray to spread the paint. Start in one of the room's corners. Hold the pole's bottom end with your dominant hand and position your other hand about 3 feet up the pole.

Gently place the roller on the ceiling. Move the roller back and forth along the ceiling in a W pattern. Go over the area until it is covered with paint. Apply more paint to the roller cover as necessary.

Paint the first quarter ceiling section. Move on to the corner across from where you started painting. Paint that quarter of ceiling section, joining the two sections in the middle. Move on to the third quarter and the fourth quarter until the entire ceiling has been painted. Allow the first coat of paint to dry. Set up fans around the room to circulate the air and speed the drying. Once the ceiling feels dry to the touch, after about one hour, apply the second coat.

Repeat Steps 2 through 6 to apply the second coat of paint.