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mission possibility: how to paint a vaulted ceiling without a ladder …

January 30, 2012 By Linda 51 Comments

How to paint a vaulted ceiling without scaffolding.

 

Just me and my very long pole.

How To Paint A Vaulted Ceiling Without Scaffolding or Platforms

Okay, and a rickety, ancient small wooden ladder …

how to paint a vaulted ceiling 2
So here’s my “tutorial” of sorts …

1. Furniture and stuff moved.  Check.
2. Holes spackled. Check.
3. Drop cloths dropped. Check.
4. Ceiling Swiffered. Check.

how to paint a vaulted ceiling
5. Run out of excuses to get started. Check.

After I worked my way out of this corner, I needed a serious break …

how to paint a vaulted ceiling 3
… and started to wonder if I perhaps had bitten off a bit more than I could chew …

That whole craning my neck backwards while inhaling paint fumes was quite the dizzying experience.

When I got back to work, I decided that I should probably tackle the dreaded “cutting in” before my arms turned into wet noodles …

… and this attachment was invaluable (worth every last cent) …
 
impossibilities.longarmimpossibilities.longarm2

… in helping me do this …

how to paint a vaulted ceiling 4
Let me tell you, that was pretty backbreaking work …

… and necessitated another break and a giant glass of water.

When I reached this point, I was ready to throw in the towel and reach for the Yellow Pages …

how to paint a vaulted ceiling 5
But after another break.  A little TV time with Ellen.  And some nourishment, I charged right back in …

… and at the end of the day, I am proud to say that I successfully turned this impossibility …

2012 Impossibility.vaulted ceiling
Into this possibility …

how to paint a vaulted ceiling 6

My husband approves and says it looks like the sky. The kids love the color and my daughter … a future HGTV design star … tells me it makes the room feel so much warmer and cozier.

Though, I do have a little secret …

… you see …

… as I was revisiting the fabrics and plans I envisioned for the room four years ago I came across this…

 

imageimage

And with dreams of bead board in my head, I didn’t take that blue hue all the way to the floor …

how to paint a vaulted ceiling 7
… but instead added a new “impossibility” to this project in the form of bead board wallpaper and cap molding …

bead board wallpaper and blue and brown fabric
I’ve never wallpapered before.  This should be interesting.

 

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Filed Under: DIY & Crafts


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Comments

  1. Karah @ thespacebetweenblog says

    January 30, 2012 at 1:39 pm

    Wow Linda! My neck and shoulders hurt just reading this post. It truly did come out so great, I love the color and am impressed you did it with that little ladder. We have one of those and refer to it as our “death trap”. haha
    This journey has been sooo fun to be a part of, I’m glad we did it together!!

    Reply
  2. The Cottage Market {Andrea} ♥ says

    January 30, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    FABULOUS!!!! What an incredible job!!! I can’t imagine doing this! The end results are picture perfect …love the color…just a fabulous and wonderful accomplishment!!!! It was such a great experience working with you and so glad that I have a new friend! Hugs!

    Reply
  3. Kelly @ Corner of Main says

    January 30, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    I HATE painting ceilings! I can’t imagine painting that ceiling, eek. Great job; the color looks beautiful, and I am looking forward to seeing the wallpaper. I am still working on my impossible project…hopefully I complete it by 7 AM. 😉

    Reply
  4. Eclectically Vintage says

    January 30, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    You deserve a massage and a cocktail (or two)!! The color is fantastic and love that it covers the whole ceiling too. Me thinks it was definitely worth the effort – bring that pole and those attachments to my house – what’s your hourly rate?! Can’t wait to see the breadboard wallpaper (sometime this year please)!!!
    Kelly

    Reply
  5. Kirsten says

    January 30, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    Congratulations! It looks beautiful! HUGE accomplishment. The bead board will look GORGEOUS.

    Reply
  6. Jean @ Flower Hill says

    January 30, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    Great job!

    Reply
  7. Atticmag says

    January 30, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    When I get one of those arm-wrenching projects I always try to tell myself I’ll look better in sleeveless for it! Ceiling looks great and bead board can never hurt!

    Reply
  8. Bliss says

    January 30, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    O.M.G. woman!!!!! I have no doubt in my mind if you could paint that ceiling you can hang wallpaper! Your challenge was a challenge for ANYONE!!!! And you dominated!!!!

    Don’t you dare take till 2013 to finish, this is going to look awesome and I want to see it long before then.

    You ruled the ceiling, oh yeah, you rocked the paintbrush, oh yeah, go Linda, go Linda……..

    ~Bliss~

    Reply
  9. micki @ ADD housewife says

    January 30, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    that looks fabulous! But I have my doubts about the wallpaper. After spending 6 weeks stripping down wallpaper from our current house, I absolutely detest the stuff. Maybe we need a year of impossibilities challenge 🙂 One project a month ha ha ha perfect motivation!

    Reply
  10. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says

    January 30, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    This turned out so great…that is a Big project! Can’t wait to see the beadboard, too!

    Reply
  11. Creative in Chicago says

    January 30, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    Linda, this is just fabulous. My office has a big vaulted ceiling and I have been umming and arrhing about painting it for a while. Going to tackle it soon. By the way what was the name of the color you used?

    Reply
  12. Olga@Stardust-Decor&Style says

    January 30, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    This turned out great Linda! Go girl!

    Reply
  13. Stacey@A Sort Of Fairytale says

    January 30, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    omigosh! really great job, love the color…it does look like dreamy sky! that’s a cool tool you used. i have a staircase hall i want to paint and that could come in handy for the high ceiling and cutting in. the bead board wallpaper is going to look great with the wall color too…looking forward to seeing it all done!

    Reply
  14. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    January 30, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    so so light and bright and PRETTY!

    Reply
  15. fiona anderson says

    January 30, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    Congratulations – you did it !!! What a great (although neck-aching and back-breaking) job and love that hue of blue xxx
    I’ll be there tomorrow – did I do it too ???

    Reply
  16. Terry says

    January 30, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    Wow, and it took us 3 ladders and your ceiling looks even taller. Don’t try this once you get bifocals. Congratulations.

    Reply
  17. Lizzie @ PrettyCityThings says

    January 30, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    It looks great – I love the color you picked! Congrats on getting it done. 🙂 Can’t wait to see it with the bead board too – it’ll be gorgeous! Looking forward to linking up tomorrow…
    Lizzie

    Reply
  18. Bama Girl says

    January 30, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    Linda, congratulations! You did it! I am so grateful to you and the others for sponsoring the Impossibilities challenge! Everyone has gone above and beyond what they thought! Maybe you should host this more than once a year, since I have a lot more challenges that don’t need to wait another year! Blessings from Bama!

    Reply
  19. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    January 30, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    Great job! It looks awesome! And thanks for the tip about the attachment. We have high ceilings in our house and I know they will be a pain to paint. I finished my impossible project last night! http://www.attemptsatdomestication.com/call-me-kim-possible/

    Reply
  20. Jessica @ Stay at Home-ista says

    January 30, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    It is so lovely. The color is perfect, and I can’t wait to see it with the beadboard wallpaper!

    Reply
  21. Kirby Dunton Carespodi says

    January 30, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    Yay, Linda! Amazing job! It really looks great. Post the great wallpaper adventure BEFORE 2013, please!

    Reply
  22. Samantha says

    January 31, 2012 at 12:21 am

    That looks so pretty!! I can’t believe you were able to do it with just the rickety old ladder!!

    Reply
  23. Janet says

    January 31, 2012 at 2:48 am

    You did the hardest part and did it well. I painted walls in a room with 16′ peak ceilings, but didn’t do the ceiling. That had been done when a contractor doing our roof fell through the ceiling, making a hole they had to patch and sprayed the ceiling. Ready to be sprayed again, no. more. sand-texture-that-came-out-popcorn!! Proud? You should be!
    Janet

    Reply
  24. Brianna @ RMV says

    January 31, 2012 at 3:23 am

    I hope you get a great neck massage after all that. Looks wonderful and I love the color!

    Reply
  25. Fat Dormouse says

    January 31, 2012 at 9:51 am

    Goodness me! I hate decorating and so I stand absolutely awestruck at how you got on and did this. I love the colour you chose – and your husband’s right…it does look like sky! You could have put some little fluffy white clouds up there!!
    I look forward to seeing your beautiful bedroom when it is all completed.

    Reply
  26. May says

    January 31, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    I would say you should pat yourself on the back, but I am afraid that as stiff as your neck, shoulders and back are after that project it would be another impossibility. And you probably aren’t quite ready to imagine another one quite this quickly!

    Reply
  27. buggalcrafts says

    January 31, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    Oh boy – wallpaper! Are you in for a TREAT! I did it ONCE and learned my lesson!

    #12 buggalcrafts http://buggalcrafts.wordpress.com/

    Lisa’s Craft Blog Linky http://www.lisas-craft-blog.com/2012/01/love-filled-linky-list.html

    Reply
  28. Meg@MegaCrafty says

    January 31, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    Love that color! The hard fought battle was definitely worth it.

    Reply
  29. Brooke @ Spruce Your Nest says

    January 31, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    That makes me tired just looking at it! Great job!! It looks beautiful!

    Reply
  30. Angela - Postcards from the Ridge says

    January 31, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    Great job on a huge paint project. I’ve used that little brush attachment before and it’s so helpful. Before we had that gadget we duct-taped a “hockey stick” paintbrush to an extension pole. It worked, but looked hilarious.
    I hung that beadboard wallpaper in our basement bathroom (over paneling) a couple of years ago. It’s easy…no matching. And it really looks like beadboard. Good luck! So glad I found your blog.
    Angie

    Reply
  31. RHome410 says

    January 31, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    I hate painting REGULAR ceilings…What an accomplishment! Can’t wait to see when the room is finished, now that you’ve shared your inspiration photo.

    Reply
  32. The Remodeled Life says

    January 31, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    Wow, that is one doozy of a ceiling to paint! I love the new color!! It looks fantastic! Thanks so much for hosting the challenge!!

    Reply
  33. Misty says

    January 31, 2012 at 11:51 pm

    Great job! You did it, so proud of you!

    ~Misty
    http://www.413sparrowlane.com

    Reply
  34. Sarah says

    February 1, 2012 at 3:03 am

    You did it!!! Oh my gosh, that ceiling (and ladder while we’re on the subject) looks terrifying. I can’t believe you were able to paint all those cooky angles with just a long reach brush. I’m so thankful you didn’t get your head and arm permanently stuck in a right angle position.

    The bead board will make the room totally POP once you’re finished. Can’t wait to see that all done. But for now just rejoice in the painting job! Congrats!

    Reply
  35. Cindy says

    February 1, 2012 at 4:20 am

    That looks fa.bu.lous!!! And with the bead-board wallpaper,it is going to be very beautiful. I can see that was a humongous challenge, but you met it and conquered it!!! Good for you.
    Hugs, cindy

    Reply
  36. Ruthie says

    February 1, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Well done … the room looks so fresh now!

    Reply
  37. Debbiedoo's says

    February 1, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    Oh my what a job! Looks awesome though. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party.

    Reply
  38. lynn says

    February 1, 2012 at 10:57 pm

    beautiful color! i love the bead board wallpaper idea–it will be wonderful:)

    Reply
  39. Katie Goldsworthy says

    February 2, 2012 at 4:38 am

    It looks awesome! I love that you are going to add beadboard wallpaper to it!!!

    Thanks for linking up!

    –Katie
    @ Creatively Living

    Reply
  40. pam says

    February 2, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    Being a woman who HATES to paint – anything – except maybe gourds – I am in awe of your success! I painted a whole interior of a house once. Never again! But it does make me qualified to to say “job well done” and to have some idea of all those pains and hurts you talked about!

    You will LOVE playing with wallpaper! Honestly you will! Just be sure to start using a plumb bob in the middle of any wall and you are on your way to a beautiful job!

    Reply
  41. The DIY Show Off says

    February 3, 2012 at 1:21 am

    You did it! WOW! It’s fabulous, Linda! I can’t wait to see more! 🙂

    Reply
  42. Mary says

    February 3, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    As a short person, this definitely caught my eye. My neck almost began to hurt reading about it, but was totally soothed by that beautiful blue paint.

    All worth it.

    Thanks for the peek ~
    Mary @ Sea Quilts

    Reply
  43. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    February 5, 2012 at 3:18 am

    Great job- I love the color and how it turned out- can’t wait to see the finished product with your bead board wallpaper!

    Reply
  44. Honey at 2805 says

    February 7, 2012 at 2:41 am

    Looks tricky, but a really terrific job! Thank you for sharing at Potpourri Friday!

    Reply
  45. The Bold Abode says

    June 26, 2012 at 11:46 pm

    I’m just now seeing this… If you can do that, then I can paint the walls up my stairs…

    Again. My husband is not going to be thanking you…

    Reply
  46. Kari says

    January 30, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    OMG I have that same wallpaper that has been sitting in my garage for almost 2 years bc I am afraid of it. Well it and the whole wallpapering thing.
    Please, oh please, come to the burbs and help me!!
    We could drink wine!
    And eat goodies!!

    Reply
  47. Denden says

    June 25, 2019 at 10:41 am

    I came across this page while looking for tips on cutting in paint on a high ceiling. You did a great job on yours and that shade of blue you picked looks lovely. How were you able to cut in around the fan base without getting errant paint on the base?

    Reply
    • Linda says

      July 8, 2019 at 9:08 am

      I’m pretty sure I got paint on the fan base, but it’s just so high up you really can’t see it!

      Reply

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