• High ceilings require special painting tips.arch ceil image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
  
  If you have high ceilings, you probably dread the thought of having to paint them. According to home improvement expert Bob Vila, higher ceilings add an air of elegance to a room that lower ceilings do not offer. When you are preparing to paint your high ceilings, consider some tips to make the job easier.
  
  

Preparation

• Painting a higher ceiling requires much of the same preparation work as a standard ceiling. You should move or cover your furniture, use painter's tape to protect the areas you do not want to paint and cover your rug or floor with plastic to protect it as well. According to MSN Real Estate, the extra step for a higher ceiling requires thoroughly cleaning it before you paint. A high ceiling can trap dust along the tops of any windows or molding, and cobwebs tend to form up high as well. If there are any fixtures hanging from the ceiling, like a fan or large lighting fixture, dust it to prevent knocking the dust off when you are painting. If you do not clean it and the dust starts flying, it can become trapped in the paint and give your ceiling texture you did not intend. Use a professional-grade telescoping cleaning handle with a lamb's wool duster for the best results.
  
  

Color

• Bob Vila points out that while many ceilings are white and the walls are painted a different color, a high ceiling painted white can make a room feel much bigger than it is. It creates a cold and impersonal feeling to the room that is accented by the height of the ceiling. Use a softer earth tone in a room with a high ceiling, and paint the walls the same color as the ceiling to give the room a feeling of continuity to make the room more personable. Earth tones, such as beige, brown or even gray work well.
  
  

Equipment

• According to the home improvement experts at Lowes, using the right equipment to paint a high ceiling is essential to the success of the project. Use rollers for the main portion of the ceiling, and use an edging pad to paint near any windows or fixtures. To reach the ceiling safely, put your paint applicator on a telescoping pole. Use a pole of no more than 15 feet. Anything longer is difficult to control. If you need to reach beyond the 15-foot pole, use a step ladder or foot stool to reach the ceiling safely.