When painting ceilings, drips are the biggest problem because, unlike when you're painting a wall, the paint can drip onto your face, clothes, and flooring. To keep paint from dripping onto you, use a paper plate as a makeshift guard. Just poke the roller handle through the center of a standard paper plate and slide it up underneath the roller head. Without the worry of paint drops, you can focus more on your painting technique and the task at hand. “I've seen people spend more time laying down protective sheeting and cleaning up afterwards than actually painting,” says Brooks.