Various Ways to Have a Star Ceiling in Your Home

Hey there, Jeff Stewart from Night Sky Murals here, and I’m excited to share something magical for your home—starry night ceilings! Sleeping under the stars is incredible, right? Awe-inspiring, romantic, and super peaceful… but it’s not always easy. You’ve got to trek far to find the perfect spot, dodge a bright moon or rain, and deal with bugs—flying and crawling—yikes, no thanks!

But don’t worry—there’s a way to enjoy that beautiful star-filled sky every night, right in your bedroom, without the hassle. How? Transform your ceiling into your own remote night sky! There are a few easy ways to do this, and with the right tools, it’s simpler than you think—even if you’re not an artist. These options all glow in the dark for that nighttime magic. Want something visible in the light? Plenty of articles cover that, but let’s focus on the dark-side wonder!

Sticker Stars - Easy and Fun

This isn’t my top choice, but sticker stars are super affordable and kids (and adults!) love them—even adults tell me how they grew up with them way back in the day and loved the glow on their ceilings. Just grab a bag, stick them up, and adjust as needed. Too many in one spot? Peel some off. Need more shine elsewhere? Add a few more. It’s the easiest, budget-friendly way to start.

Painted Stars 

(Professionally painted, Stencil, or Freehand options)

Professional Option:

Night Sky Murals (Our parent company)

There are others out there (much less expensive) if you want to do a search

If you’re after the real deal, hiring a pro like us at Night Sky Murals is your best bet—but it’s the priciest. With over 25 years of experience, I can paint a stunning, realistic night sky on your ceiling in a few hours to a full day, depending on size and detail. No sore neck or back for you! The catch? Our professional Night Sky Murals services range from $1,300 to $20,000, depending on ceiling size and detail, but you’ll need to book a time that fits my schedule. Be cautious of less-experienced painters who may not deliver the same realistic results

 Still, it’s worth it for that jaw-dropping realism—way better than fiber optics. Check out this article from pros who’ve painted thousands of ceilings. (read more about realistic star ceilings) You won’t get the DIY thrill, but the result outshines any hassle.

There are other painters out there (much cheaper) if you search, but do your homework—they might not deliver the same magic.

DIY Stencil Option

Even if hiring a professional night sky mural painter makes perfect sense, some people are die-hard DIYers or prefer that route to save money. No problem at all!
Painting your own night sky mural has gotten much easier over the past few years. Back in the day, you’d head to the hardware store, grab a few small paintbrushes, and dive in. But the next day, you’d often be repainting the ceiling to cover up a messy ‘star ceiling’—if you could even call it that—and end up buying plastic sticker stars instead.
Luckily, today there are options ranging from fairly basic to as good as a professional’s work—all in a stencil.

Ursa Major stencil (Basic)

A quick online search will lead you straight to the Ursa Major Night Sky Star Stencil kit—they sell it on their website, and other stores carry it too. I’ll be upfront: there are several stencil kits out there, but for a solid, basic option that delivers a great star ceiling for the price, the Ursa Major kit is tough to beat. It’s easy to use, affordable, and paints around 350–400 stars with a gentle twinkle on your ceiling. Perfect if you want a simple, budget-friendly way to bring the night sky home—though it won’t match the realism of my professional murals or Night Sky Stencils kit.

Night Sky Stencils

(See the Night Sky Stencils Kits here)

I created the Night Sky Stencil kit after years of customers asking for a cheaper alternative to my pricey professional painted murals. After 10 years of tinkering, I finally said, “It’s ready!” This kit isn’t like those cute stencils out there that give you a star ceiling just a step up from stickers—it’s designed to help you paint a mural rivaling most pros, and at a fraction of the cost, for just $245. If you’re up for an adventure and willing to spend a day or two on a ladder, give it a try. It’s pretty straightforward, even for beginners, and delivers a beautiful, realistic star ceiling with a gentle twinkle. Grab our Full Ceiling Kits or one of our other 5 smaller, "Skylight" kits at HERE to bring the night sky home—pair it with our UltraDarkUV365 lights for the best glow!

Freehand Painting Option

If you’re set on doing it your own way and skipping stencils or pros, freehand painting might work for you. But why go solo? Grabbing glow paint and a brush seems simple, but crafting a nice-looking star mural on your ceiling takes real skill.

If you’re determined to try, here’s what to do:

• Watch this How to Paint a Star Ceiling  HERE
• Use quality glow paint from Glow Inc or my store HERE 
• Print 4–6 of your favorite constellations online—don’t worry about exact dates, just pick out your favorites.
• Cover any furniture to avoid paint spills; stars can “shoot” unexpectedly!

It’s riskier, but doable if you’ve got the talent.

After watching the video on how to paint a star ceiling, grab quality glow paint online to ensure your mural looks great—you won’t want to cover it up! Get it from Glomania or my store at NSM Paint, where I offer the same paint I use for professional murals.

Glomania (Good-quality glow paint)

Night Sky Murals store – (I’ll sell you the same paint that I use)

One tip: Print 4–6 favorite constellations online—don’t stress about exact dates; just choose ones you love. They’ll add a personal touch with a gentle twinkle.

No matter how careful you are, paint spills can happen. Cover furniture below to protect against unexpected “shooting stars”—it’s riskier, but doable with skill. For the best glow, pair your mural with our UltraDarkUV365 lights at nightskymurals.com/best-365nm-uv-lighting to outshine fiber optics with true 365nm realism!

Adding a moon into your mural

The star ceiling alone is so worth whatever you had to do to get one… but if you want to add a little something into the mural that won’t make it look too cartoonish, then a small moon is a good addition.

Let me, right up front, give you a little advice… DON’T PAINT A FULL MOON! You will regret it. Just trust me on this… paint a crescent moon into the mural, if you even want a moon, and paint it no larger than a DVD disc. In fact, use an old DVD and put a little paint along the edge of half the DVD… and call it good. Seriously, don’t overdo this. Oh, and be sure to do the moon first so you have a spot where no stars are painted yet (you don’t want the dark part of the moon to have stars in it).

Review (for adding a moon):

• Before getting into painting any stars, decide where you want your moon to go.
• Stick up an old DVD.
• Paint half of the DVD (I always paint the right half, for some reason).
• Don’t add stars into where the dark part of the moon will be.

Fiber optic Star Ceiling

There’s another option: fiber optic star ceilings. It’s not my favorite—it involves drilling holes and running wires, which isn’t as easy or realistic as painting. If you’re curious, check out my article comparing painted versus fiber optic star ceilings at nightskymurals.com/painted-vs-fiber-optics. Spoiler: My painted murals, especially with Night Sky Stencils and UltraDarkUV365 lights, outshine fiber optics in tranquility and true 365nm glow. Check out this comparison between a Night Sky Murals painted star ceiling vs a fiber optic ceiling to see why!

Here's a Fiber Optic star ceiling:

I hope something here inspires you to bring a star ceiling to one or more of your rooms—that’s my goal, no matter which option you pick. There’s nothing like sleeping or relaxing under a beautiful night sky, and while the real thing is the ultimate rush, my painted murals, stencils, and with glow paint that's charged by our UltraDarkUV365 lights let you drift off or unwind with mellow tunes under a realistic starry view. 

If I missed anything in this article or you have suggestions, shoot me an email at [email protected]. Happy "at-home" stargazing!
Jeff Stewart
Night Sky Murals”