Painting a previously papered ceiling

I have had a problem with the paper on the ceiling of a bedroom which after 3 or 4 years has decided to fall off. As fast as I re-stick it, another bit falls down. It doesn't seem to be damp so the only thing I can think of is this - it is actually wallpaper (my daughter chose it, it does look very like a ceiling paper type of pattern) and being an anaglypta-ish paper is just too heavy for a ceiling.

I have now conceded defeat and have stripped it off and intend to paint it but experience tells me that emulsion doesn't work too well with a previously pasted wall/ceiling. I don't want to repaper it at the moment and I wondered if there is any kind of paint which would do the trick here. Would bathroom emulsion be less affected?

Hi,,

in painting the ceiling ....always paint the ceiling before walls and woodwork.

In that manner, it will not be burden clearing the stain from ceiling paint drop to the painted floor.

it could be that there was distemper on the ceiling this was common practice years ago and whilst emulsion may stay on it to a degree the weight of the paper usually brings it off ,
or it could be that when it was papered the paste wasn't applied thick enough or the ceiling was powdery and not sealed
either way you will need to remove the old paste remnants thats on there by washing off with sugar soap before painting with emulsion , although it wouldn't hurt to use an oil based sealer before emulsioning.
if its distemper on there then it will go a bluey grey sort of colour but it will wash off eventually
then i'd let it dry thoroughly and put a coat of alkali resisting primer sealer on and let that dry for a couple of days before applying your emulsion