Dear forumers, I am looking for your advice and ideas.

I have a ceiling lamp which I need to take off. Unfortunately, when it was installed the ceiling was damaged - around places it was screwed in the ceiling paint is falling off. If I take the lamp off, I will end up with 4 drilled wholes and no paint around them (circa 5 cm around each one).

Do you know what is the best way to fix it - any DIY tricks or the only way is to repaint the ceiling in all room (what can be an associated costs)?

Are you moving out, or planning to replace the lamp because you don't like it?

If you are putting a new lamp up they often cover the damage from the old one.

Sometimes you can spackle the damage and paint just the damaged area, but often the ceiling is discoloured enough that you end up painting the whole ceiling, which reveals how discoloured the walls are, and so on.

Could you post a pic of the damage?

I was planning to replace it with a smaller one, but with all they chipping off paint, I will need to buy a giant one
It's not too bad with the lamp still attached, but with even a minor move of the lamp the paint chips off (photos of 2 out of 4 damages).

Attached Thumbnails

   

Hmn, with a stippled finish like that it is hard to match the finish when spackling, even if the paint hasn't faded (at least not without having a fairbit of experience.

I have worked around the same problem by using a wooden "Blende", about 10mm thick, large enough to cover the damaged area, and shaped to suit the form of the new lamp. I used a router to add a little bit of detail to the edge of the wood so that it fitted in, but you might get by with just a square with plain edges (The Bau & Hobby shops will cut wood to a size of your choice).

Make a big enough hole in the wood to get the wires through, and through holes for the new lamp mountings (and longer screws) , if possible screw the wood to the ceiling first (with the countersunk screw heads hidden under the new lamp), then fit the lamp. It is a bit of jiggery pokery to get lamp, wood and holes lined up if you are just clamping the wood in place.

You need something that will withstand the heat of the lamp (i.e. no plastic), and some white paint or even stain if you prefer the wood look.

__________________
If everyone you know agrees with you consistently, they are either not listening, or not capable of critical thought.