Homeowner rips out dated popcorn ceiling in favor of a much sleeker DIY look

Ceiling texture that was popular for decades -- known as "popcorn" or "cottage cheese" texture -- was originally appreciated for its acoustic features and its ability to hide imperfections. With newer and better products available to accomplish those goals, however, popcorn texture has been out of vogue for decades.
If you're looking to get rid of the hated texturing, there are many things you can do to get the look you want without the mess and considerable hassle of scraping away the popcorn texture.
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Please note that it is advisable to have your ceiling texture tested for asbestos before beginning any ceiling project. Even just covering the texturing can be dangerous if asbestos is present. If an at-home test indicates the presence of asbestos, call a professional for alteration or removal.
1. From popcorn ceiling to sleek faux tiles
As part of an overall kitchen remodel, the Bella Tucker husband and wife team was left with a popcorn ceiling full of holes where various fixtures and soffits had been removed. Rather than patching drywall and dealing with popcorn texture, they decided to just cover the ceiling completely.
Faux tin tiles -- actually constructed of Styrofoam -- provided the perfect solution. The couple spent a day and a half gluing the tiles into place and are thrilled with the result.
2. Popcorn ceiling covered with gorgeous planks
Tongue-in-groove planking with white pickling stain provided the French-inspired touch that Edith & Evelyn Vintage strives for. The complete tutorial includes lots of photos and advice for achieving different effects.
3. From "awful stomped stalactite" to beautiful boards
Emily Pribble of Lifestyle & Design hated her ceilings so much that she called it "awful stomped stalactite." After nailing up inexpensive beadboard and trimming it out, she calls it "the best decision we ever made."
If you can't replace or cover up your popcorn ceilings, you might want to just learn to hate them less. Curbly offers several ways to downplay the visibility of the texturing using lighting and paint techniques.
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DIY Maven, author of the Curbly article, reminds her readers that "Most people probably won't notice what your ceilings look like unless they are dirty or stained." She offers this "100% effective way" to deal with popcorn ceilings that you hate: "Stop looking at them!"