Popcorn ceilings don’t necessarily bother me too much. I mean they aren’t the prettiest thing in the world, but they’ve never been something I’ve stomped my feet about and lost sleep over. Also, they are not fun to remove. I tried it. I learned from it.
And I’ll never do it again.
When we got the 70’s Landing Pad, it of course had popcorn ceilings. There weren’t many homes built during that era that didn’t sport the acne of the ceiling.
Yes, I just referred to popcorn ceilings as acne. No, I have no idea how I come up with this stuff.
Anywho, I did want to have the popcorn ceilings removed at the new place if it was in the budget. Not because they bothered me so much, but mainly because I really wanted to paint the ceiling in colors and even a few patterns here and there.
I had no intention of removing the popcorn ceilings myself. As I said, been there, done that, had the gross white snot to prove it. I got a few estimates for the job and shockingly discovered that it was in fact in the budget to remove the popcorn ceilings for about $2000. Sign. Me. Up. I was confident this would be the best $2K I would ever spend.
And then the contractors came and started to scrape and realized it had been painted over multiple times and was going to take three times as long to remove and therefore the price would now be around $6K.
There are a lot of things I could buy with $6000. So, I called it off. The popcorn ceilings would stay.
And guess what?
I barely notice them anymore.
Here are my six best decorating ideas for distracting from those popcorn ceilings and making them practically disappear….
6 Decorating Ideas to Distract from Popcorn Ceilings
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1. Lighting
Don’t buy flush-mount lighting that focuses the light upwards. Instead, try to use flush or semi-flush mounts that direct the light downward. Chandeliers and pendant lights are an even better choice when you can use them. (I have lots of great affordable lighting options here by the way.)
Bedding / Curtains / Palm Art Print / Leopard Print Pillow / Banana Leaf Pillows / Headboard / Pink Wall Color
The light fixture in our master bedroom is a great example. It’s gorgeous, hangs down from the ceiling, not up close to it, and focuses the light downward.
Rug / Floor Lamp / Ghost Chairs / Green Velvet Pillows / Lion Art / Banana Leaves Pillows / Leopard Print Pillows / Black Wall Color
You can also use this same trick with floor lamps. The brass floor lamp in my living room arches over and down drawing the eye downward.
Gallery Wall / Buffet / Sconce / David Bust (similar ones) / Brass Unicorn (similar ones)
Use sconces where you can. These plug-in wall sconces used to flank our television in our old living room. They helped to keep the attention on the wall and not upward on the ceiling.
2. Huge Art
Nothing more easily grabs the eye (and distracts from popcorn ceilings) than a huge piece of stunning art.
I’ve done this in three places at the 70’s Landing Pad and have not been disappointed yet. I placed this huge lion print above the bar in our living room. Not only is it gorgeous, but it commands attention.
Ivy Art Print / Glass Top Dining Table (similar) / Dining Chairs (similar) / More of the Dining Room
The same is true of this abstract art in the dining room. I also used the vintage palm print in the photo of our bedroom you saw above as a focal point in our bedroom.
All of those prints (and many of my other favorite art pieces) came from Minted. They have a huge art selection with something for everyone. I also have other sources for affordable art here.
3. Paint
Paint the ceilings. Paint the walls.
First off, if you are ready to just finally embrace those popcorn ceilings and they are a bit dingy and even stained in some places, please for the love of all things good in the world, just paint them. Yes, it does mean that if you want to remove them at some point it will be more difficult, but it will look so much better. I promise. A good coat of white ceiling paint will do the trick. Chances are that if you’ve never painted your popcorn ceilings or don’t know if they were painted, that they are more dirtier than you think.
Case in point: the ceilings of our master bedroom. I had no idea how beige-y and gross they were until I went to touch up a few spots I had hit on the ceiling with the pink paint. There was no touch up for that! They had to be completely painted!
If you really want your popcorn ceilings to blend in with everything else, paint your ceilings and walls white. The eye will be tricked into barely seeing the popcorn at all. If you aren’t ready to go all white with your walls, then perhaps paint the upper half or third of the walls white with another color below that. That would be similar to what I did in our old guest room.
4. Crown Molding
I know it may seem like this one would draw the eye to the ceiling. I used to think so too. Here’s the thing though and it may not be this way for everyone, but here it is. When my mother-in-law had crown installed in their house, she said that afterward she didn’t notice the popcorn ceilings as much. I thought about it, looked at it and then when she had it installed in our old house / their soon to be new house, I realized she was right. I don’t know what it is, maybe the angle of the molding or just the fact that it’s something pretty at the top of the wall, but it does seem to distract from the popcorn. I think if you went with even a bigger molding and added a smaller trim piece below the crown on the wall and painted all that white or whatever your trim color is, it would distract from your popcorn ceilings even more.
5. Rugs
Don’t want them to look up? Make them look down.
Rug / Glass Dining Table (similar) / Cantilever Chairs (similar)
Bring in boldly colored or patterned rugs to draw the eye down and not up. Works every time.
Rug / Wall Color / Bedding / Horse Sheets (similar) / Tassel Pillow / Custom Silhouette Art / Yellow Table Color / Cowgirl Lampshade / More of My Daughter’s Room
Personally, I’m a fan of pretty rugs anywhere. It’s just a bonus they turn those eyes away from the ceiling.
6. Window Treatments
Another way to distract from popcorn ceilings is with your window treatments. Go for long panels that go all the way to the floor. They don’t have to puddle, but can just barely touch the floor. This will once more help to draw the eye downward. Don’t opt for valances for sure – this will keep the eye closer to the ceiling.
If you love color or bold prints, even better. Those things will distract the eye even more.
So will you be keeping your popcorn ceilings and decorating to distract from them? Any other ideas you have to offer to distract from popcorn ceilings?
More helpful home decorating tips and tricks…
How to Make a Moodboard – make design boards for your next room makeover easily using Picmonkey.
How to Keep Rugs from Sliding– locks them in place!
How to Accessorize a Space Without Over-Accessorizing– it can be tricky, but here are some tips to help!
How to Decorate with Inherited Furniture Without Making Your Grandparents Roll Over in Their Graves– I know, it’s hard, but they’d want you to make it yours….
Want to remember these popcorn ceiling decorating tips for later? Pin the image below!
Julie says
Love the ideas Jenna. Current house does not have them, and yet prior one did. Surprisingly, at the time, I did this on the living room ceiling! Would never do it again because of neck strain and yet this was in my younger days. I also was told by a painter, back then, what a great job I had done because I went with a very light effect vs how you can see this in other homes. I’m ok with it because I like the look really, and yet recognize the dated aspect too. Hey, maybe, like other decorating, it may return some day! ha
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
It really doesn’t bother me that much, Julie. Now there are some popcorn ceilings I’ve seen where the “popcorn” looks huge – it’s much more textured. I’m definitely not a fan of that. I’m with you though – you never know when they may come back in style!!
Pam S says
Except for painting them, I think I’ve used all of your tips ~ most times not even realizing “why”! My daughter is a Realtor and insists people are either floor people or ceiling people 🙂 She just notices when they walk in that first house where their eyes go. And fortunately, I’m a floor person! So I see the paint bucket in my near future. Thank you!!!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I think you’re daughter may be right!! I’ve never thought about it before, but I’m a floor person too!!
Patty Reis says
I removed the popcorn ceiling in my 14×22 family room by myself. It wasn’t difficult at all, but of course it hadn’t been painted over either! I just kept heavily misting it with water using a common spray bottle, just enough to dampen it but not soak thru to the drywall. I held a large two-foot trash can lid to catch the fluff as it came off. By keeping it damp, there was no dust and it came off very easily. If it wasn’t easy, I just misted it some more until it softened. I hope this is helpful to someone.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks for the tips, Patty!
Ali says
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s not really bothered by popcorn ceilings. You always see people on HGTV who hate them and I guess I just don’t get it haha. These decorating tricks are handy even for those without “acne” ceilings 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Nope, not too bothered by them at all! I know – it sometimes drives me crazy at just how much people want everything just perfect on HGTV – that’s not real life!!
Victoria says
Thank you for all these great tips! We just got the clear to close on our townhouse so I’m already remodeling in my head:) I do think I’ll try removing the popcorn in one small room first and see how it goes, if it’s too traumatic then I’ll go with the “distraction” plan:) I notice Amazon has a lot of tools now that catch the popcorn as it’s coming off so maybe that’ll help!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I’ve seen those things on Amazon and they do look intriguing, Victoria!
Rhonda says
These are great tips. I don’t have popcorn ceilings, but I love the large pictures and long panels. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best Linkup.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks so much, Rhonda!
Irene K. says
Just like another person, I don’t get what all of the popcorn hate is about. I moved into my new home and it has popcorn on every ceiling except the kitchen and baths. I. Do. Not. Care! Just for the heck of it, I also had an estimate done. Instead of paying for removing the ceiling that I did not care about, I bought a household toy instead. I do have my priorities! Thanks for a great article. Glad to see I’m not alone.
Jenna says
Totally not alone, Irene! 🙂
Anya says
How we can cover the water stains on the popcorn ceiling? My landlord says it’s not possible but I doubt it. It looks so bad with the stains.
Jenna says
Use a primer like Kilz or Zinnser first, then come back with ceiling paint. You may need to use two coats of primer.
Karen says
MWB checking in on my favorite Freak! <3 I have the popcorn but just painted the ceilings the same color as the walls. Actually makes the rooms look bigger. Of course I am not freakish enough….yet…to use the dark vibrant colors you do.
Jenna says
Oooooh, that’s a good idea, Karen!! Hadn’t thought about painting the same color as the walls!
Paul says
New doesn’t mean better and looks are influenced on what’s new. Think about it no one is putting in new popcorns all you ever see is old how to compare that with a new ceiling and a fresh remodel but removing your popcorn just like removing your carpet means a noiser room with more echo.. Speaking of Carpet is it out is that because its colder than cheap laminate(fake wood floor) on a cold day or harder to kill the bedbugs or easy to clean up after a spill or worse all these so called modern bagless vacuums that don’t really clean and leave your room full of dust.. Me buy a quality Kirby Vac and go barefoot on my nice expensive bed bug free old Nylon Carpet in my very quiet room… ah the price to pay for better i have to have old fashioned (don’t let me get started on recessed lighting).
Cheryl Lawson says
I hate popcorn ceilings but realize that there may be other features of a home that outweigh them. We had them in our last home but, luckily, not in this one. I wonder if the cost of removal would be recovered when the home is sold . . . realtors I know say that popcorn ceilings really hurt the sale of a house. A solution my neighbor used was to have a carpenter put a thin piece of sheetrock right over the popcorn ceilings. It worked perfectly and was less expensive that removing the texture. I enjoyed this post and the comments.
Margaret Robinson says
I certainly don’t disagree with anyone who likes or can at least live with popcorn ceilings. However, it should be noted that the “popcorn” may contain asbestos and probably should be checked by an expert. Not all popcorn ceiling are a problem, but it would be better and far safer to check.
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
We tried scrapping a popcorn ceiling ourselves. The same problem, it had been painted over at some point and was incredibly difficult to remove. We finished one floor in the home due to the open floor plan and then left the rest on the upper floor. It wasn’t worth it. And you’re right, after a while you don’t notice it anymore. It wasn’t a battle worth fighting or paying for. Love your bold navy walls!
Rhonda Gales says
We’re updating my parents home, and all of the rooms have popcorn ceilings. Thanks so much for these tips. I’ll be using the curtain and picture tips.
Clearissa Coward says
Great tips!!!! I have decided not to remove my popcorn ceilings as well. I understand the task is daunting. However, I am thinking of adding beadboard to the ceilings downstairs and painting the ceilings upstairs. We will see. TFS with #omgww.
Julia says
We had popcorn ceilings in our last home and we painted them a bright white. It made a huge difference and I hardly noticed them. Friends of ours had theirs covered, not exactly sure what kind of material it was though, like plywood maybe?
Denise and Sean | HelpingHunny says
Jenna,
We had literally 5 different textures of popcorn ceiling in our current house when we bought it. We decided to cover them with fresh dry wall because they had never been sealed/painted and the previous owners were smokers – talk about stained! Hopefully our next house won’t be such a mess so we can use these tips. Honestly, I’ll be using some of these tips anyways 🙂 I love your TV gallery wall – I’m hoping to do something similar in our family room so the TV can blend in and the fireplace can be the focal point.
Thanks for the great post and inspiration!
*pinned!
Cheers,
Denise
Julie Briones says
Great tips for a popcorn ceiling. My kids are moving into a new rental home, and I will def be passing these tips on to them! Thanks for sharing at Tuesday Turn About!
Judy says
I should have read all of this information before I removed the popcorn ceiling in my vanity. Not worth the time or trouble. I will paint the ceiling but I am finished removing anymore. Will use the decorative suggestions.
Thsnkd
Ellen says
We just moved into a home with popcorn ceilings. They were all in great shape and very bright and clean except for 1 bedroom which looked really dingy. I was dreading painting them but before I tackled it, I got up there with a soft brush on the vacuum cleaner. Miracle!! That dingy-ness was just years of dust that collected up there. They look pristine.