Hi Adrianne, I'm not sure you will ever fall in love with your ceilings but you can minimize it's texture using flat paint - white with a touch of the wall color mixed in. This will also minimize the contrast between the walls and ceiling.

Thanks for the tip. I was very bummed to learn we couldn't scrape the popcorn - we have done that in a previous home and it was messy but not difficult. Oh well.

There is crown molding on all the rooms - would you recommend keeping it? We had thought about toning the trim work down from a white to a softer color.

I am wondering what a pro (and you of course!) think about possibly paneling over them given the 8 foot ceilings. Less costly than removing and the drywall work?

I am not certain how to take the eye away from pop corn ceilings. It is there and humans are just too smart to think otherwise! However I would make certain your painting contractor is correct about the effect of oil based paint on these ceilings. In my previous house in southern California radiant heating, which we loved, had been installed under the ceilings and our contractor informed us cement/concrete was mixed in with the "pop corn" making it very strong (this was earthquake country of course and the home was built by a GC for his own family's use). So we had all of the public areas as well as the very important master bedroom ceiling (one can see the pop corn at night when one is trying to fall asleep and is left for hours staring at the unfortunate choice of pop corn.) plastered over. It wasn't the cheapest way to go (less cost though than a "real"plaster job) but it was relatively painless and neat, and we loved the smooth white look that resulted. Maybe you can get a quote for this to be done in your master bedroom. and if it's not too outrageous do it everywhere or plan to have your home done section by section as funds become available. Good luck with your decision

Hi again - a couple comments. Yes it's true that a popcorn ceiling with oil based paint can't be scraped. The only way to get popcorn off is to saturate it and scrape. No water based solvent will work on oil based paint and nobody in their right mind would apply paint thinner in the amounts needed to do the job.
Yes, definitely keep the crown moldings and paint them a lighter color than the walls and ceiling. This will distract your eye from the ceilings.
Lastly, if it fits the style of your home, paneling over them as suggested by kcbullock is a good option too.

here's an ideabook on tongue and groove ceilings
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/renovation-detail-tongue-and-groove-ceilings-stsetivw-vs~2154297

Don't really understand the fact you can't scrape oil paint? Anyone else?? It's a pain to do, but has been done. You can also dry wall ceiling only and paint white. Keep ceiling light since its so low. Why would you have to do walls, with dry wall? I would try another company someone who specialized in removal.

Leave moulding white like ceiling. Moulding actually makes ceiling appear higher. Moulding should be 6" high. To make a difference.

If the popcorn ceiling can't be remedied or replaced, you can make it less obvious by painting the walls and ceiling (and trim if there is any) with the same color. The ceilings in the attached pictures are popcorn textured.

Hi Traversinteriors - I've never been able to get a contractor to touch a ceiling with oil based paint. Maybe I just haven't found the brave soul who would take this on...lol.

I agree with PH Interiors. First it was the painter that said no, but then the GC thought maybe he was being lazy and just didn't want to. So he got up there and tested an inconspicuous spot and it's pretty much cemented to the ceiling dry wall. In all other aspects I have been happy with his judgment so I am inclined to believe him.

I had thought about paneling - especially in the living areas. Does anyone think that would make the ceiling feel lower? I may try it in a guest room and see what it looks like.

Thank you!

I think beadboard looks great, especially with a simple molding used with it.

That looks really nice. Great suggestion!

Does anyone know what that would cost (ball park)? I was quoted about $6 per sq foot to redo the dry wall completely.

I guess I might understand panelling over pop corn ceilings or applying beadboard if either was part of the style of the house and melded with your decorating plan and which left you wildly happy with the end result. With 8' ceilings applications of panelling will definitely make the ceiling seem lower. I still recommend talking with a plasterer to get an idea of what he would charge you for skim-coating a beautiful white smooth ceiling, one which will not even require painting on your part.

Madeline - was that done by a plaster specialist person or a painter? I have never heard of doing that, but am open to everything at this point! I am just wondering where I would start looking for someone like that.

@Adrianne. It was done by a plasterer and this was in California. I just checked FIND LOCAL PROS, as a test run, using my current zip code and "plasterer" for the type of pro I needed. I got 15 responses and most had plasterer and lath in their company names. Give it a try for your area. The other negative about beadboard/panelling is cutting out for lighting fixtures etc. which would be a real hassle. Good luck!

I apologize that I didn't see this advice request sooner!

There is a better solution. We're talking no mess, no dust, no toxic vapours (in fact, no vapours at all), with a finish as smooth as a mirror and unlimited design options. It's called stretch ceiling.

A fully recyclable membrane is stretched across the existing ceiling. Tracks, or profiles, are screwed into the walls or existing ceiling around the edges hold the membrane in place. These profiles and the membrane take up less than one inch of room height.

If you later desire a change, a new membrane can be inserted into the same tracks, or the tracks can be unscrewed and the screw holes easily filled with a little bit of filler. You will not need to do this as maintenance, however. The system lasts a lifetime.

We take care of installation for you, and installation is included in the price that we quote.

We carry over 280 colours, in high gloss, matte, satin, and fine canvas-textured finishes. The high gloss finish is best for creating a powerful illusion of more height.

Here are a few examples, please feel free to visit our profile for more, and add them to your ideabooks!

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We didn't saturate ours. We just scraped the h%** out of it. Took days cause you have to lower your arm to restore blood flow, but it's done. Shocked to find the original drywalker never taped; they just textured over the seams. we're in our 70s