You need to know about painting popcorn ceilings

Even something simple like painting requires precision and skill if you are to get the job done perfectly; and this is especially true when it comes to painting popcorn ceilings. 

Popcorn ceilings are also called acoustic ceilings or cottage cheese ceilings (how cute, right?), and are made with small particles mixed with the paint to get an uneven, rough texture that looks like popcorn or cottage cheese 🙂

They’re usually great for covering up imperfections on the ceiling like cracks or holes or preventing unpleasant sound effects like echoes.

If you’re planning on painting a popcorn ceiling yourself, there are a few things you need to do and consider before you get started. Here’s what my team and I do on our projects!

Repair and clean your ceiling

Just like preparing a wall, you need to prepare the surface before painting your ceilings. 

Start by getting rid of the dust and cobwebs using a light duster—the most effective are usually feather dusters or micro dusters. If you want a faster cleaning job, though, try using a vacuum cleaner but make sure you’re attaching a soft-bristled brush so you don’t damage the texture of the ceiling.

The next step is to remove any loose texture and cover up the cracks and stains. Try a stain-blocking primer so unsightly stains won’t peak from beneath your new paint. Want an even faster finish? I recommend a popcorn ceiling patch spray. 

Finally, prepare the edges of the ceiling by scraping off a small section with a width of about ¼ inches along the edge of the ceiling. This will help you make sure your painting is smoother and more precise.

Prepare your room or home for painting

Your next step is to make sure the rest of the room is ready for a newly painted ceiling. 

This means making sure your painting and cleaning don’t damage the rest of the home—your walls, furniture, and floors. 

Cover the walls using plastic sheets and painter’s tape. Cover the rest of the room, including the floor, with old clothes or plastic sheets as well. 

The room has to be safe for you, or whoever is painting it, too. Before starting, make sure the room is ventilated with enough open windows and doors to prevent you from inhaling toxic fumes. 

Choose the easiest painting method

What is the best method to paint a popcorn ceiling—spraying or roller brushes? In my (humble) opinion, both are pretty effective. 

In terms of convenience, however, spraying is better, especially when you’re painting small corners and nooks that are difficult to reach with a roller. Spraying also allows you to make a thinner coat, which is a better option for popcorn ceilings. 

It’s also better to use an airless paint sprayer; this allows you to enjoy a smoother finish on your ceiling by preventing over-spraying and thick coats. You can rest assured that there will be next to no peeling too!

Go for the right colors

While you’re certainly free to choose a color that works for your home, here are a few tips that may help. 

White is generally one of the safest choices for painting a popcorn ceiling. If pure white sounds too dull, you can always choose a suitable off-white shade😀

It’s also important to consider the other design elements and furnishing of the room too. First, consider its size: Smaller rooms benefit from lighter colors because it makes the room appear much larger. Dark colors can make them look smaller and cramped. 

When choosing paint for your ceiling, try and match it with the other colors you’ve used for your interior painting to ensure some kind of stylistic alignment too; this will always help you maintain a classic, timeless aesthetic inside your home!

Painting popcorn ceilings can be a breeze when you follow the right steps!

If you rush into any painting job without preparing well and understanding what the best practices are, you’re going to be left with a less-than-ideal outcome. 

Taking the right precautions and following the necessary steps, on the other hand, will help you get the happy ending you’re looking for with your DIY painting project!

If you want your project completed on a faster timeline and with a professional finish, however, I recommend working with the pros—and not just any pros; I mean a team that understands your vision and is dedicated to ensuring you get the results you want.

Best of luck!😊