Why We Removed the Popcorn Ceilings in Our 1930s House

One of the very first things we tackled when starting the renovation of our 1930s home was removing the popcorn ceilings.

As a designer, popcorn ceilings are one of those details that immediately date a space. They tend to make rooms feel darker and heavier, and they take away from the architecture of the home.

When we first walked through the house, most of the ceilings on the first floor were covered in popcorn texture. Removing it quickly became one of our priorities.

For now, we’re focusing only on the first-floor ceilings. The plan is to continue upstairs later, once the first floor of the renovation is much further along.

Why Popcorn Ceilings Were Used

Popcorn ceilings became popular in homes built between the 1950s and 1980s.

They were commonly used because they were:

• inexpensive

• quick for builders to apply

• good at hiding imperfections in drywall

• helpful for reducing sound

While they served a purpose at the time, they rarely complement the character of older homes today.

How We Removed Them

Pete started by lightly spraying the ceiling with water before scraping the popcorn texture. The water helps soften the material and reduces dust while removing it.

In older homes, popcorn ceilings can sometimes contain asbestos, so keeping the surface damp helps prevent particles from becoming airborne. We also made sure to wear masks, gloves, and protect the space while working.

Once the popcorn layer was removed, we discovered the drywall underneath was in worse condition than we expected. We initially tried skim coating the ceiling to smooth it out, but it didn’t work as well as we had hoped.

Our final solution was installing new sheetrock after adding recessed lighting. This allowed us to start fresh with a clean ceiling surface and improve the lighting in the space at the same time.

Right now the sheetrock is installed, but we haven’t mudded it yet. That will be the next step, and I’ll share more about that part of the process once we get there.

Why It Made Such a Difference

Even just removing the popcorn texture made the house feel completely different.

The ceilings instantly feel:

• cleaner

• brighter

• more architectural

Ceilings are something people often overlook, but they have a huge impact on how a room feels.

Renovation Updates

I’m currently documenting the renovation of our 1930s home and sharing the process, design decisions, and lessons along the way.

There’s still a lot ahead — including finishing the ceilings — and I’ll continue sharing updates as we go.