Buying your first house usually comes with a long list of projects, and one couple already has plenty on their plate. They’re painting nearly every room, replacing the bathroom flooring, and giving the kitchen cabinets a fresh coat of paint. But as they work through their renovations, they’ve started second-guessing something that didn’t bother them when they bought the house: the popcorn ceilings.
Their home was built in the mid-1980s, and the textured ceilings are still in place. At first, the couple didn’t think much about them. Now they’re wondering whether to remove or cover them while the house is empty, or leave them alone and focus on the updates they already planned.
In a recent post, the homeowner asked whether popcorn ceilings are really that bad or whether people dislike them because they’ve been told they should.
They don’t hate the ceilings, but they’re thinking about the future
The homeowner explained that they wouldn’t choose the ceilings for a new house, but they don’t particularly dislike them either. Their hesitation comes partly from wondering how future buyers might react when they eventually decide to sell.
There’s also the timing. With little to no furniture in the house yet, removing the texture now could be less disruptive than taking on the same project after they’ve settled in. On the other hand, the couple is already stressed by the amount of remodeling they have underway.
They wanted to hear from people who had removed popcorn ceilings themselves, particularly whether the process was as aggravating as it seemed.
Some homeowners said they’ve learned to live with theirs
Several people responding to the post said they felt much the same way as the couple: popcorn ceilings might not be their favorite feature, but they don’t dislike them enough to spend time and money removing them.
One homeowner with a house built in 1985 said they had scraped the ceiling in a small bathroom. Removing the texture was easy enough, but repairing and finishing the drywall underneath was a much bigger job than expected. They decided to paint the remaining ceilings white and leave them as-is.
Another person said they simply repaint their popcorn ceilings every decade rather than worry about removing them. Others pointed out that textured ceilings can hide imperfections, while a few said they actually like the way theirs look.
The responses reminded us that a feature can feel dated without becoming an urgent renovation project. For homeowners who barely notice their ceilings, removing them may not be high on the list.
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Others said the empty house makes this the time to decide
Not everyone thought the couple should put the project off. Some people felt that if the homeowners were ever going to remove the texture, doing it before moving in would spare them the trouble of clearing rooms and protecting furniture later.
One person described having to move all the furniture from room to room while workers completed the ceilings in their house. They also had to leave the property with their dogs for several days while the work was underway. Although they were pleased with the finished ceilings, they remembered the process as a major inconvenience.
Other responses focused on the home’s appearance. Some felt popcorn ceilings could make an otherwise updated room look older, even after fresh paint and new lighting. A few also mentioned that the textured surface collects dust and can be harder to clean than a smooth ceiling.
For the couple, those comments added weight to the question they were already asking: would they regret leaving the ceilings once the rest of the renovations were finished?
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Removing the texture may be only part of the work
Homeowners who had tackled popcorn ceiling removal warned that scraping off the texture doesn’t necessarily leave behind a finished ceiling. Depending on what’s underneath, the surface may still need repairs, smoothing, and painting before it looks the way the homeowners imagined.
There’s also an important safety consideration before any removal work begins. Because the home dates to the mid-1980s, the couple shouldn’t assume the ceiling texture is asbestos-free based on its age alone. They can have a qualified professional assess the material before disturbing it.
They may not need to add another project to the list
The couple could start by finishing the renovations they already know they want, then see how they feel about the ceilings alongside the updated walls, floors, and cabinets. If the texture still bothers them, they can look into the cost and scope of removing it or covering it.
If they do want to tackle it before moving in, getting a professional assessment and estimate now could help them decide whether the convenience of an empty house outweighs the extra work and expense.
The Reddit discussion didn’t establish what the couple ultimately chose. But their dilemma is familiar to anyone who has started renovating a home: once you begin updating one thing, it’s easy to look around and wonder what else should change, even if you were perfectly happy with it before.
