Painting A Popcorn Ceiling? Never Use These Colors

Popcorn ceilings were all the rage in the 1960s and 1970s and commonly used in new home construction through the 1990s. Although popcorn ceilings do have some benefits, they are outdated, collect dust easily, and, if installed before 1980, possibly contain asbestos. Scraping and smoothing these surfaces is expensive and time-consuming, so for a more approachable solution, you can update old popcorn ceilings without removing them by using a simple coat of paint. But while the right color will help freshen a worn ceiling and maintain a subtle appearance, the wrong color will accentuate flaws and an uneven texture.

The paint colors to never use on a popcorn ceiling include bright or overly saturated colors like vivid reds, oranges, or blues. Metallic colors have a high gloss sheen that will increase reflections on the ceiling and highlight it in undesirable ways. Dark colors, such as navy or deep purple, aren't always the best choice either, because they lower the ceiling, make the space feel smaller, and can bring attention to the popcorn texture. If your goal is to draw the focus away from your popcorn ceiling, another common painting mistake you might make on your ceiling is using the same color as the walls. Too much color everywhere can overwhelm the room, and a colored ceiling will be harder to work with if you want to change up the look. The house will feel drab with ceilings and walls in beiges and other boring hues, while bright tones all over can make the space feel small or chaotic as well as draw attention to the texture.

When painting a popcorn ceiling, you need to consider the best color, type of paint, and finish for your paint. Interior latex paint is the best option for painting your popcorn ceilings. A flat or matte finish helps reduce the visibility of imperfections and the texture of the ceiling. Glossier finishes create a shine when light reflects off the paint that will accentuate the texture of the ceiling.

White is among the best colors to use on popcorn ceilings. Any variation of white on the ceiling helps make a room feel bigger and brighter, and a light ceiling will draw attention away from the popcorn texture. If you don't love the idea of white, you could use another light color, such as a light gray or a light yellow, to minimize the appearance of the popcorn. Although dark colors may work against you in many situations, another paint trick to visually remove your popcorn ceiling without scraping it off is to paint the ceiling with a matte black paint. Matte black paint absorbs light, which reduces the contrast and shadows created by the bumpy surface of the popcorn. Regardless of the color you choose, a thick acrylic latex paint can be unstable on the popcorn. If the paint is too thick and heavy, it is more likely to peel. You can apply the paint in thin layers or thin out the paint by adding small amounts of water to improve your results.