During the 1950s housing boom that followed World War II, home builders and consumers needed to expedite the postwar construction process any way they could in order to meet demand. One simple solution for finishing off a room was the popcorn ceiling, a sticky spray application that created texture without the need for costly and time-intensive finishing techniques. A regular ceiling might need to be sanded, plastered and painted. With a popcorn finish, one application was all it took. Saving on construction wasn’t the only benefit. Because of its 3D surface, a popcorn ceiling could easily hide imperfections in the underlying material. It was also good for sound dampening, especially in apartments. There was just one problem. As the century wore on, both residents and environmental agencies grew increasingly concerned about asbestos, which was often used in popcorn ceilings. By the 1970s, building regulations banned asbestos, which resulted in popcorn ceilings being made of other materials, like Styrofoam. By the 1980s, the design began to fall out of favor. So, if you see a popcorn ceiling today, it’s likely a relic from another era.
