<P> A popcorn ceiling (slang), also known as a cottage cheese ceiling, a stucco ceiling or formally an acoustic ceiling, is a term for a spray - on or paint - on ceiling treatment . It was the standard for bedroom and residential hallway ceilings for its bright, white appearance, ability to hide imperfections, and acoustical characteristics . In comparison, kitchen and living room ceilings would normally be finished in smoother skip - trowel or orange peel texture for their higher durability and ease of cleaning . </P> <P> In early formulations it often contained white asbestos fibers . When asbestos was banned in ceiling treatments by the Clean Air Act of 1978 in the United States, popcorn ceilings fell out of favor in much of the country . However, in order to minimize economic hardship to suppliers and installers, existing inventories of asbestos - bearing texturing materials were exempt from the ban, so it is possible to find asbestos in popcorn ceilings that were applied through the 1980s . After the ban, popcorn ceiling materials were created using a paper - based or Styrofoam product to create the texture, rather than asbestos . Textured ceilings remain common in residential construction in the United States . </P>

Who thought popcorn ceilings were a good idea