You don't have to rely on paint to add texture to a plain ceiling. There are lots of diverse alternatives -- from easy ...

If you're not enamored with that exposed basement ceiling, you might want to consider an inventive DIY to transform the space ...

By purchasing glue-on ceiling tiles, you can completely cover the popcorn ceilings and get a more contemporary look without the high cost. You can even DIY the project, saving on labor costs.