Popcorn ceilings were standard in a lot of Metro Atlanta homes built from the 1960s through the 1980s. They hide imperfections, but they also trap dust, yellow over time, and make rooms feel lower and darker than they are.
The first question is age. Acoustic ceiling texture applied before the 1980s can contain asbestos. If your home is from that era, get a sample lab-tested before anyone scrapes it. It's inexpensive and fast, and it tells you whether removal is a normal job or one that needs an abatement company.
If the test is clear, the real work is in what happens after scraping. The drywall underneath is rarely perfect: seams show, tape is loose, and screw heads stick out. A proper job repairs those spots and skim-coats the ceiling so it reads smooth under light, then primes and paints it flat.
Expect the room to be sealed in plastic for the duration, with floors and walls covered. Done right, the mess stays in the room, and the result is a brighter space that looks years newer.