How do I get rid of a popcorn ceiling?

I have popcorn ceilings and I want them smooth. I am sick of living with texture on my ceiling. What is the easiest way to remove or cover over the ceiling to make it flat and smooth?

Hey I just finished the thing based on advice I got in someone elses question. It was simple. Just really messy. I had to cover everythng in plastic and get all the furniture out. I bought one of those pump-up deck sprayers and filled it with warm water. I saturated an area and then switched to the 12' Taping Knife. With I taping knife I easily sloffed(not really scraping at all) the popcorn right off down to bare wallboard.

Good Luck to the next person who tries this one. No matter how well I masked and cleaned a little water got through into the carpet so it had to be cleaned. The ceiling looked awesome though. If I remember I will take a photo of the new ceiling after the popcorn and post it in my photos.

If I were you, I'd hire an interior designer to take a look at your cieling (nice picture) and the give you an estimate for the job. Unless you know something about walls, I'd leave it up to a contractor or professional. Good luck.

ok its actually a lot of work to do someting like that but this is how I would go about first get a ton of drop clothes and cover your funiture then your goig to sand down the celling not fun at all its an unconfortable position and your constantly getting dust in your eyes but then after you have sanded it smooth you paint. if you go to lows or something like that they could also give you advice and would help you pick out all the tools you need