How to get smooth walls in our kitchen

Nora Wagener
by Nora Wagener

We purchased a 120 year old home a year ago. It’s an old 2 bedroom farm home. We love it! After replacing lots of wood rot, replacing the roof, expanding the tiny bathroom, repairing ceilings, etc., we now want to tackle our kitchen walls. We think there is wallpaper underneath the Sheetrock mud that was put on rather thickly. One wall has vintage yellow tile on the lower half (which I like but my husband doesn’t). Two walls have bead board, which I love. We want to have nice smooth walls to paint. I need some ideas. Hubby thinks it would just be easier to remove all of the sheetrock on the upper walls and replace it. Do you agree? Keep or replace the yellow ceramic tile?

  14 answers
  • Grace Gleason Grace Gleason on Mar 14, 2021

    I see you have a lovely popcorn ceiling too!


    I'm with your husband. That yellow tile makes my teeth hurt. It would be gone in a flash. Sorry! If I were certain that's sheetrock - not plaster - under the mud, I'd take it out and replace it. Plaster is such a mess to deal with. I'm a fool for bead board too!


    I'd cover the popcorn ceiling with something, maybe tin or faux tin panels, to keep it from shedding little chunks of stuff in my food. ( I have one in my bedroom, and it does that, really.)


    Good luck with this room. Glad you have survived your renovation and still love your old house. :-)

    • Nora Wagener Nora Wagener on Mar 14, 2021

      Hi, Grace! Loved your response. Ok, the yellow tile goes! I have a sister-in-law who hates it, too! 😂. Oh, yes, the popcorn ceiling is absolutely going!! I love your faux tin idea! Thank you!

  • To get smooth walls for paint, I would remove the old tile and sheetrock over the walls.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Mar 14, 2021

    Wow, your house is full of charm, I mean that in a nice way.


    Looks like 3 textures (maybe 4) in 1 room! Yes, the tiles need to go, I am casting a vote for the beadboard. Love the mud surfacing, very unique and perfect for the setting. The ceiling needs help too, for that maybe drywall or beadboard to match the wall beadboard.

    Happy renovations!

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Mar 14, 2021

    Hello. I tend to agree with complete removal and replacement.


    Another consideration — with an older home....is if —there’s lead paint in the walls you wouldn’t want to be sanding or trying to disturb that. Probably the safest most time effective solution is removal and replacement.

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Mar 14, 2021

    the easiest thing might be to remove the tile and Sheetrock over it all. Or beadboard if you love it.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Mar 14, 2021

    What do you have more of- time or money?


    Sadly, drywall has joined the Building Materials price-hikes that are 300% higher than Feb 2020.

    1/4” drywall will be cheaper than 1/2” and maybe you just go over the existing texture, after knocking it down.

    Paint the tile, with tile paint.


    If you decide to sand the too-much drywall mud, I’d try to knock down the high spots with a 6” steel putty knife, like a plane, first.

    Then skim coat it with drywall Topping “mud”.



  • Dee Dee on Mar 14, 2021

    The very easiest way would be to cover over it with beadboard or flat paneling which you could then paint. The yellow tiles could be painted with an epoxy paint. But I would keep them and decorate that bathroom in Yellow and blues.

  • William William on Mar 14, 2021

    Remove the textured drywall and replace with new. Paint the tiles with Rustoleum or Homax tub and tile paint.

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/bathroom/showers-tubs/how-to-paint-tile-the-easy-way-34176457


    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/yes-you-really-can-paint-tiles-rust-oleum-tile-transformations-kit-7569621


    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/bathroom/showers-tubs/painted-shower-tile-38393518


    Remove or cover the popcorn ceiling.

    https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=popcorn%20ceiling

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Mar 15, 2021

    I think this is a replace. Replace the tile and the sheetrock to start over for a good looking final project.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Mar 15, 2021

    I would keep the tile and go with the "lemon" theme or something else that will accent the yellow.

    As for area above it, it appears to be flakeboard that has been painted. You will probably be best served by adding 1/4" drywall over it or knocking it out and replacing with 1/2".

  • Annie Annie on Mar 18, 2021

    Install new sheet rock over existing. You will need to remove that tile board first.

  • Maura White Maura White on Mar 18, 2021

    I think just getting the whole surface flat and repainting would look the best.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Mar 28, 2021

    You answered you had more time than money.

    4’x8’ Drywall or Sheetrock - $10 per sheet

    4’x8’ MDF Primed Beadboard - $20 per sheet.

    The drywall will take more time of those two.



  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Mar 31, 2021

    I would just cut that sheetrock you have and replace with new one .. it will be cheaper and much faster and most of all cleaner