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There are four(or five/six, depending on area) levels of drywall finishing when applying and sanding the tape and mud. Level one is what is done on sheetrocked but unfinished garages, one coat of tape/mud and sanded. Level two is two coats, level three is three and so on. Each application of mud after the first are widened by 2" to 4' to make the 'bump' less obvious.

That means a level four or five involves a lot more labor/expense.

Now, the human eye sees vertical surfaces(walls) differently than horizontal surfaces(floors/ceilings). Our eyes see vertical surfaces as more smooth, since both eyes follow the same path, while horizontal surfaces are seen by each eye individually and bumps/etc. are more apparent.

This is what has driven several trends in painting/decorating. Making a surface constructed with many components seem smooth and flat means filling the inevitable valleys/dips level with the hills/bumps. One way is to add material and sand/level the entire surface flat/smooth. When that surface is a wall, it is easier to do with level three tape/mud and a matte/flat paint. Because the matte/flat finish does not reflect light well, the eye does not 'see' bumps/etc. as well.

Paint the same wall with eggshell/semi gloss and the flaws are easily seen. Use a gloss paint and that wall looks like the Rocky Mountains.

Remember when I wrote about the difference in horizontal perception? The problem is much more pronounced with ceilings. In the 50's, builders began to get objections to the cost of needing level five or greater to get smooth looking ceilings. The birth of popcorn/textured ceilings happened. Builders now only needed a level one tape/mud job when popcorn was sprayed on---a two step process that could be done in two days(or less) instead of the 4+ days for better taping/mudding.

I'd bet the popcorn was removed at some point, leaving the bare minimum tape/mud job. Even if the ceiling has a level three job, the imperfections will still be easily seen. You could try painting with a flat ceiling white(generic color).

Repair at this point is more difficult. Adding mud over paint seldom works. You might add 1/4" sheet rock and have a level five finish job done, but you will still need to use ceiling white type paint.

Thank you so much for all the information. I'll have to go back and read it more thoroughly! However this it is new drywall on the ceiling. Our contractor put texture on it after they finished the mud

Also it sounds like the best solution you're saying at this point is painting it in a matte or flat white as opposed to Matt or flat in the color of the walls?

Had a similar issue in my new home. In the end we went with the same color only flat. Dead flat. Not matte.

Matte slightly lighter than the wall color will look a little darker than the wall color. Except by the window. You could go to the next level lighter on the color card with Antique White. Do a test.

Flat paint, color is your choice. Ask your contractor what level tape/mud job he had done. That looks like maybe a level three.

We went same color 50% lighter On the ceiling.

Thanks all! I did it in the eggshell finish with hopes that if I got to Splash up there be easily able to wash it off. However now that it's painted I realize it's just not worth the sacrifice of how it looks. So I'm going to have my contractor paint it in a flat finish. However I'm still debating color now? If I painted the color of the walls will it darken the room? Or will it be more cohesive looking? I was planning on either going all white or same color as the walls. Not sure if I'm ready to explore other shades unless I am convinced it would be worth the effort. I wish that my contractor had applied the texture more evenly as well however I think that ship has sailed. I guess my ceiling was framed pretty unevenly so it was a puzzle for them when they did the drywall. Remodeling an old house definitely has its issues. At least for us it sure did.

I still like white ceilings in a kitchen. It somehow makes the kitchen look cleaner. Yes, it should be a flat surface and may take 2 coats over the eggshell to get the really flat finish. I like colored ceilings in most rooms, just not a kitchen, nor a dining room.