How can I repair a textured ceiling without making a mess?
Caulk the hairline cracks. Pick out the nail pop plaster, screw the nail or screw back in with an adjacent screw to hold it in, spackle &amp; prime. Then, re-paint the ceilings with a Sandy Paint or Add Sand to any paint.

Roll-on the new paint for everything. But then, go back with a brush to do a 2nd or 3rd coat with a brush. The brush will let you swirl &amp; build-up any flat areas for a pretty perfect match quite easily.