If you can remove each tile, maybe take them down and A) paint them, B) use temporary wallpaper, or C) cover them in fabric. If you can't remove the tiles but they're sturdy enough to withstand some pressure, temporary wallpaper might still be nice! Also check out the responses to this previous very similar question: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-bedroom-eyesore-ceiling-tile-151810

I'm fairly sure that these are the old fashioned staple up kind. I'm trying to figure out the same thing (but in my house). Painting is the easiest way out, but those thing soak up paint like crazy. Covering it with wallpaper is another. Another thing that you could try that may work is taking a very, VERY lightweight fabric and spray adhesivening it on. Then peeling it off when you leave.

I hate those things.

Just found the following yesterday. Might suit your needs... a little bold though.

http://mioculture.com/create/artist-edition-foldscape-square-tile.html
http://mioculture.com/custom-foldscape-square-tile.html

Ahhh never mind... my eyes failed me with your picture. Different tiles altogether.

I think ignoring is the best bet for a rental, although if paint is allowed it will probably improve the look. Prime first if you decide to paint!

I did see some of the rectangular commercial-style acoustic ceiling tiles (the kind that fit in frames) that were painted. It looked pretty good.

I also think if your ceiling is ugly it is a mistake to call attention to it by putting anything up there -- like your scarf. OTOH, maybe the light fixture is super-ugly, too.

Re-post I believe.

Just do drywall. Go take a class on it at Home Depot for free. You'll probably want to know how to do it when you own your house eventually. Are there 2x4's behind it. Nail drywall to ceiling, tape and paste, sand. It's not hard. You'll need help to get the large panels up, but drywall is not hard. Why are those up there? I thought those were only in school as well. Are they made of asbestos? Landlords do some messed up stuff to save a few very measly dollars.

Thinking about it more...I think you'll get used to them and they won't stand out as much. You'll be moving on sooner or later.

I'm a fire protection engineer by profession, and my first thought when I saw the post was: NO FABRIC! Especially the lighter fabrics, or cloth that hangs loosely from the ceiling (such as in the picture) as they are even more dangerous than heavy or taught fabrics. I agree with Portlandrules, if anything do drywall. It is more or less used for fire proofing in buildings, and it's very safe, easy, and good-looking. Either that, or just ignore it. Paint is a safe solution as well.

Ask your landlord if you can paint them, if they are smart they will say yes because it's a pain in the ass and no one wants to do it.

I have them in my house and painted with great success, used Olympic brand masonry primer which is very thick and won't soak in as much as ordinary primer. Use a nappy roller, like 1/2" and just go to town. It will actually fill in some of the smaller holes in the tile surface.

Pencils. Make it a sculptural object.

1. but a bulk package of muli colored pencils
2. invite all your friends over
3. sharpen all the pencils
4. ask your friend to throw them at the ceiling
5. voila'

Like this:
http://www.ryanross.com/in_the_year_2000.htm

I had similar acoustic tiles in our bedroom. There was a covered "boob light" style fixture on the ceiling.

We put up lengths of fabric with regular fabric pins (the kinds with pearls on the ends) everywhere EXCEPT the light - there was a CFL bulb under glass, so no fire hazard from having the fabric draped elsewhere. It looked much softer.

you said "boob light."

I would just live with them. It is a rental place. Save your money toward your own place and the things you love to go in it :)

Nothing is perfect in a rental...and here's the proof. Don't do anything that will jeopardize your safety or security deposit. Invest that money in good furniture and a down payment on a place of your own.

Save your $ and time for something far more enjoyable.

I have to disagree with the well-intentioned suggestions to drywall the ceiling! Installing drywall properly on a ceiling is a LOT of work, and is NOT as easy as it sounds.

It's a rental. Why not concentrate your time, money and energy on furnishing and decorating the apartment and forget about the ugly ceiling? Use beautiful lamps, as opposed to overhead lighting, and you'll barely notice the ceiling.

First, I would just forget it. As long as they aren't stained, they really aren't that bad. Think of them as some sort of abstract giant sea sponge... they do have some texture and that's interesting. If you went with an industrial/schoolhouse light fixture and furniture, it could be really cute.

If you really can't stand them and plan to stay a while, then my suggestion is to cover them with some sort of wood planks. Bead board, or tongue and groove. I've seen people use that click and lock wood flooring on ceilings, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's very bad. Just make sure the finish is matte and the color natural/light, or else it will look like the floors are on the ceiling and you are crazy.

If you decide to paint remember to prime, prime, prime! And buy a lot more paint that you intend to use. That stuff is like a sponge.

They are not as bad as they seem. Altering just draws more attention. Make the rest of the room so beautiful that you will not notice the ceiling.

Painting alters the sound dampening qualities of acoustical tiles. Not a good idea if there are upstairs neighbors.

Just ignore them. (The tiles, not the neighbors!)

I love Duane Hill's idea!

Instead of pencils, use colored drinking straws! Poke them in each hole. Hysterical!

Why do people keep saying "its a rental so live with it or ignore it" ???? You all do realize that a lot of people live in rentals for years. Some have no intention (or the ability) of buying their own place. We all don't jump from apartment to apartment every year.

I have ugly ceilings too and I'm go to try and adding wallpaper to it.

Q: Are there any temporary solutions to hide it?
A: No

hmmm...maybe faux tin? im not sure how you would apply it but it may be as simple as just cutting the tin and sliding in front of the acoustic tile.

My guess is that the landlord installed acoustic tile to help keep noise in the apartment. That's actually a good thing for a landlord to do--keep his tenants from hearing each other's noise.

It's a rental. It's a ceiling. Anything other than pinning fabric to it runs the risk of damaging the ceiling. How much do you want your security deposit back?

I just moved out of a place with worse ceilings--stained, droopy acoustic tiles that looked like they were going to fall down, but never did. None of my friends noticed them, or at least not enough to comment on. They are what they are. Most attempts to disguise them are going to make them more noticeable. People are going to wonder why you have all that fabric or wallpaper up on the ceiling.

I have seen them painted black at a salon I went to, and it looked awesome. I also like the fabric idea, if you billow it, I think it should be fire safe...

I think that Kidwell's comments (the fire prevention engineer) about fabric is getting to the point that drywall doesn't catch fire easily. On the other hand, thin, billowy fabric will catch fire quickly and spread across the ceiling, and therefore across the room, in mere seconds. Not so much because it is near the lightbulb, although that is a risk, but because if something else in the room catches fire, it will set fabric on the ceiling on fire much more quickly than if the ceiling is made of approved materials. Seconds count when you are trying to get out of a burning building.