Types of Textured Paint
When texturing a wall, you can either add physical texture or create a faux finish with paint tools and supplies that mimics the look of a textured wall. Both wall styles are attractive and can hide small defects, but physical texture on the wall is denser, adds a layer of protection and can dampen sound. To add a physical texture, you will need to know how to texture walls with paint additives or a pre-textured paint.
Texture grades range from very fine to coarse. While many textured paints can be used on both walls and ceilings, some are designed specifically for one or the other. Below are the types of texture styles you can choose from:
- Smooth texture paint: Despite its name, smooth texture paint is not smooth. It has a light texture that is much subtler than other types of textured paints. It does not contain sand or other materials to create a rough, grainy appearance. Instead, it is thick and heavy and mimics the appearance of stucco or plaster. Because of how thick it is, smooth texture paint needs to be applied with a trowel or putty knife.
- Sand texture paint: Sand texture paint features an extra-heavy bodied finish that can be used to add a gritty texture to both walls and ceilings. While you can purchase paint pre-mixed with sand, you can best control the amount of texture by using a silicasand additive in regular paint.
- Knockdown texture: You can create a knockdown texture by applying joint compound (also known as drywall compound or drywall mud)to your walls or ceiling, then smoothing the stalactite-like peaks down with a knife. The result is a marbled texture that can then be painted any color. Knockdown texture is most popular as a ceiling texture.
- Popcorn texture: Also known as acoustic drywall texture, popcorn texture is a heavy, puffy ceiling texture that deadens sound. It is created using a joint compound mixed with large texturizing pieces made from materials such as Styrofoam. Once applied, popcorn texture is difficult to remove and may require a professional to remove it if it was applied before 1978, since there is a risk it may contain asbestos.
- Orange peel texture: A very popular wall texture choice, orange peel texture is a subtle splatter texture created by spraying plaster onto drywall. The layer of plaster makes the walls more durable against cracks and dents. As the name implies, this wall texture resembles the soft bumps of an orange peel.
Tip: Using a paint texture additiveor joint compound will allow you to add texture to any paint color of your choice.
How to Texture a Wall with Joint Compound
Texturing a wall using joint compound or drywall mud is forgiving for DIYers, since the compound’s long drying time allows you to simply wipe it away and start again if necessary.
- Start by cleaning the walls and allowing them to completely dry.
- Combine the joint compound with water according to the proportions listed in the manufacturer’s instructions. The resulting mixture should have the consistency of a thick batter.
- Use a trowel or wide putty knife to spread it on the wall.
- For a stucco-like texture, dip a sponge into the compound mixture and pat it onto the wall until you reach your desired texture.
- For a crosshatched or ridged texture, use a notched trowel to draw lines into the joint compound.
- For a knockdown texture, apply the joint compound by stamping it onto the wall or ceiling with a stomp brush. Then use a putty knife to scrape away the peaks the brush leaves behind. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the putty knife, as you can accidentally smooth away too much texture.
- Once you’ve textured the whole wall, look at it from a distance and do spot touch-ups. Add or remove joint compound as needed.
- Allow the joint compound to dry for at least a full 24-hours before painting.
How to Texture a Wall with a Texture Sprayer
If you want to achieve an orange peel texture on your walls or a popcorn texture on your ceiling, you’ll need a drywall texture sprayer. Similar to a paint sprayer, a texture sprayer is designed for evenly applying dense joint compound across large surfaces. This is the easiest method for texturizing ceilings.
Follow the steps below to learn how to texture walls with a texture sprayer:
- Clean the walls and allow them to dry completely.
- Combine the joint compound with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Note that the texture sprayer may require a higher water content in the joint compound mix than what is recommended by the compound manufacturer. Cross-reference both the compound manufacturer’s instructions and the sprayer’s instructions and add more water as needed.
- Cover furniture, floors and walls you don’t want textured with plastic drop sheets. Texture sprayers are imprecise and can be messy.
- Add the joint compound to the texture sprayer’s hopper.
- Adjust the nozzle and air flow for your desired texture.
- Increasing the air flow will decrease the amount of compound sprayed onto the wall. Decreasing the air flow will increase the amount of compound sprayed onto the wall.
- Use slow, even motions to spray the compoundonto the walls.
- Complete one wall at a time so that you can take breaks and maintain a uniform texture on each wall.
- Allow the joint compound to dry for at least a full 24 hours before painting.
How to Texture a Wall with a Sponge
You can create a faux texture finish with just a paint sponge if you want the appearance of texture without adding a layer of joint compound to your walls. This is the easiest way to add texture to your walls, since it requires very few materials and no previous painting experience. Creating this faux finish should also take less time than texturing the walls with joint compound, since you won’t have extra drying time to worry about.
If you want to learn how to texture walls with paint, then try this sponge technique:
- Clean the walls and allow them to dry completely.
- If you plan to change the underlying color of the wall, paint it as you normally would, and let it dry.
- Soak a sponge in paint. The paint can either be the same color as the underlying layer of paint, or it can be a contrasting color for a more striking effect.
- Dab the sponge onto the wall repeatedly to create a random, textured pattern until the entire wall is covered to your liking.
- Sea sponges create irregular, more natural patterns while synthetic sponges create uniform, rectangular patterns.
- This technique can be done with regular or textured paint.
- Cut a sponge into narrow strips to paint in corners.
How to Texture a Wall with a Roller
Another way to texture walls is with a paint roller. This is a simple technique that can be used to add textured paint or to create a faux finish.
Texturing withjoint compoundor textured paint
- Clean the walls and allow them to dry completely.
- Combine the joint compound with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Pour the joint compound into a paint tray, then use a paint roller to roll it onto the wall.
- Wait for the joint compound on the wall to partially dry, then roll over the wall again.Doing so will pull up the partially dried compound to create a pleasing 3-dimensional texture.
- Use a brush to texturize corners.
- Once the compound has completely dried after 24-hours, you can paint the walls.
- When using textured paint, check the paint’s manufacturer’s instructions to see if it recommends just a single coat.
- For a more defined texture, use a thick-nap roller cover.
Texturing with paint for a faux finish
- Prepare and clean the walls as you normally would for painting.
- Paint a base colorand allow it to dry.
- Using either a thick-naproller cover or a stencil roller, roll a complementary glaze or second paintcolor over the base coat.
Wall Texture Tips & Tricks
To create more styles of faux finishes, you can use a variety of other painting tools and supplies.
Combing technique
- Use a paint comb to create patterns such as zigzags, checkerboards, wavy lines or swirls in wet paint.
Rag rolling technique
- After the base coat is applied, dip a rag into your accent paint, wring out the excess, wad into a ball and roll it along the wall.
- Try different rag materials such as cheesecloth, lace, linen or burlap for different looks.
- You can change directions as you roll to create a random pattern or go over areas multiple times for deeper impact.
- This technique can be done with regular or textured paint.
Smooshing technique
- Apply a glaze to a wall, then place a plastic sheet against the wall before it dries. Remove the sheet to create a marbled pattern.
- Smooth, rub or wrinkle the plastic with your hand before removing from the wall to create different patterns.
Wood graining technique
- This process gives walls the look of wood.
- After a base coat of glaze is applied, use a wood graining tool to complete the process.
Other tips
- Prepare walls with a drywall primer before applying joint compound.
- Always strip existing texture before applying new texture.
- Texture additives can be mixed into most oil-based and latex paints.
- Touch up spray is available for repairing acoustic or popcorn ceilings.
- Powdered texture compounds are best for heavy-duty texturing jobs.
- Smooth eggshell or satin paint can be applied on top of the textured wall or ceiling to highlight the depth of the effects.
Once you’ve mastered how to texture walls, you can apply the techniques anywhere in your homeyou want to create some decorative interest. Texturing walls is a DIY-friendly project that’s low-cost and requires few tools. When you’re ready to try one of these techniques, find the supplies you need and order online from The Home Depot for free delivery straight to your door.
FAQs
How can I texture my walls at home? ›
Fill a paint tray with the texture material or texture paint. Dip a paint roller into the paint tray, roll it out, and then apply the texture over the wall or ceiling surface. An ordinary roller cover will produce a texture, but there are also special roller covers available that are designed for stippling.
What product do you use to texture walls? ›An easy way to texture walls is by simulating a stucco finish with joint taping compound (also known as drywall mud) which can be purchased at any home improvement store. According to Oliver, this virtually fail-safe method often yields satisfying results for even average do-it-yourselfers.
What is the easiest wall texture? ›The orange peel design is perhaps the most common wall texture. It's common because it's easy to apply and affordable for anyone to access. The orange peel texture looks and feels like a citrus rind, hence the name. This texture is ideal because it offers an understated accent to any space.
Can I texture my own walls? ›You can add texture to your walls using textured paint. Using paint in this way can give you more options than the basic eggshell, satin or flat sheens. Instead, you may choose from stone, sand, faux finish or original textures. Textured paint is good for hiding blemishes that a flat or satin sheen might show.
Is it hard to texture walls? ›Many drywall textures are simple to apply but will be difficult or time-consuming to correct once the mud dries. Depending on the technique you pick and the products you use to achieve the look, that time to dry can be quite short, so it's important to practice a bit before you start the project.
How thick should drywall mud be for texture? ›Regular drywall joint compound, or mud, is generally used to create the knockdown texture. You can use the premixed variety or mix your own. Either way, you must be able to spray the mixture with the hopper gun, so it should be about the consistency of pancake batter or thick paint.
What are the 4 types of texture? ›There are four types of textures that appear in music, Monophony, Polyphony, Homophony, and Heterophony. These four textures appear in music from around the world.
What is the most popular wall texture? ›The popcorn texture is probably the most timeless and classic drywall texture, making it the most popular choice. Other options, including the orange peel texture and knockdown texture, are more like derivatives but are also very popular.
What is the average cost to texture a wall? ›How much does wall texturing cost? Your cost will be influenced by the size of your project, condition of your walls and application technique. It usually ranges from $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot.
What is the simplest pattern of texture? ›Monophonic texture is the simplest of the three main types of texture in music. It consists of one melody, or tune, played or sung by a single person, or in unison. There is no harmonic accompaniment, and no other music being made except for the melody.
Can you texture with a paint roller? ›
To create a texture with paint that is similar to orange peel but not as raised, choose a roller with a heavy nap, usually about 3/4 inch, and roll the paint onto the wall as usual. The fibers will do the work of creating a texture.
How do you make spackle look textured? ›Swirl the tip of the paintbrush in the spackle to create a swirled texture. Make knockdown and other texture styles using the edge of the putty knife. Practice the texture on a scrap piece of drywall until you can mimic the look of the ceiling adequately for the patched area.
Can you texture over damaged drywall? ›While you don't need to replace the drywall, you do need to seal it as part of the process of texturing over drywall with damaged paper.
How long do you let texture sit before knocking down? ›Knock down the splatter texture
As soon as the wet shine disappears from the first area you sprayed—usually after 10 to 15 minutes—get moving. Drag the knockdown knife in straight, overlapping courses.
After adding texture to drywall, some installers always apply primer and then paint, while others only apply primer to the drywall before adding the texture. Priming the texture before painting is recommended, as it yields better results. Without primer, the surface appearance generally suffers.
Are textured walls out of style? ›Are Textured Walls Back in Style? Absolutely! While the sleek-wall look isn't going anywhere, there's been a resurgence of wall finishes and adornments that generate visual interest, create character, and make a home feel even homier.
How do you get fine bumpy textured walls? ›Apply a skim coat.
The same technique gets rid of textured walls. A thin coat of mud is applied over the entire wall surface, allowed to dry, and then sanded smooth. Especially bumpy walls may need more than one coat. Skim coating a whole room is both messy and time-consuming.
First paint a layer of paint about the size of the tissue paper, then ball up a thin sheet of tissue paper, straighten it out and flatten it onto the wall. Then paint another coat of paint over it. This leaves a decent texture and covers up uneven walls very quickly and easily.
Do you prime before or after texturing? ›While primer can seem simple, you don't want to mess it up. You should prime over textured walls before painting. Primer prepares your textured wall to take a fresh coat of paint. Painting and priming a textured wall can be a pain.
Do you use joint compound for texture? ›Powdered joint compound, commonly used for wall and ceiling texture, can be broken down further into standard and fast setting.
What are three types of drywall textures? ›
- Smooth. Smooth drywall has a classic look that is done by applying a thin layer of drywall mud to the entire wall, smoothing it with a knife as you go. ...
- Popcorn. ...
- Orange Peel. ...
- Machine Brocade. ...
- Comb. ...
- Spray Sand. ...
- Sand Swirl. ...
- Slap Brush.
Knockdown texture: You can create a knockdown texture by applying joint compound (also known as drywall compound or drywall mud) to your walls or ceiling, then smoothing the stalactite-like peaks down with a knife. The result is a marbled texture that can then be painted any color.
Can I use premixed joint compound for texture? ›Regular drywall joint compound, or mud, is generally used to create the knockdown texture. You can use the premixed variety or mix your own. Either way, you must be able to spray the mixture with the hopper gun, so it should be about the consistency of pancake batter or thick paint.
How many boxes of mud do you need for texture? ›It generally takes 1-1/2 to two full buckets of mud to texture the walls and ceiling of an average size (12 x 12-ft.) room. Traditionally, knockdown textures were done with flat trowels or wide steel taping knives.
What are the three 3 basic textures? ›Texture in music is usually described with one of three terms: monophony, polyphony, and homophony.
Are textured walls in 2022? ›Textured Walls
Textured walls are one trend that we are going to see a ton of in 2022. Textured walls can consist of stone, brick, wood, plaster, or the like. Textured walls can really warm up your space so if you have a lot of white walls or lack of color.
Create a unique look: Texture can create a unique finish for a wall or hallway to make a room look more interesting. Act as camouflage: The most common reason textured drywall is installed is because it can hide imperfections in the drywall finish so it doesn't have to be repaired, repainted, or refinished as often.
What is the most expensive wall texture? ›Level 5 Wall Texture
This wall texture feels more refined and luxurious, and it is also the most expensive option because creating a smooth wall texture requires additional labor and skill. Extra skim coats are applied, and more attention must be placed on floating drywall to ensure every wall is even.
One 15 lb. box covers up to 600 sq. ft.
Do textured walls decrease home value? ›Like many home improvement projects, textured walls have their pros and cons in terms of improving your home's resale value. On one hand, textured paints can inexpensively hide flaws in walls. On the other hand, their look and feel will not appeal to all buyers and will be expensive to remove later on.
Is texturing a wall messy? ›
This process is hard to do and is extremely messy, which is why you should let a professional do it. Painters typically wet the walls first and then remove the texture by scraping it off. Before they begin, they will place drop cloths over everything in the rooms to make cleaning up after the job a little easier.
How do you mimic wall texture? ›Knockdown texture: You can create a knockdown texture by applying joint compound (also known as drywall compound or drywall mud) to your walls or ceiling, then smoothing the stalactite-like peaks down with a knife. The result is a marbled texture that can then be painted any color.
How do you texture a wall without a roller? ›You can achieve similar texture patterns with a paint roller and very different ones with a mudding knife or even an old paintbrush. In most cases, ordinary drywall joint compound makes a suitable texturing material.
How do you texture a cheap wall? ›First paint a layer of paint about the size of the tissue paper, then ball up a thin sheet of tissue paper, straighten it out and flatten it onto the wall. Then paint another coat of paint over it. This leaves a decent texture and covers up uneven walls very quickly and easily.
How do I Retexture a whole wall? ›Dip a paint roller into the drywall mud, then apply it to the wall. Let it partially dry, then go back over the highest “peaks” of the texture and gently smooth them down with a putty knife. Create a bolder pattern for a more vibrant texture.
What is the best joint compound for texturing walls? ›Standard, all-purpose joint compound will work best for this project. You can use either dry compound or ready-mix compound. Avoid compounds that contain sand or grit (unless you want a unique look). Plain mud works best for this type of texture.
Can I texture over paint? ›Texturing a wall is a good way to give a room a new ambiance, and you can do it right over the old paint. There are a variety of techniques for spreading texturing compound, and they all create different patterns.