Texture Your Walls

Texturing adds character to plain walls, and there’s a practical side to using it. It’s great for covering flaws, such as small cracks or uneven walls. And it’s amazingly durable.

Best of all, it’s easy. The texturing product comes premixed, right out of a can. Just stir it, roll it on the wall and create your pattern with the tool of your choice. You can use a wood cement float, wallpaper brush, natural sponge, notched trowel, or paint brush—the possibilities are endless.

Here are the supplies you’ll need: the texturing material, a paint roller with a half-inch nap and a texturing tool. The material comes in a two-gallon pail, which will cover about 75 square feet, depending on the pattern you choose. You’ll find these supplies in better paint stores.

Before you begin, experiment on a small piece of drywall. Choose a pattern you can life with—bold or subtle—and plan to spend about 15 minutes for each 4 by 8 foot section of wall. In fact, don’t try to work an area larger than this. The material sets up in about that time.

Before you apply the texture, patch major cracks or holes, seal stains, strip off old wallpaper and prime new walls with acrylic primer.

This material is messy when you roll it on, so use plenty of drop cloths and wear protective gloves. The product can dry your hands. Another tip is to frequently rinse your tools with water. If you don’t, it will quickly clog your sponges and brushes and your wall’s new look won’t be uniform. When the texture has thoroughly dried, it’ll be an off-white color. Then paint your wall any color you like with a three-eighths inch nap roller.