Can You Use a Trowel to Paint Interior Walls?

As you plan your next painting project—or, perhaps, you’re ready to dive into a productive painting session and realize you’re out of rollers—you might be wondering whether you can use a trowel to paint interior walls. Trowels are indeed for use on walls, but primarily for creating decorative, textured finishes rather than applying liquid paint. Learn when—and when not—to use a trowel to decide what tool is best for your walls.

What Is a Trowel Used For?

A trowel is a flat-bladed tool commonly used in masonry, drywall, and plasterwork. It helps spread materials such as cement, mortar, and joint compound smoothly and evenly over a surface. Unlike painting with brushes or rollers that create uniform coverage, trowel techniques create texture, depth, and visual interest.

On interior walls, you can use a trowel to:

• Apply plaster or drywall mud

• Smooth out joint compound

• Create artistic wall textures, such as Venetian plaster finishes

Can You Paint Interior Walls With a Trowel?

If you want streaks, clumps, drips, splatters, uneven coverage, and a ton of frustration—then technically, yes. However, you’ll likely waste time (and paint) trying to make it work. In the majority of cases, you should not paint walls with a trowel. Paint needs to be applied in thin, even coats. Trowels aren’t absorbent or designed to hold liquid, so they don’t spread paint well. If the thought of finding and using the right tools feels like more than you’re up for, a local interior painter can help.

When Should You Use a Trowel on a Wall?

While traditional painting projects call for a brush or roller, there are exceptions. Highly skilled painters often use a trowel when carrying out specialty painting projects. Trowels are the go-to tool for creating customized wall surfaces such as knockdown texture, skip-trowel finishes, and Venetian plaster. Trowels are also used for smoothing drywall seams with joint compound.

Best Alternatives to a Trowel for Painting

Instead of your trusty trowel, these are the best tools for painting interior walls. Most painters reserve brushes for smaller areas, but you can decide whether paint rollers versus sprayers work best for your walls.

• Paint rollers: 

  • Great for large, flat surfaces

  • Provide smooth, even coverage

  • Work quickly and efficiently

• Paint sprayers:

  • Good for experienced DIYers or professionals

  • Fastest method for large spaces or textured walls

• Paint brushes:

  • Best for cutting in edges and corners

  • Ideal for detailed work or trim

Other Ways to Create a Textured Look on Walls

If using a trowel feels too advanced or time-consuming, plenty of other wall-painting techniques can help create a similar look more easily. Consider:

• Orange peel texture: This method uses either spray or a rolled-on compound to create a bumpy surface that resembles—you guessed it—an orange peel. Other spray-on textures include knockdown and popcorn, although the latter is more often reserved for ceilings.

• Sponge painting or rag rolling: Create a soft, textured effect by dabbing color onto the wall with either of these methods.

• Textured paint: You can purchase paint with a gritty material (usually sand or silica) already mixed in, so all you need to do is apply it with a roller.