How to Paint Textured Walls for Stunning Results

Remove dust and dirt from your walls using a vacuum with a brush attachment. The brush will lift small particles from within the deeper parts of the texture, ensuring a dust-free surface for painting. After vacuuming, clean the walls and trim with mild soap and water so the paint and painter’s tape adhere properly. Let the walls dry completely before applying tape or paint.

Use a putty knife and spackle to repair holes, cracks, or chips. Sand repairs once the spackle dries, but take care not to remove texture from the wall around the repairs—you don’t want to create flat spots that will draw the eye. If necessary, add wall texture to any new drywall or flat spots. Using a premixed wall texture product will help blend any flat areas seamlessly into the rest of the wall.

Use a high-quality painter’s tape to tape off your trim. Apply it in small sections and press firmly over the tape’s surface once it’s applied for a better seal. Some painter’s tapes recommend wetting the tape after application for maximum protection—consult the manufacturer’s instructions to see if this step is applicable.

Priming is key to having beautiful textured walls because it helps paint adhere to the wall as smoothly as possible. Not all paint primers are alike, however, so read the label on each product before you decide which works best for your walls. A few phrases you might see on a can of primer for textured walls include “tough to paint” and “high build.” Once you choose a primer, apply it to the walls using a paint tray and paint roller. Sweep the roller across the walls in a “W” shape, and go over any missed spots with a paintbrush. Wait for the primer to dry for up to 3 hours, and then apply a second coat for good measure.

High-quality paint will adhere to your textured wall better than low-quality paint. For best results, choose paint from one of the best paint brands to keep your walls looking vibrant for longer. It’s easier to miss a spot when you’re painting textured walls. You can help prevent this mishap by using tried-and-true painting techniques. Like with the paint primer, apply the paint to textured walls in a “W” motion. Follow up with a paintbrush for any sections too deep for a roller.

Choose a Paint Color and Finish

When choosing an interior paint color, consider which shade best suits your room and whether you prefer a semi-gloss or a flat or matte finish. The glossier the paint, the more pronounced your textured walls. A matte or flat finish will offer a subtler appearance that is gentler on the eyes when sunlight hits those angles.

Keep in mind that it may be slightly more challenging to clean dust, smudges, and dirt from a matte finish, but again, you should have an easier time cleaning textured surfaces with high-quality paint that doesn’t easily wear down over time.

While you can use a paintbrush to paint the edges of your textured walls, a paint edger is a total game-changer. These tools are stiffer than a typical paintbrush and give you a more precise edging that, though subtle, can greatly impact the appearance of your freshly painted walls. To control how much paint is on your edger, use a paintbrush to apply paint to the edger.

Textured or not, most walls need at least two coats of paint. With textured walls, you may need to apply a third coat of paint to help give the walls a consistent color that doesn’t reveal any blank spots. Allow each coat to dry fully before applying another coat of paint, waiting at least 4 hours in between paint coats.