How to Texture Walls in Your Home

Adding texture to walls is a surefire way to take your space from 2D to 3D, but how to do it is another question entirely. First, there comes familiarizing yourself with all the drywall texture types, and next deciding whether you want a professional to do it or are up to tackling the challenge yourself. Start by learning how to texture walls so you know what it takes. From using a sponge to a trowel, here’s a look at what tools and techniques you’ll need to bring your walls to life with this specialty painting project.

Why Add Texture to My Walls?

While most of the benefits of textured walls are aesthetic, there are a few practical reasons to consider adding them to your space. For starters, they do a better job of masking imperfections, including both those that were there in the first place,  like dents or scratches from a previous owner, and those that may appear down the line, like fingerprints in a high-traffic area. 

The nooks and crannies in a textured wall also have the unseen benefit of producing better acoustics. Your space will echo less because the sound will be better absorbed into these divots rather than bouncing straight off like it might on a perfectly flat wall. 

Finally, texturing adds an extra layer of protection to walls that also makes them more durable. With one in place, future damages are less likely to occur and more easily disguised if or when they do happen, making them a boon if you live in a full and active home.

How Much Does It Cost to Texture Walls

The cost to texture walls ranges from $500 to $700 on average. However, exactly how much you spend is most impacted by factors like the scope of the project and whether you do it yourself or hire an interior painter near you for the job. For instance, there’s not a huge difference in price between different texturing styles—while you’ll pay around $3 per square foot of Venetian plaster, the rest of the options cost below $2 per square foot—but you will spend a lot less to do one wall versus many. 

How to Prep for Texturing Walls

Before starting a project like this, you'll need to gather the correct materials and tools, decide on a specific texture, and take preliminary steps to ensure success, like priming the walls and patching existing damages. 

Then, pick a texture. From orange peel to knockdown, there are many options to consider, and each has unique pros and cons. Be sure to do your research before making a final decision. 

Once you’ve made your pick, gather your equipment. That includes things like drywall or joint compound, plaster, trowels, sponges, paint rollers, and rags, but exactly what you need will depend on your chosen style. 

Next, clean the walls to the best of your ability with a damp sponge and gentle cleaner like dish soap. It’s okay if the final result isn’t perfect, because the texturing will do a great job masking residual imperfections. You’ll also want to take advantage of this moment to repair large damages, like patching a hole in drywall. Then let all the surfaces dry before heading onto the following step: priming your walls. 

Apply a latex or drywall primer—doing this will create a uniform backdrop for your texture, ensuring it’s evenly absorbed throughout the wall. Let it cure completely—this could take anywhere from a couple of hours to days, depending on the temperature at the time—and then you’re ready to begin texturing.

How to Texture Walls

The following DIY techniques will help you achieve many of the most popular wall texture styles with easily accessible tools that you may already have. 

1. Sponge

This technique is arguably the easiest because it requires paint rather than drywall compound, and is an easy, DIY way to do an orange peel texture.

Gather Your Supplies

For this method, all you’ll need is a can of paint, a large sponge—or two if you’re working with a buddy—and a drop cloth to protect your floors. The paint color can either be the same as what’s already on your walls, or a complementary accent color, like dark gray with navy walls, for instance. 

Paint Your Walls

If your walls are not already painted, you’ll need to start by applying the desired color. Let it dry before adding texture. 

Use the Sponge to Apply Texture

Soak the sponge in the paint and dab it all along the walls. To vary the texture, aim to use different angles and sides of the sponge. 

2. Joint Compound

Using joint compound to texture walls is another option ideal for newbie DIYers, because it has a long dry time and can easily be removed if necessary. What’s more, it’s among the best ways to obtain a knockdown texture that looks professionally done. 

Gather Your Supplies

For a project like this, you’ll need a paint roller, enough joint compound to cover the surface of all the walls you’ll be working on—about one-and-a-half to two 60-pound buckets per room. You’ll also need a paint roller, a trowel, and a drop cloth.

Mix Joint Compound with Water

Combine the joint compound with water according to the proportions provided on the container. Mix until it arrives at a thick but pourable consistency. 

Apply Joint Compound to Walls With a Paint Roller

Working one wall at a time, use a paint roller to apply an even coat of joint compound to the entire surface.  

Use a Trowel to Create Texture

Place the trowel against the wall at an angle and drag across to flatten the joint compound to create a knockdown effect. Repeat until the entire wall is accounted for, alternating angles and directions periodically. You can also use the same technique with the teeth on a notched trowel for a comb texture. 

3. Texture Sprayer

This DIY is a bit more complicated because it requires either purchasing or renting a texture sprayer or hopper gun. On the plus side, such tools have fittings that enable a wider array of possible styles, unlike sponge or joint compound texturing, which allow for only one or two options. 

Gather Your Supplies

You’ll need joint compound, a texture sprayer, and drop cloths to protect your floors and furniture, as well as protective gear like a face mask and goggles to protect yourself from vapors. 

Combine Joint Compound With Water

Texture sprayers emit joint compounds through small openings to create even, unique textures, but they can’t do their job properly if the material used is too thick. That’s why you’ll need to cross-check the water recommendations from your machine against those of your joint compound. Err on the side of using more water so that the substance is thin enough to accommodate your machine. 

Adjust the Nozzle to Fit Your Desired Texture

Most texture sprayers have adjustable nozzles for different textures. If you’re not sure which one to use, feel free to test each one on cardboard before committing. 

Apply Texture with a Sprayer

Moving from left to right downward and working one wall at a time, spray joint compound in slow, even motions until the entire surface is accounted for. Let dry and then paint the desired color on top of texturing. 

4. Paint Roller

Using a paint roller to apply texture to walls is another straightforward and simple option for new DIYers. 

Gather Your Supplies

You’ll need a traditional paint roller and a paint tray—as well as a paint brush to get into tight corners—and one to two 60-pound buckets of joint compound per room. 

Combine Joint Compound with Water

Again, the texture will need to be thick but pourable. When in doubt, use the amounts recommended on the package instructions. 

Fill the Paint Tray with Joint Compound and Apply

Soak the paint roller in the joint compound and roll it on the tray to remove excess. Apply one wall at a time, working from left to right downward, until the entire surface is covered. From there, you can leave it as is or drag a large paintbrush across it repeatedly to create a slap-brush texture.

Let Dry and Apply Paint Color

The joint compound will take about a day or slightly more to cure completely, at which point you can paint over it with the paint color of your choosing. 

5. Rag Paint

For a terracotta-like texture, rag painting can’t be beat. Unlike other methods, you’ll need a couple of different paint colors plus a glaze to achieve it, but no joint compound. 

Gather Your Supplies

Pick a base paint color and another shade that will be used to create texture afterward. You’ll also need to combine the additional paint with a glaze or paint extender to create distinction between it and the base shade. Don’t forget that you’ll also need drop cloths to protect the rest of your space, as well as a paint tray, mixer, and rags for application.

Paint Your Base Coat

Apply base coat color and let dry completely before proceeding. This color should be in the same family as the one you’ll be using to apply texture. Think: a dark blue to offset a lighter blue topcoat. 

Combine Top Coats in a Paint Tray

Place a one-to-one ratio of paint and glaze in a paint tray and mix thoroughly with a paint stick. 

Apply With a Damp Rag

Roll up a rag and wet it slightly until moist but not soaking. Dip it into the paint and rub it against the tray to remove excess. Use the rag to pat the wall, moving left to right and downward. As it runs out of paint, use this opportunity to change the rag's shape for a varied final texture. You may need to use several rags throughout the process. 

3 Tips for Maintaining Textured Walls

Once your walls are textured, here’s what you need to do to keep them looking good. 

Use the Right Tools to Remove Dust

When there are a lot of small craters on your wall, you can’t expect any old feather duster to efficiently remove dust from them. Instead, use a dry, soft brush or the fabric attachment of a vacuum cleaner to eliminate debris without damaging your hard-won wall texture. 

Rub Lightly When Spot Treating

To avoid further damage, use gentle pressure and an even gentler cleaner (dish soap is the way to go) when rubbing to remove blemishes or stains from textured walls. 

Clean With Minimal Moisture

Textured walls are as hard to dry as they are to dust, so opt to use little to no moisture when cleaning them. There are some instances where a bit of water is your only option—when wiping off mud or fingerprints, for instance. In these cases, use a very lightly dampened sponge and a drop or two of dish soap, and dry immediately afterward with a microfiber cloth. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

Texturing walls is achievable on your own, and you’ll save money by going the DIY route. However, you may be better off hiring a pro for more complicated texture styles, like Venetian plaster, though you can expect to spend more for their expert touch. 

Pros charge between $40 and $100 per hour on average, and the typical project takes about a day. If you do it yourself, you’ll need to budget approximately $100 to $150 for all the tools and materials involved.