Things You'll Need
Drop cloths
Painter’s tape
Drywall compound powder
Bucket
Stirring stick or electric mixer
Paint rolling pan
Paint roller
Large nap roller cover
Paintbrush
Painting is one of the most popular ways to freshen or even transform a home, but it can leave the walls and ceilings looking flat and bare. For a solution that adds depth and interest to any room, many homeowners choose to texture their walls with extra paint, specialized styles or even thinned-out drywall compound. There are many methods for applying texture and the overall results will vary from painter to painter. Let your creative side take over to achieve a look all your own.
Step 1
Cover the floors and any other surfaces you don't want to texture with drop cloths or painter's tape to protect them from splashes and drips.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Pour 3 1/2 gallons of drywall compound, in powder form, into a mixing bucket. Add 1 cup of water and stir the mixture with a stirring stick or electric mixer. Stir until it has a thick consistency, like that of egg nog or a milkshake. Add more compound or water, if necessary, to achieve this consistency.
Step 3
Pour your compound mixture into a paint rolling pan. Cover a paint roller with a large nap cover; the larger the nap, the deeper the texture you will create.
Step 4
Roll the covered paint roller in the compound mixture. Start in one corner of the room and work your way across one wall at a time. The slower you roll, the higher the peaks and the deeper the valleys of the texture will be.
Step 5
Cover one wall with texture. Work in erratic directions, sometimes rolling back or horizontally instead of vertically, to achieve your desired look. If necessary, touch up certain areas for a more precise style with a fine paintbrush.
Step 6
Move to the wall opposite the one on which you started; this will give the first wall time to dry before you start on the adjoining wall, reducing the chance of brushing against your drying texture. Continue until you have covered all the desired surfaces with texture.
Tip
You must clean, repair, prime and base-coat a surface before applying texture.
For texture applications in moist areas, such as bathrooms or basements, you may need to seal your compound covering. Consult with a professional at a home improvement center for details or for help with any aspect of this project.
Video of the Day