How to Match Wall Textures

Textured walls make a room look different from the rest.

Textured walls can hide imperfections in the drywall or plaster. Most textured walls, however, have a look all their own and duplicating that look on a second wall or when repairing a wall can be difficult to achieve. There are different techniques for different textures. For example, when installing a stippled or "popcorn" texture, you use a paint sprayer. When creating a faux stone or brick wall you use a paint roller. When it comes to an orange peel wall, you use a paint sprayer but the process is different than when you want to install a stippled wall.

Things You'll Need

• Tape
• Drop cloth
• Scrap wood
• Plaster or drywall mud
• Paint sprayer
• Drywall squeegee
• Latex paint
• Paint roller
• Trowel

Instructions

Stippled or "Popcorn" Wall

1. Remove all electrical cover plates, tape off the trim and lay down drop cloths to protect the floor and furniture in the room.

2. Dilute plaster or drywall mud with water until you have a pancake batter consistency and then pour it into the spray container. Adjust the air pressure until the plaster sprays out in a pattern that matches the texture on the wall. Spray the plaster on scrap wood and then match it against the wall. Keep in mind that the spray on the scrap wood will have sharper points as you will eventually knock down the sharp points.

3. Spray the texture on the wall in a left to right motion. Overlap each stroke by 50 percent to ensure adequate coverage. Wait 30 minutes before moving on.

4. Lightly brush a drywall squeegee over the surface of the texture just to knock off the tops and to create a uniform surface height. Wait 48 hours for drying.

5. Apply the same interior latex paint as you applied to the other walls. If you cannot color match, this is a good time to paint the entire wall. A consistent coat of paint will help match the texture.

Faux Stone

1. Remove all electrical cover plates, tape off trim and lay down drop cloths to protect the floor and furniture in the room.

2. Apply a ¼-inch coat of drywall mud or plaster to the wall with a trowel and then wait 30 minutes for drying time. Work to keep the plaster or drywall mud a flat as possible with the trowel.

3. Roll over the fresh wall with a lamb's wool paint roller. Use a light touch or you will simply push the plaster around the wall. Keep rolling until the texture matches that or the original wall's texture. Change the roller as it loads up to ensure you texture and do not smear. Allow at least 48 hours drying time.

4. Apply the same interior latex paint as you applied to the other walls. If you cannot color match, this is a good time to paint the entire wall. A consistent coat of paint will help match the texture.

Orange Peel

1. Remove all electrical cover plates, tape off trim and lay down drop cloths to protect the floor and furniture in the room.

2. Mix the plaster or drywall mud until it has a loose pancake batter texture and then place it into the paint sprayer.

3. Adjust the pressure on the sprayer until the plaster sprays out in sporadic clumps. The scrap wood you use to test should resemble the texture of an orange peel. Approximately 30 percent of the board should have texture on it.

4. Spray the wall from left to right and overlap each stroke by 50 percent to ensure adequate coverage. Again, add additional texture to match the level of texture on the original wall. Wait 24 to 48 hours for drying.

5. Apply the same interior latex paint as you applied to the other walls. If you cannot color match, this is a good time to paint the entire wall. A consistent coat of paint will help match the texture.

References

• Calgary Ceiling Texture: Splatter Paint Texture
• This Old House: Choosing and Using Paint Sprayers; Clayton Dekorne; July 2008
• Drywall Tips: Apply Orange Peel Drywall Texture Finish