When it comes to interior design, your walls and ceilings offer blank canvases waiting to be transformed. Drywall textures provide an easy way to introduce captivating visual interest to any space while maintaining a polished, sophisticated aesthetic. From subtle patterned finishes to bold statement looks, modern drywall textures allow you to add an extra dimension to your decor.
Whether you’re seeking a refined accent for your minimalist loft or aiming to add cozy rustic charm to a mountain retreat, there’s a drywall texture to suit every style.
Smooth Finishes Provide a Clean, Seamless Look
For a sleek, contemporary feel, nothing beats the understated elegance of a smooth drywall finish. To achieve this look, the wall or ceiling surface is sanded until flawlessly flat and then primed and painted. The result is a crisp, streamlined expanse that makes the perfect blank canvas for modern furnishings and art.
Smooth finishes work especially well in living rooms, bedrooms, and offices where you want to cultivate a relaxing yet orderly aesthetic. They also pair nicely with bold pops of color and contemporary architectural details like exposed beams or piping.
Creating a smooth finish requires careful sanding and several coats of high-quality primer and paint applied with a paint sprayer or roller. Take the time to properly prepare surfaces for the most seamless result.
Subtle Orange Peel Adds Depth Without Busyness
For a texture that adds interest without overpowering a space, orange peel is an excellent choice. This classic finish is achieved by stippling the wall or ceiling with a circular motion using a drywall trowel or texturing tool. The effect resembles the exterior texture of an orange peel, with subtle bumps across the surface.
Orange peel texture provides just enough visual depth to keep a space from feeling flat and monotonous. At the same time, it maintains a refined, orderly look that suits casual everyday spaces as well as more formal dining rooms or bedrooms. It can work in any design aesthetic from traditional to modern.
To DIY orange peel texture at home, apply a thin layer of drywall mud to the surface using a trowel or paint roller. Then use a texturing brush or plastic trowel to gently knock down and stipple the coating until the desired consistency is achieved. Allow to dry fully before priming and painting.
Skip Trowel Texture Creates Modern Dimension
The skip trowel technique uses a specialized trowel to apply drywall mud or a lime-based plaster in sweeping motions across the wall’s surface. This leaves behind ridges of various sizes, almost like strokes of paint on canvas. The skip trowel texture embodies modern, artsy sophistication.
This eye-catching finish is ideal for making a bold statement in contemporary living spaces, luxe dining rooms, or as an accent wall. The layered ridges add architectural interest while also disguising any imperfections in the drywall’s surface.
To complete this look, apply a thin coat of joint compound or plaster using a rounded pool trowel. Then go back over the surface using an angled skip trowel to slice through and create ridges of various sizes. Allow to fully cure before priming and painting.
Knockdown Offers Simple, Refined Texture
Knockdown texture lands right at the intersection of casual and elegant. Sometimes called a California Knockdown, this simple drywall finish provides subtle vertical striations across the surface. The texture is achieved by flattening droplets of drywall mud with a trowel just before they dry.
With its orderly, uniform look, knockdown texture is ideal for bedrooms, hallways, or dining spaces where you want just a hint of dimension. It also resists showing marks and flaws, making it a budget-friendly option for high-traffic areas. The refined texture pairs well with any wall color.
After applying dots of drywall mud to the prepared surface, flatten and smooth them vertically using a drywall knife just before they dry. Work systematically to create an even texture across the entire wall or ceiling.
Subtle Swirl Textures Add Organic Interest
For a more fluid, organic effect, consider a swirling or circular texture. Options like circular scrape and sand swirl add intricate visual movement reminiscent of waves, wind, or desert sands. Despite their complex look, swirl textures still maintain a refined, sophisticated sensibility.
These mesmerizing finishes work well in living spaces where you want to evoke cozy natural elements. They disguise flaws beautifully while adding rustic or modern charm depending on the colors and furnishings you pair them with.
Using a paint brush or texturing trowel, apply irregular swirling strokes to the freshly coated wall or ceiling surface. Work in random patterns to create a seamless organic design. Let dry fully before finishing and painting.
Acoustic Spray Texture Improves Sound Quality
In spaces like media rooms, studios, or theaters, consider an acoustic spray texture. This uses a specialized spray-on aggregate coating that help absorb sound rather than reflecting it. The result is improved interior acoustics.
When dry, the spray texture features a bumpy, cottage cheese-like appearance. Beyond sound dampening, it also provides interesting visual texture with an industrial, funky vibe. Acoustic spray on ceilings or accent walls adds modern flair to man caves, music spaces, and more.
After preparing the surface, use a hopper gun to apply the acoustic texture spray. Then flatten the texture using a trowel or by spraying water droplets. Allow to fully dry before priming and painting. Test small sections first to achieve the right amount of texture.
Metal Mesh Creates Architectural Interest
For interior spaces with an urban industrial look, metal mesh textures add super unique appeal. Galvanized metal mesh sheets are simply affixed to the wall or ceiling surface before coating with drywall mud or plaster.
This eye-catching texture allows you to subtly incorporate metal’s sleek glamour into any space, from modern living rooms to contemporary bathrooms. It also adds almost a jewelry-like quality with its sparkling accents and artistic flair.
Prepare the surface, then secure metal lath mesh sheets using specialty screws or staples. Next, apply a base coat of drywall compound or plaster over the mesh using a trowel. Once dry, apply your desired finish coat such as Venetian plaster for polish.
Venetian Plaster Offers Old-World Sophistication
For a finish that evokes ornate elegance, look no further than Venetian plaster. This specialty polished plaster dates back centuries and graces refined historic European architecture.
To achieve this upscale texture, a Venetian plaster mixture of lime putty, powdered marble dust, and natural pigments is troweled onto the surface. Once dry, it is burnished using a steel trowel to create a smooth, marble-like sheen.
Few textures impart such luxurious detail as Venetian plaster. Use it to instantly elevate formal dining rooms, hotel lobbies, libraries, and more. The polished finish catches the light beautifully while paying homage to ancient artisan craft.
Venetian plaster requires specialty materials and some skill to apply properly. Consider hiring a professional plaster artisan to achieve an authentic timeless look that will last.
Stipple “Popcorn” Texture Offers Cottage Charm
A classic that continues to please, popcorn stipple texture offers casual appeal. This is made by spraying blobs of wet acoustic plaster onto the ceiling or wall surface, leaving behind a bumpy cottage cheese-like appearance once dry.
Popcorn stipple texture brings a relaxed, homespun feel to bedrooms, living rooms, and other inhabitable spaces. The busy surface effortlessly masks any flaws while providing natural sound dampening. Backlighting also creates delightful shadows across this texture.
To create popcorn texture, mix acoustic ceiling plaster according to directions and load into a hopper gun. Adjust nozzle and airflow to get the desired texture consistency. Spray onto the prepared surface using broad, overlapping strokes. Let fully dry before finishing.
Drywall offers the ideal flexible canvas for imparting gorgeous dimension and visual interest to your walls and ceilings. From bold polished plasters to understated knockdown finishes, modern texturing techniques make it simple to customize any space.
Keep your room’s existing architectural style and color palette in mind when selecting textures. Aim for cohesive sophistication between the textures and furnishings. With the right artful details, you can bring captivating texture home.
