Want to elevate your walls? Contemporary style skews towards flat walls, which keep a modern and clean look. But if you’re looking to level up the wall’s design beyond paint or wallpaper, consider drywall texture to add a little extra oomph.
What is drywall texture? Simply put, drywall texture—especially under the guise of walls and ceilings—is made with gypsum and paper backings that create lines, shapes, ridges, knobs, and other designs in various lengths, sizes, and widths, creating a unique appearance and surface. Drywall texture can look and feel uneven and protruded while retaining eye-catching patterns.
There are plenty of varieties to explore when it comes to drywall texture. Whether you’re thinking about your new home or revamping your current space, consider incorporating drywall texture to add a personal touch.
In this guide, we’ll tackle drywall textures for walls and ceilings. Texturing can be a design element in any space, but it can also be a tactic to cover marks or repairs. Sounds pretty cool, huh? Yep, it is, and it’s not even difficult to do yourself (yes, really). Keep scrolling to get the intel on the types of drywall texture for ceilings and walls.
Drywall Texture for Ceilings
Crows Feet
No, you’re not going to invite a pack of crows into your abode to dance on your ceiling. In this effect, two round or oval-shaped brushes are used to create rounded, stompy lines and long but hair-thin swooshes.
Popcorn
One of the most popular—if not, classic—drywall textures is the popcorn ceiling. This option gets its moniker from the nooks, crannies, and irregular shapes that produce a popcorn-like effect on the applied surface.
Rosebud
Love flowers? This option is for you. A perfectly circular shape (thanks to a round brush) creates bristly, petal-like lines and shapes which yield a flower or rosebud-style design. In order to apply this drywall texture, you’ll follow a similar brush stomp method.
Skip Trowel
Similar to the stomp brush, this layering effect takes drywall mud in thick slabs and smoothes over the substance, creating a thick, icing-like appearance with a trowel. Much like frosting a cake, the layers and angled lines are best created at random, for a more whimsical effect.
Spray Sand
A sandy texture (to perfectly compliment beachy homes), with the likes of sand, mud, primer, and water is created and applied with a hopper gun. Sprayed much like an airbrush, the effect is created with a thin overlay of a subtle sandy finish.
Stomp Brush
Imagine a painter’s brush going wild, and that’s a stomp brush ceiling. Essentially, all you have to do is dip a large dry brush into drywall mud and press the mixture onto the ceiling. And there you have it–the thick, drippy lines and curved angles create a freeze-frame brushstroke effect.
Drywall Texture for Walls
Bas-Relief
Sculptures and art can be drywall, too! Romantic filigrees and curves abound with bas-relief drywall. This eye-catching style makes the sculpture or design feel as if it is literally coming out of the wall. While high on presence and looks, this style is complicated and would be best suited for a professional application.
Orange Peel
Picture the ripe and juicy skin of an orange. Now, imagine those small dimples and divots as a wall texture. Fun and cheeky, right? Orange peel drywall texture can come in a variety of widths: fine, medium, and heavy. Think of this texture like a font, ranging from a thin weight to a heavy, bolded shade. This crackly and slightly cragged texture is subtle, with soft curves.
Comb
Love art deco motifs? Comb drywall texture is just the thing. This fan-like shape made with the grooves from a toothed trowel evokes a storied and iconic kind of style. Even better: this pattern is utterly easy to recreate on your own!
Knockdown
This drywall texture can apply to any style but once the effect is applied, the shape or raised drywall is “knocked down” on the surface with a knife. This unique pattern resembles a rustic, cottage-core style.
Lace
Radiant, romantic, and sultry texture right this way. A lace-like pattern design outfits walls with a spray effect (without using sand).
Sand Swirl
Elevate your home with all the relaxing vibes, courtesy of the sand swirl. Whether it’s a carefree mood you want to create or add to a beachside home, the sand swirl mixes combing techniques with the sand spray methodology for a mood-boosting effect. Similar to the comb pattern, sand swirl can be recreated with rows of fan shapes to create interlocking shapes, spirals, or even set at half-shapes for some interesting flair.
Venetian Finish
Think of ancient temples and old cathedrals. Almost dark academia-like in its mood and style, the Venetian finish gives a dramatic look by mixing marble dust with drywall.
Stephanie Valente is a Content Director and Editor in Brooklyn, NY. She’s previously held writing and social media positions at Barkbox, Men’s Journal, and currently works at a full-service advertising agency. She’s a self-confessed home and design enthusiast. Stephanie is an award-winning poet and fiction writer. When she’s offline, you can find her taking a yoga class, running, hanging out with her rescue dog Pepper. Find her on stephanievalente.com.
What is an escrow shortage?