Textured paint is applied to walls using a roller or a brush.
Textured paint is a latex paint which has been thickened by the addition of fillers. It has two main purposes: To create three-dimensional decorative effects on walls and to disguise faults in plaster work such as small holes or uneven areas. There are several ways to achieve different decorative effects with textured paint. These procedures are carried out once the paint has been applied to the surface being decorated.
Textured Paint Equipment
You will need a small paint brush for cutting in along the top of walls. When painting the rest of the walls, use either a roller or large wall brush depending on your preference. You will also need a flat bladed scraper, a texturing comb and a natural sponge. All of these are used to create patterns in the textured paint. Alternatively, decorative roller sleeves are available at DIY stores. These are rolled over textured paint to create a design.
Deciding on a Pattern
Before starting your decorating obtain a piece of very strong cardboard such as the side of a large packing carton. Paint this with textured paint before you apply any to your walls and practice creating various patterns on it. Apply textured paint to the walls only when you have decided which effect you want to achieve. If you are decorating a room from top to bottom, practice your patterns during the time it takes for your first coat of ceiling paint to dry.
Achieving Patterns in Textured Paint
Drawing a flat bladed scraper over the surface to flatten off high spots in the paint will give your walls the texture of tree bark.
Use a texturing comb to create overlapping semi-circular swirls.
Wet your sponge and press it on to the textured paint, twist it and pull it away to produce small overlapping swirls. If you choose this effect keep a bucket of water beside you while you work, as you will need to rinse the sponge frequently.
Slide your roller into a decorative roller sleeve and roll it over the textured paint to create a pattern.
Initial Application of Textured Paint
Cut in along the top of the walls using a small paint brush. Use a roller or larger brush on the remaining area, applying the textured paint with a series of overlapping random strokes. Once you have covered an area of about 11 square feet, go over it with parallel brush or roller strokes to even out the coverage. Once you've painted one wall, apply the decorative effect you have chosen to the textured paint before moving on to the next.
Using Color
Textured paint is white, but you can paint over it with a colored latex paint. However, wait until the textured paint is completely dry before doing so. If it is still damp, the pattern you worked so hard to achieve will become distorted when your brush or roller passes over it while applying the colored paint.
Once you've finished, wash your brushes and rollers in warm water and detergent. Rinse them thoroughly and allow them to dry, before putting them away.
