Do-it-Yourself Wall Texture

Cover all areas that you don't plant to texturize. This includes walls, ceilings, flooring and furniture. Use painter's tape to attach plastic drop cloths to walls and ceilings as well as along base molding.

Pour drywall texture compound into a bucket and mix in water according to the directions on the compound package. It should have a consistency of thick paint. Follow the package directions for use with a paint sprayer.

Adjust the spray nozzle to a fine spray and spray the entire wall lightly. Go back over the wall after you finish the first coat and fill in any places that look too thin. This creates a speckled stucco look. If you prefer a flatter, old plaster texture, skip this step and move to Step 4.

Adjust the nozzle to a medium setting to create a thicker spray. Work on small areas of the wall at one time. You will slowly cover the entire wall, one section at a time. Spray the small section of wall with the thicker nozzle adjustment for a splotchier, speckled look. Set the sprayer down and pick up a flat-edged trowel.

Glide the edge of the trowel over the section of the wall sprayed in Step 4 to knock down the peaks on the thick splotches. Do not press in too hard or you will scrape off all the material. By smoothing the trowel over the texture material, you flatten the peaks. The final appearance looks like old, chipped plaster that is peeling in some places while other spots are intact. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 with more sections of the wall until you are finished. Allow any type of texturing to dry for at least 24 hours.

Paint the walls once the texture is dry. Use a paintbrush, since a roller will not work well on rough walls. Do not overload the brush with paint. The texture material will soak up the moisture and might start to peel off if it gets too wet. Wipe the brush on the edge of the can before applying it to the wall. Paint in long, even strokes.