Textured Wall Effects

Tools

• Walls are often textured using a drywall trowel or specialty faux finish trowel. A putty knife is used to apply the plaster onto the trowel. You'll need to keep a full bucket of water and sponge at your side at all times. When plaster begins to dry on your trowel, wash it off to avoid adding dry plaster bits into your wall finish.

Plasters

• The most common and least expensive plaster used to created textured wall effects is joint compound. The plaster's original purpose is to smooth drywall boards together at the joint. However, with the popularity of faux finishes, joint compound has become an inexpensive way to plaster walls. Additional plasters may include sand for grit, mica powders for a metallic shimmer or may have a cement base for exterior use.

Effects

• Each person will create an original texture because each hand movement of the trowel is different. Plaster can be stamped onto the wall, creating peaks. The peaks are then knocked down with the trowel. Alternatively, the trowel can swipe on the plaster, similarly to buttering a piece of toast. Pushing the edge of the trowel into the wet plaster creates peaks and valleys.

Additional Effects

• When plastering walls, additional paint techniques can be added for a custom look. Stencils can lightly be added to the texture's surface with latex paint. Recycled glass, tiles and other artistic bits can be embedded into the texture when wet. If the pieces come out after the plaster dries, use hot glue to adhere to the surface. Add a color wash to your textured walls by brushing on glaze mixed with paint. The look gives an aged appearance to the texture.