How to Texture Southwestern-Style Walls

Clear the room of furniture and accessories such as lamps, knick-knacks and artwork. If you cannot remove all furniture from the room, ensure there is a minimum of a 3-foot walkway in front of the project wall. Cover the remaining items in the room with plastic sheeting. Take off all outlet covers with a screwdriver and place the screws and cover in a small plastic bag or bucket for safe keeping.

Clean all wall surfaces with a damp rag to prepare for the paint job. Vacuum all cobwebs from the corners and dust from the baseboards. Remove all nails and screws in the walls. Stick painter's tape to all adjoining walls to avoid getting paint and plaster on them. Add tape to window frames, door frames and any other areas near the project's surface. Rub down well with your fingers to avoid leaks. Place drop cloths on all surface flooring for protecting. Ensure the drop cloths are smooth and not wrinkled to prevent tripping.

Pour a bonding primer into a paint tray. Dip a paint roller into the tray to spread paint onto the roller. Begin to paint the project's surface using broad vertical strokes. Paint as close to the edge of the wall as you can. Use an angled paint brush to paint the perimeter of the project surface where the roller cannot reach. Allow 24 hours to dry.

Mix lightweight-joint compound using a squirrel mixer attached to a hand drill. Add a small amount of distilled water if the plaster is too dry. Continue to mix until the joint compound is the same consistency and wetness.

Dip a plastic putty knife into the plaster mix. Wipe the plaster onto one edge of the drywall trowel. Hold the trowel in one hand with one edge of the trowel firmly pressed against the wall's surface. Move the trowel closer to the wall so you are now holding it at a 30 degree angle. Smooth on the plaster to create a texture. Each person will create their own style of texture -- there's more than one right way. Cover about 90 percent of the wall surface. Use the trowel to move plaster around and creating different dimensions.

Continue to plaster the entire wall surface. Once complete, allow plaster to dry 24 hours. Lightly sand the dried plaster with a light-grit sanding block. Wipe down with a damp towel to remove drywall dust.

Paint the Southwestern plaster a variety of rich colors. Use eggshell or satin paint to for additional depth to your walls. Apply paint with a rough nap roller using even, vertical strokes. More than one coat of paint may be required, as the plaster often absorbs the first coat unevenly. Paint hard-to-reach holes and pits using a chip brush.