How to Make Lightly Textured Interior Paint

A lightly textured paint can add some interest to an otherwise dull, flat finish. By using a common additive, available at better home improvement outlets, you will give the paint a slight coarseness that adds a rustic tinge. The additive, silica sand, is specially made for mixing with paint. It is clean and sifted, so it's free of the debris found in cheaper sands. Do not substitute masonry sand or any other type of sand when creating a textured paint. Many times, you won't see the debris until it's too late and you have already rolled it onto your wall. Once you have mixed the sand to your satisfaction, it may be applied the same way you'd apply regular interior paint, with a medium-nap roller or brush.

Things You'll Need

• Latex paint
• Silica sand
• Bucket
• Mixing stick
• Assistant (optional)

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Pour enough latex paint into the bucket for your job. Estimate 400 square feet per gallon. Walls that are not properly primed will take more.

   • 2

     Add the sand slowly. Mix as you go. This is easier if you have an assistant.

   • 3

     Continue to add the sand and review the mixture. Stop and test it periodically. Brush a bit onto scrap cardboard to see the texture. You want to add enough sand to have specks of it visible throughout the test swatch, with no bald spots. Too much sand will make the paint overly thick and therefore hard to apply.

   • 4

     Continue adding sand and mixing. Stop when you reach your ideal texture. If you've added too much sand, counteract it by adding a little more paint. The textured paint is now ready to apply.