How to Swirl Drywall

Drywall is a common building material used to cover interior walls and ceilings. While most drywall is simply finished and then painted, there are other ways to enhance it. One decorative drywall technique that creates an entirely different look is swirling. Drywall swirling creates numerous overlapping circular patterns on the drywall, thus giving it the look of plaster or other high-end wall finishes. Swirls can be applied to both walls and ceilings.

Tarps
5 gallon bucket of sand paint
Trowel or drill with paddle attachment
6-to-7-inch-wide paintbrush
Joint compound (optional)
Drywall knife (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Spread tarps over the floor under the wall you are finishing, since the swirling technique can create a mess.
- 2
  Open a 5-gallon bucket of sand paint and mix it thoroughly using a trowel or a paddle attachment screwed to a power drill. As the name implies, this paint has sand added, so it is much thicker than standard wall paint.
- 3
  Grasp up a 6-to-7-inch-wide paintbrush so your thumb rests on one side of the brush and your fingers rest on the other side. The handle of the brush should lie between the crevice of your thumb and forefinger.
- 4
  Dip the brush into the sand paint by 2 to 3 inches. Drag both sides of the brush gently over the side of the bucket to remove excess paint.
- 5
  Place the brush at one end of the wall, near the top, so the bristles are positioned horizontally.
- 6
  Rotate your wrist bringing the right side of the brush up and over in an arcing pattern until the brush is positioned horizontally again. The result is a half swirl texture on the drywall.
- 7
  Insert the brush back into the paint and wipe off the excess.
- 8
  Create a second swirl in the same manner as the first, overlapping the first swirl by 1 inch to create a continuous swirl pattern.
- 9
  Repeat the process over the entire wall until no portion of the drywall is visible.

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