There are many drywall textures to choose from, but which types of wall textures are best for your home?

Wall texture techniques are great for adding some extra flair to your home. They act as decorations while still being part of the walls.

They also go very well with other types of decor like paintings and so on. But what wall texture styles are best for your home? Keep reading and learn more about your options below.

The Knockdown Technique

The knockdown technique is one of the most popular wall styles in the United States. This is a very rustic pattern, and it is visually similar to stucco. It is also similar to another drywall texture known as the orange peel style.

But the knockdown technique has a few extra steps added to the orange peel technique. It is first necessary to prime the walls so that there is a good surface for the texture to stick to. It is then necessary to get a hopper gun with some drywall compound.

The drywall compound needs to be diluted with water until it becomes a thick, loose substance like pancake batter. Then the hopper gun will take this substance and splatter it across the wall.

The resulting appearance will be similar to the texture of an orange peel. But for the knockdown technique, it is necessary to flatten these orange peel pumps with a knife.

This flattens the 3D shape of the orange peel splatter. It also compresses and spreads the drywall compound across the wall.

The Details

Timing is of the utmost importance when doing this technique.

This is because the drywall compound will dry very quickly once it’s sprayed on the wall. If you wait too long to flatten the orange peel texture, the knife may leave lines in the compound. This will ruin the uniform appearance of this texture.

It is better to let professionals do this for you. They know all about the best time to work on drywall compounds before they get too dry. They also know how to apply the compound to get the best results.

Letting a professional do it will also minimize any messes that spraying the walls might create. The knockdown technique also creates a very attractive and unique style.

It is impossible to recreate identical knockdown patterns since each one is determined by the random spraying of the hopper gun.

The Sand Swirl Technique

The sand swirl technique is more subdued compared to the knockdown style. It gets its name from looking very similar to swirls in the sand. Sand swirls are full of light strokes and textures that don’t protrude too far from the wall.

It is ideal if you want your walls to have a texture but don’t want the texture to be too noticeable. It is more of a subtle addition rather than the star of the show. This technique is usually achieved with the use of a special compound called perlite.

This is a type of primer that has grains of sand mixed in. It is necessary to apply this primer with a very wide brush of at least 7 inches. You can then brush the perlite onto the wall.

The sand swirl technique is known for its brush strokes flowing into each other. This creates a very fluid and rounded appearance rather than a jagged or sharp appearance. These fluid motions also help keep the appearance of the style subtle.

The swirls should also be large and wide. This maintains the illusion of fluidity on the walls. Once the texture dries, you will then have to prime it again.

This will solidify the texture. You can then paint it whatever color you want to bring out the texture.

The Popcorn Style

The popcorn style is often used on ceilings, but it is also popular for walls. This popcorn style became very popular in the 1970s. While it is slightly less popular today, many homes still use this style and look great.

The popcorn style is similar to the orange peel style but more upraised. This gives it a more prominent texture and appearance. It has unique benefits, such as being able to absorb sounds that travel through the walls.

It can also hide imperfections. The texture is applied with a hopper gun and watered-down drywall compound, much like the orange texture technique. The texture should appear as many little upraised nodules on the wall.

This is why it is known as the popcorn technique. Once the texture dries, you need to apply another layer of primer. After that dries, you can then add a layer or two of paint.

This will complete the style and make your home look great.

The Slap Brush Style

The slap brush style looks very similar to the knockdown style. Instead of using a hopper gun, you use a wide brush. You then need to slap the drywall compound onto the wall and smooth it out.

This will create random, flattened patterns and splatters across the wall. This is another very rustic style that works well in many different rooms. It is also easy to do it yourself, or you can hire a professional.

All About Types of Wall Textures

Many important types of wall textures can brighten up any room. Some of the most popular include the popcorn style, the slap brush style, and the knockdown style.

The sand swirl style is also a very good choice. Any of these styles will add extra personality to your home. To learn more about drywall and drywall styles, check out our services.