Use the bristles of your paint brush to create a texture with paint.
Texture paint can add dimension to walls while hiding seams between drywall and original walls. It can also conceal any small damages like holes or cracks. Texture painting over drywall is easy to do and there are a number of textures and techniques you can use to add your own touch. A few steps will ensure proper adhesion of the paint and a cohesive look.
Instructions
1. Wipe down drywall with a clean rag and some soapy water if drywall is old or dirty. Wipe drywall down one more time with another wet rag to remove any soap residue.
2. Apply a layer of primer with a paint roller to new drywall and allow primer to dry according to the manufacture's drying times. You do not need to prime previously painted walls. Clean your paint roller with soapy water afterward.
3. Dip your painter's brush in paint and apply a layer of texture paint to a piece of cardboard. Play around using the bristles of your brush to create various textures until you find one you like. Practicing on cardboard will prevent mistakes later when painting on the wall.
4. Fill your paint tray and begin painting a small 5-by-5 foot section of the wall starting in one corner. You want to paint in sections moving across the wall in rows from top to bottom so that you can spend enough time working with the texture in each section and blending sections as you go.
5. Dab paint thoroughly over the section of wall, re-wetting the brush with paint as you go to get a uniform textured layer. Use your brush as you did on the cardboard to create the textured look you like.
6. Continue on to the next section and apply a thin layer of paint over the seam of the previous section and the new section to ensure they blend together. Continue working in sections across the wall until the entire wall is covered in texture paint. Allow paint to fully dry for a day and either leave it the original color or paint over with latex-based wall paint.
