Beyond Paint: Budget-Friendly Ways to Add Texture to Your Walls

Flat, smooth walls are a blank canvas, but they can sometimes feel a bit uninspired. Adding texture, however, can give a room depth, character, and a high-end feel—and you don’t need to hire a professional to do it. With a few simple tools and a little creativity, you can add incredible texture to your walls for very little money.

1. The Classic Roller Technique

You can get surprising texture from a simple paint roller, especially when you use a thicker substance than just paint.

Heavy-Nap Roller: A thick-nap roller cover, often used for painting rough surfaces, can create a subtle, stippled texture.¹ Simply roll on a thick coat of paint or a mixture of paint and a texture additive (like fine sand). The slower you go, the more pronounced the peaks will be.
Knockdown Texture: This technique uses joint compound, which is a very affordable material. Roll a thin layer of joint compound onto the wall.² As it begins to dry (but is still pliable), use a large drywall knife or trowel to “knock down” the peaks, creating a flattened, textured look.³
DIY Stamping: After applying a fresh coat of paint or joint compound, use a unique object to press patterns into the wet surface. A crumbled plastic bag, a sea sponge, or even a stencil can create a repeating and visually interesting pattern.⁴

2. Joint Compound: The DIY Decorator’s Best Friend

Joint compound, or drywall mud, is incredibly versatile and cheap. You can use it to create a variety of stunning textures.

Rough Plaster Look: Mix joint compound with a little water until it’s the consistency of thick yogurt.⁵ Use a large trowel or a wide putty knife to apply it to the wall in a random, freehand style.⁶ The imperfect, organic texture will give your walls a rustic, old-world feel.
Swirls and Waves: Apply the joint compound and then, while it’s still wet, use a drywall knife, trowel, or even a stiff-bristled brush to create swirling or wavy patterns. This gives the wall a dynamic, artistic finish.

3. Simple and Fun Faux Painting

If the idea of working with joint compound is too intimidating, you can still add visual texture with clever paint techniques.

Sponge Painting: This classic technique is still a winner. After painting your wall a base color, use a sea sponge or a regular kitchen sponge to dab on a second, complementary color.⁷ The result is a subtle, multi-tonal texture that adds a lot of dimension.
Rag Rolling: Use an old, lint-free cloth or rag.⁸ Roll the cloth into a cylinder and use it like a paint roller, applying a second coat of paint over a dry base. The uneven texture of the rag creates a mottled, dynamic pattern.⁹

4. Adding Elements to Your Paint

You can also make your own textured paint.

Sand or Perlite: Simply mix fine sand or perlite (a volcanic glass used in gardening) into your paint.¹⁰ This creates a gritty, sandpaper-like finish that can add a subtle, industrial feel. Start with a small amount and test it on a scrap board to make sure you like the effect before committing to the whole wall.

With these methods, you can go beyond a simple coat of paint and give your walls a tactile, interesting, and deeply personal texture that looks fantastic without the high price tag.