Curious about interior texture paint? We were, too! Here's what we found out and what you should know.
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7 Best Interior Texture Paints
Updated Jul. 30, 2024
If you’re looking to add some character to your living space (or just change things up), repainting is one of the most surprisingly comprehensive ways to do so. That being said, the character can be greatly increased by also adding a little texture—increasing the depth, uniqueness and visual draw of just about any space.
Thankfully, we live in a world where paints aren’t just colorful; they’re also available with a wide array of textures—built into the paint itself and by their application. If you want to revamp your living space, workspace or anywhere, you’ll want to check out our guide to the best indoor texture paints you can buy. We’ve even included some helpful info (including painting tips and tricks) that will help you better understand these paints and hopefully help you narrow it down to the ones that are perfect for you.
Best Lime Texture Paint
JH Lime Wall Paint
JH Lime Wall Paint stands out for its generous texture and varied limestone appearance. Its natural anti-mold, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties resulting in velvety, matte suede.
JH’s secret is in the “sauce” — mature pit lime aged for over three years. You apply directly to porous or previously painted surfaces, though you’ll need their Mineral Prime for drywall. Here’s everything you need to know about drywall texture types.
Best Clay Texture Paint
Portola Paints Roman Clay
Hearkening back to old-time traditions and techniques, Portola Paints Roman Clay is a clear standout. This natural gypsum-based product renders subtle textured results comparable to Venetian plaster but at a fraction of the cost. It also works just as well for creating concrete-like surfaces in contemporary interiors.
Roman Clay comes pre-tinted to order. If you’re unsure which hue to choose, each of the 60 hand-blended colors comes in sample jars ($10) to try out first.
Best Texture Additive
Homax Sand Texture Paint Additive
An economical solution that’s ready to use, Homax Sand Texture Paint Additive allows you to control the level of texture. This product can be stirred into any brand of interior and exterior latex paint or stain. Just pour, mix and apply with a paint roller (not included). It’s also available in a stone (heavy finish) formulation.
“I never had enough guts to try this before, but it was great, easy to mix and matched the other three walls perfectly,” writes five-star reviewer Great Blades on homedepot.com.
Best Eco-Friendly Texture Paint
BioShield Clay Paint
Combining style and sustainability in one can, BioShield Clay Paint doesn’t contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like some regular paints.
BioShield is devoid of acrylic copolymers, formaldehyde, ammonia, ethylene glycol, solvents or heavy metals. What you get is a clay paint that naturally captures the look of aged adobe, lime plasters or stucco. Choose from their vast assortment of colors sourced directly from Mother Earth.
Best Washable Texture Paint
Velvet Wall Paint
JH Wall Paint makes our list for the second time. It recently released its mineral-based Velvet Wall Paint with a sophisticated, velvety texture that’s scrubbable. It can go directly over previously painted surfaces or primed drywall. And because it’s durable, no sealer is necessary.
The manufacturer suggests rolling or spraying on one or two coats to achieve a luminescent mineral finish, then brushing on the third coat for the “mossy” feel you’re looking for.
Best Decorative Texture Paint
Americana Décor Texture Paint
Made from a water-based formula in your choice of satin or metallic finishes, Americana Décor Texture Paint is well suited for embellishing furniture and other home décor items. Use a palette knife, comb or even a plastic fork to create 3D effects and designs. This heavy-bodied paint comes in 10 regular colors and 14 shimmery metallic shades.
Best Texture Spray Paint
Rust-Oleum American Accents Stone Spray
Turn everything to stone (at least in look and feel) with Rust-Oleum American Accents Stone Spray. From wood accent tables to metal lamps, ceramic vases to wicker baskets, Stone Spray adds a multi-tonal texture to any art or DIY home project.
This spray paint is made from a water-based resin formula that dries in less than an hour. It’s also easy to clean up — a little soap and water is all you need.
What to Look for When Buying Interior Texture Paints
Unfortunately, doing a textured painting project isn’t as simple as picking up the first one. There are factors you’ll need to consider first. Here are the biggest ones to keep in mind:
Painting Surface
The kind of wall (or ceiling or floor or furniture or whatever else) you’re painting may determine the kind of paint you want to get. If you’re painting bricks, for instance, you’ll need something that will mask the red clay color from peeking through. Similarly, some paint brushes and rolls are better suited to certain surfaces. You can consult the packaging or a salesperson to help you decide what’s best for your job.
The Paint Itself
Texture paint isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. There are several options just for the type of texture alone, as well as the colors, how it is applied and so on. This all has to be considered before you buy.
Application
Most paints come in a tin and can be applied via a brush or roller. But there are also spray paints, airbrush paints and many more. Deciding how you paint is an essential consideration.
Color Scheme
If you go into a job blindly, you may accidentally pick colors that look horrible together. Make sure you consider the other colors in the room and the shades of paint you’ll choose to use, or you could have painter’s regret.
Types of Textures
- Smooth: The most traditional style of paint, this is the kind you see on flat, untextured walls. It has a very sleek and modern appearance.
- Sand: Usually containing silica or some other kind of actual sand, this paint dries with a subtle grainy texture.
- Popcorn: Typically used on ceilings (although it has fallen out of fashion), this paint is usually sprayed on and resembles popcorn, as the name suggests.
- Orange-peel: As you probably expect, this paint dries with a texture that resembles the rimpled surface of orange fruit.
- Fabric/Fiber: This kind of paint usually has bits of fiber or fabric mixed into it to give it a cloth-like appearance.
- Stone/Granite: Like the above, this kind of paint usually has elements mixed into it that, when dried, look like natural stone surfaces.
- Application-based textures: Some textures can be applied using the kind of brush, roller or other painting device you use. However, they typically require a greater amount of skill to be applied properly.
Why You Should Trust Us
For over a decade, Toni DeBella owned a successful faux finishing, mural, and children’s furniture business. She then parlayed her experience into a successful career writing home improvement and DIY content. Her background in painting makes her uniquely qualified to speak on texture paints (and painting in general).
How We Found the Best Interior Texture Paints
To best serve our readers, we started this guide by taking a top-down look at the entire range of texture paint options on the market. Then, we narrowed it down by type, paying special attention to brand reputations, consumer product reviews, expert testimony and more. Finally, we pared down the list to a manageable collection of paints that suit a variety of purposes while remaining of the utmost quality and customer satisfaction.
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to texture a wall?
Combining texture paint with a textured roll brush can add extra definition to a surface without costing much extra. If you want to save money, this may be the best way to get that textured look without spending too much.
Does wall texture need primer?
Primer isn’t absolutely necessary when using wall texture paint. That being said, there’s a risk that your texture paint may crack and/or you’ll need more layers of paint to get the desired look with your texture paint.
What paint roller gives texture?
You can buy paint rollers with “texture” in their title. They will also show what the texture looks like in photos on the pain roller packaging. Often, these are microfiber paint rollers, but there are other options.
In what order should you paint a room?
If you are painting an entire room, you should start with the ceiling, then the walls, then any woodwork or trim and, finally, the floor. If only some of this qualifies, you can still follow the same general order, skipping the steps you’re not doing.
Originally Published: May 17, 2022
