19 Modern Drywall Texture Types to Upgrade Your Space

Drywall texture changes plain walls into visually interesting surfaces that hide imperfections and add character to your home.

Today’s owners prefer cleaner, more contemporary options over outdated styles like popcorn ceilings. Modern drywall texture types range from completely smooth finishes to subtle artistic patterns that catch light beautifully.

Your ideal texture depends on style, budget, and needs; from easy spray methods to hand-applied finishes that change any space.

Understanding Modern Drywall Texture Choices

Modern drywall textures focus on clean, subtle finishes instead of heavy patterns like popcorn ceilings. Today’s owners prefer smooth or lightly textured walls that add visual interest without overwhelming a room.

Texturing serves multiple practical purposes; it hides minor wall imperfections and uneven surfaces while adding depth and character to your space.

Different textures create different moods, from sleek and contemporary to warm and inviting. Some textured finishes even help with sound absorption, making rooms quieter and more comfortable for daily living and activities.

Popular Modern Drywall Texture Types

Ever wondered what makes some walls feel more expensive than others? The answer lies in the texture choice; a subtle detail that alters ordinary drywall into something extraordinary.

1. Smooth Finish (Level 5)

A clean, flat, contemporary look achieved through multiple skim coats and extensive sanding. This flawless finish eliminates all texture and imperfections, creating a sleek, modern surface popular in high-end homes and minimalist designs.

• Application: Multiple skim coats and sanding for a completely flat surface
• Best for: Modern homes, minimalist spaces, and high-end properties
• Difficulty: High (professionally recommended due to the precision required)
• Cost: High ($3.00-$5.00 per sq ft)

2. Skip Trowel Texture

A hand-applied artistic finish featuring smooth and textured patches with random, sweeping arcs. This technique creates depth and visual interest, offering light or heavy application options depending on desired coverage and style preferences.

• Application: Apply compound with a trowel at an angle using a skipping motion
• Best for: Living rooms, accent walls, Southwestern and Mediterranean styles
• Difficulty: Medium-high (requires artistic skill and practice)
• Cost: Medium ($2.00-$3.50 per sq ft)

3. Knockdown Texture

Flattened peaks create a mottled, stucco-like appearance across walls or ceilings. This adapatable texture effectively hides imperfections and uneven surfaces while maintaining a refined look that works in various design styles.

• Application: Spray compound, then flatten peaks with a trowel or knife
• Best for: Hiding imperfections, high-traffic areas, and transitional spaces
• Difficulty: Medium (requires timing and technique)
• Cost: Low-medium ($1.00-$2.50 per sq ft)

4. Orange Peel Texture

A subtle dimpled finish resembling citrus rind with small, evenly distributed bumps. This popular texture adds dimension without overwhelming a space, making it ideal for busy households needing durable, easy-to-maintain surfaces.

• Application: Spray thinned compound using a texture gun in even passes
• Best for: Walls and ceilings, family homes, and budget-friendly projects
• Difficulty: Medium (requires spray equipment and practice)
• Cost: Low ($0.50-$1.50 per sq ft)

5. Hawk and Trowel

Wave-like patterns create a modern artistic finish with flowing, dimensional textures. This hand-applied technique produces unique, organic movements across surfaces, adding contemporary grace and visual drama to interior spaces.

• Application: Hand-apply compound with hawk and trowel in sweeping motions
• Best for: Contemporary homes, statement walls, and artistic interiors
• Difficulty: High (requires skill and artistic vision)
• Cost: High ($3.50-$5.00 per sq ft)

6. Sand Swirl

Circular patterns with raised texture created by mixing sand into drywall compound. This technique produces graceful, overlapping swirls that catch light beautifully, adding refined depth and movement to ceiling and wall surfaces.

• Application: Mix sand with the compound and create circular patterns with the brush
• Best for: Ceilings, formal rooms, and elegant transitional spaces
• Difficulty: Medium (requires consistent circular motion)
• Cost: Medium ($1.50-$3.00 per sq ft)

7. Comb Texture

Geometric lines and patterns are formed using a toothed trowel to create grooves. This structured texture offers clean, predictable designs ranging from simple parallel lines to complex basketweave patterns for modern, architectural looks.

• Application: Drag toothed trowel through wet compound in desired pattern
• Best for: Modern homes, geometric designs, and structured contemporary spaces
• Difficulty: Medium (requires steady hand and planning)
• Cost: Medium ($2.00-$3.00 per sq ft)

8. Santa Fe/Southwestern

Soft, uneven coverage with thin compound layers covering 60-90% of the surface area. This rustic texture creates authentic adobe-style walls with intentional gaps, perfectly capturing the warm, earthy aesthetic of Southwestern architecture.

• Application: Apply thin layers randomly, leaving gaps for partial coverage
• Best for: Southwestern homes, rustic interiors, and Spanish Colonial styles
• Difficulty: Medium (requires artistic eye for natural appearance)
• Cost: Medium ($2.00-$3.50 per sq ft)

9. Slap Brush

Random raised brush marks created by stamping stiff bristles into wet compound. This forgiving texture effectively hides ceiling imperfections and uneven surfaces while adding subtle visual interest without overwhelming design schemes.

• Application: Stamp a stiff brush repeatedly into the wet compound across the surface
• Best for: Ceilings, hiding imperfections, and budget-friendly projects
• Difficulty: Low-medium (beginner-friendly with minimal practice)
• Cost: Low ($0.75-$1.50 per sq ft)

10. Venetian Plaster

A sleek, museum-quality finish combining plaster and marble dust with subtle color variations. This luxurious technique creates polished, reflective surfaces with depth and luminosity, offering timeless grace for refined interiors.

• Application: Apply thin plaster layers and burnish with a trowel for sheen
• Best for: High-end homes, formal spaces, and luxury properties
• Difficulty: High (professional highly recommended)
• Cost: High ($5.00-$10.00 per sq ft)

11. Imperfect Smooth

Nearly smooth finish with subtle texture achieved through light skim coating. This transitional style bridges the gap between entirely smooth and textured surfaces, offering modern appeal while maintaining easier application and maintenance.

• Application: Apply a light skim coat with minimal sanding for a slight texture
• Best for: Transitional modern spaces, mid-range budgets, and updated homes
• Difficulty: Medium-high (requires good technique)
• Cost: Medium-high ($2.50-$4.00 per sq ft)

12. Popcorn

Bumpy, cottage cheese appearance, once popular for sound absorption, is now outdated. Rarely used in new builds, it remains in older homes and needs special removal due to potential asbestos.

• Application: Spray acoustic compound using a hopper gun for bumpy coverage
• Best for: Sound absorption in older homes (primarily historical use)
• Difficulty: Low (application easy, removal difficult)
• Cost: Low ($0.50-$1.00 per sq ft)

13. Stomp Brush (Crow’s Foot)

Fan-like or stippled pattern with varied ridges resembles bird footprints or radiating lines. Creates shadow play and texture, forgiving for covering ceiling imperfections.

• Application: Press the long-bristled brush into the wet compound with a twisting motion
• Best for: Ceilings in large rooms, hiding imperfections, and traditional spaces
• Difficulty: Low-medium (beginner-friendly with practice)
• Cost: Low ($0.50-$1.50 per sq ft)

14. Rosebud Texture

Uniform circular patterns resembling flower petals create repeating floral medallions across surfaces. This structured texture offers more control than random patterns, adding decorative grace ideal for vintage or cottage interiors.

• Application: Press circular brush into wet compound and pull out for petal effect
• Best for: Accent walls, decorative ceilings, and vintage or cottage-style homes
• Difficulty: Medium (requires practice for uniformity)
• Cost: Medium ($2.00-$3.50 per sq ft)

15. Spanish Lace

Intricate webbing pattern with fine, lace-like appearance featuring interconnected loops and swirls. This hand-drawn technique showcases true craftsmanship and adds significant character, with options for multi-colored effects through layered paint applications.

• Application: Apply compound with a special lace brush in circular overlapping patterns
• Best for: Mediterranean homes, Spanish Colonial style, and artistic feature walls
• Difficulty: High (hand-drawn technique requires skill)
• Cost: High ($3.50-$5.00 per sq ft)

16. Sand Texture (Spray Sand)

Fine, granular coating with gritty, sandpaper-like surface creating subtle depth across walls. This even texture offers adjustable grain sizes from fine to coarse, providing durability and easier maintenance compared to traditional popcorn finishes.

• Application: Spray sand mixed with primer using a texture gun in even coats
• Best for: Covering minor imperfections, adding subtle texture, and commercial spaces
• Difficulty: Medium (requires spray equipment)
• Cost: Low-medium ($1.00-$2.50 per sq ft)

17. Swirl Texture

Rounded circular patterns create movement with rainbow or half-circle arcs across surfaces. This retro texture, less pronounced than sand swirl, adds motion to flat surfaces and is experiencing renewed popularity in eclectic modern designs.

• Application: Apply the compound, then create overlapping circular patterns with a swirl brush
• Best for: Ceilings, retro or eclectic style rooms, and adding visual motion
• Difficulty: Medium (easier than hand-trowel techniques)
• Cost: Medium ($1.50-$3.00 per sq ft)

18. Stipple Texture

Dense, uniform dots or peaks with even distribution of minor raised points across surfaces. This controlled texture offers more precision than random slap brush techniques, making it excellent for matching existing textures in repair situations.

• Application: Dab stipple brush repeatedly across wet compound for consistent density
• Best for: Creating subtle texture, transitional spaces, and walls and ceilings
• Difficulty: Low-medium (repetitive but straightforward)
• Cost: Low ($0.75-$2.00 per sq ft)

19. Trowel Swirl (Hand Swirl)

Thick, artistic circular patterns with varying depths featuring bold swirls and pronounced ridges. This highly textured, dimensional finish creates dramatic shadow effects, requiring good lighting to showcase the depth and artistic movement across surfaces.

• Application: Apply thick compound with circular sweeping motions, varying pressure
• Best for: Statement walls, rustic or Mediterranean style, and bold texture areas
• Difficulty: High (artistic skill required)
• Cost: High ($3.00-$5.00 per sq ft)

Modern vs Traditional Texture Styles

Modern textures emphasize smooth, minimal finishes for clean contemporary looks, while traditional styles feature heavier patterns like popcorn and rosebud that add pronounced dimension.

TOPIC	MODERN TEXTURES	TRADITIONAL TEXTURES
Distinguishing traits	Subtle, smooth, and intentional. Designed to complement architecture without dominating the space.	Bold, decorative, and visually busy. Often used to mask imperfections.
2025 trends	Micro-smooth finishes, light sand swirl, refined Venetian plaster, thin knockdown.	Limited use of orange peel and light knockdown, mainly in remodels.
Declining styles	Heavy textures are seen as dated and harder to repair or repaint.	Popcorn, heavy stomp, and thick knockdown are losing favor.
Regional influence	Refined skip trowel in the Southwest, smoother finishes on coasts.	Strong regional hold in older homes and suburban builds.

Choosing the Right Texture for Your Space

Selecting the right drywall texture depends on room function, design style, and practical considerations like budget and maintenance. Match your texture choice to your space’s specific needs for the best results.

• High-traffic areas: It benefits from durable, forgiving textures like knockdown and orange peel that hide wear and minor damage.
• Style matching: It pairs smooth finishes with modern spaces, skip trowel with rustic designs, and geometric patterns with industrial aesthetics.
• Budget planning: It ranges from affordable options like orange peel and slap brush to premium choices like Venetian plaster and smooth Level 5 finishes.
• Maintenance needs: They vary significantly; smooth walls show every flaw but clean easily, while heavy textures collect dust in grooves.
• Lighting effects: It dramatically impacts texture appearance, with dramatic textures requiring good lighting to showcase depth and dimension.

Wrapping It Up

Selecting the right texture brings your design vision to life while solving practical challenges.

Whether you choose affordable options like orange peel or premium Venetian plaster, each offers unique benefits for your space.

Consider maintenance needs, lighting conditions, and repair difficulty before deciding. Request samples or practice on scrap drywall first. Ready to change your walls?

Start by identifying which rooms need attention, then match textures to their function and style for beautiful, lasting results that upgrade your entire home.