The Wall Texture Guide

Surcrete Concrete Textured Wall

Materials:

• Surecrete, tadelakt, etc. (A microcement of your choosing.)

• Chosen color tint (I always tint mine with warmer whites, NOT optic white.)

• 5-gallon bucket

• Paint pan

• Drywall knife

• A waterproof sealer

Here’s the Process: 

1. Using a 5-gallon bucket, add half the microcement bag with half of the color pack and start adding water slowly, mixing as you go. Just keep adding water until you get the consistency of pancake batter. You really can't mess it up too much, so use your design instincts with this one and just make sure the final texture is something you can spread—you want it to be the consistency of peanut butter.

2. Take a small amount of the mixture and put it into a paint pan. Use a drywall knife to spread the mixture over the wall. 

3. Start from the bottom of your desired wall and, using your drywall knife, pull the mix straight up the wall—we like to fan it out as we go for added texture. Pretend like you’re swooping on rainbows! Have fun with it—it's YOUR wall and the different methods make for an interesting and unique finish. No wall turns out the same.

4. Go back after the mixture sets with a drywall knife and break off spots where the texture has built up too much for your liking. You could even use a small piece of coarse sandpaper to even it out. TEXTURE IS GOOD so don't be too good at this job. Or too precious!

5. Once this is done, we use a waterproof sealer all over to seal it (especially in bathrooms and above counters.). Be sure to ignore me and to follow the directions as given on the package.

Lime Wash and Roman Clay Wall Treatments

Materials: 

• Your chosen product of Roman Clay or Limewash (we love to use Portola!) 

• A flat or block brush

Here’s the Process: 

1. Prepare your surface! Make sure to clean the wall thoroughly and ensure it's properly primed as specified by the brand of your product. 

2. Stir your product well before applying to ensure consistent and even color. 

3. Always apply in thin coats using a flat or block brush. Use random, overlapping strokes in a rainbow like motion. The brush strokes show through, that’s on purpose so perfectionist’s… beware this might not be for you! 

4. It is important that you maintain a wet edge when doing this! Unfortunately you can’t do your whole room at once so keep in mind as you work from section to section that the paint is still wet at the edges when you start a new section, preventing visible seams.

5. Build layers — apply multiple thin coats if needed to achieve your desired opacity. 

1. Make sure to let each coat dry completely before applying the next one. 

6. Let dry completely — allow ample drying time between coats to see the final color. 

To note: It goes on dark and dries light (tricks us too!) so don’t be scared, that’s normal!

Another tip: Anytime I treat the walls I treat the ceiling as well so that the whole space feels unified and simplified.

About Lime Wash:

• Due to its high PH, Lime Wash also acts as a mild fungicide

• It is eco-friendly — containing zero VOCs.

• It’s organic and highly breathable finish makes Lime Wash ideal for historic restorations, interior and exterior masonry and drywall applications.

• Lime Wash is available in a broad range of stock and custom colors.

The Grout Wash Technique

Materials:

• Pre-mixed grout in the color of your choosing—I always just get Alabaster, a warm natural creamy white. 

• Water

• Sponge

Here’s the Process; 

1. Mix the grout with water.

2. The more water you add to the grout, the lighter it goes on. The less water you add, the thicker it goes on.

3. Grab your sponge, dip it in the mixture, and rub it onto your stone surface. Let it drip and get messy!

4. Remember to start at the bottom and work your way up so you can keep the drip lines.

5. It will dry naturally as you go. 

This isn’t for high traffic surfaces, as the grout can come off with too much touch. But in the same way, I love that this isn’t as permanent as paint! If you really want it off, you just need to scrub with water!

Vintage Wallpaper Collage

Materials:

• Wallpaper scraps, the more the merrier! Torn/uneven ends = MORE TEXTURE

• Mod Podge in the matte or glossy finish (depending on the look you want)

• Paint brush

• Optional: drywall mud diluted with water or white paint diluted with water

 Here’s the Process:

1. Use the brush to apply an even layer of Mod Podge to the back of the wallpaper scraps and apply to the wall
   Tip: You can leave some edges torn/not completely adhered to the wall for a perfectly imperfect look, overlapping edges can be treated with extra Mod Podge if desired
   Tip: Change up pattern/color/shape of adjacent wallpaper scraps for a unique look.

2. Once the Mod Podge is dry apply diluted white paint/diluted drywall mud using large strokes in random directions. Tip: Pay special attention to the joints where different wallpaper pieces meet to make the transitions more subtle.

3. Once dry repeat Step 2 until you are happy with the level of whitewashing.

4. Optional: Seal with a clear matte sealer to protect your masterpiece!

Bottled Wall Effect

Materials Used:

• Green Lid Joint Compound — click here

Here’s the Process

1. Take an empty vintage glass bottle

2. Dip the head of the bottle in the compound

3. Holding the neck of the bottle smear and roll the compound on a designated part of the wall—aim for medium sized strokes.

4. Rinse and repeat 

Pro tip:

"Don’t over do it in one area, once you do one section move on to the next. You can’t control it, you kind of just have to let it go!" - xx Leanne

Coffee Wall Wash

Materials:

• You only need coffee and a rag! 

(Note: You can play with the darkness/lightness of the coffee finish by adjusting the coffee/water ratio.)

Here’s the process: 

1. Prep and prime the surface thoroughly before starting—I noticed the coffee took better (i.e., stained better) on matte surfaces and the best it took was right on the unfinished drywall mud.

2. Cover any areas you don’t want to get coffee on with drop cloths or plastic sheeting and painters tape. This is coffee, so it’s drippy. Watch your baseboards!

3. For a soft cloudy coffee haze look: Moisten the rag with coffee, wring out excess, and apply in circular motions over the wall surface.

4. For a more dramatic streaked effect: Soak the rag with coffee, squeeze the rag against the wall surface, allowing the coffee to drip and trickle down the wall

   (Note: This is MESSY—but it smells GREAT! The coffee smell will go away over time, I promise.)

5. Once the coffee-stained wall is dry you can seal it with a clear matte sealer to protect the finish—though I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever sealed mine.

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