Yes, you can absolutely smooth textured walls. The most popular and cost-effective method is skim coating—applying a thin layer of drywall joint compound (mud) over the texture until the wall is perfectly flat.
Smoothing textured walls typically costs between $𝟏.𝟓𝟎 and $𝟑.𝟓𝟎 per square foot for labor and materials to skim coat or sand over the texture. For a standard 1,500-square-foot home with 8-foot ceilings, you can expect the total expense to range from $𝟑,𝟓𝟎𝟎 to $𝟗,𝟕𝟓𝟎.
In most cases, skim coating your wall makes it easier for a painting job to be perfect. It's more like you are prepping your wall before repainting them. This helps remove uneven surfaces and bumps surfaces. If you paint without skim coating your wall, you might have uneven walls and surfaces.
Yes, you can absolutely paint over textured walls. In fact, it is the quickest and most cost-effective way to update them. Success comes down to using the right, thick-nap roller to reach into the grooves and opting for a matte, eggshell, or satin finish to avoid highlighting the texture.
Switching from textured to flat walls is a big investment…it's labor-intensive, and you need to vet the right professionals who know how to do the job right the first time. PLUS, the mess and dust created during the removal process could be a health disaster floating all over your home.
Yes, textured walls can decrease a home's resale value, particularly in regions where smooth walls are standard, as they are often viewed as dated or difficult to repair. While common in some areas (e.g., the Southwest), heavy textures like popcorn or knock-down can reduce value by $500–$1,000 per 500 square feet due to removal costs.
The easiest and most effective way to remove texture from painted walls is to skim coat them. Scraping or sanding is incredibly messy and can easily gouge the drywall, but rolling a thin layer of drywall mud directly over the texture smooths the wall out with far less physical effort.
To cover textured walls, you can skim coat the surface with joint compound for a smooth finish, apply heavy-duty wall liners to bridge the texture, or disguise the imperfections using flat paint and smart lighting. Skim coating is the most permanent and traditional method.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
While flat, smooth walls are the modern standard for high-end luxury, textured walls are currently seeing a resurgence. Understated textures like Venetian plaster or light skip-trowel add warmth and depth. However, heavy, uneven textures (like 1990s orange peel) are largely considered outdated and can lower resale value.
In upscale real estate, details like Venetian plaster or hand-applied finishes can significantly increase a property's perceived worth. While some homeowners attempt to texture walls themselves, luxury finishes demand precision and expertise.
Some drywall finishers add a small amount of dish soap (like Dawn) to drywall mud as a workability hack. They do this to act as a surfactant, which reduces the surface tension of the mud.
How to Smooth Textured Walls
Cost: Skimming is usually cheaper because it needs fewer materials and less labour.
Skim coating can last for about a decade. But they will need constant repair and renovation. Although the task is a tedious one with a lot of time required, if done without a single error the restoration can make the walls look all good as new again.
Generally, homeowners can expect to pay between $1.50 and $3.50 per square foot for mudding services. This price typically includes the application of joint compound, sanding, and potentially priming the drywall.
Beige tones, hues of white, and grey should be the colors of choice for your furniture, curtains, drapes, and other home accessories. Neutral colors not only give that plush look, but they also give you that warm feeling.
There are three main types of “impossible” colors: Forbidden colors. These are colors our eyes simply cannot process because of the antagonistic way our cones work, for instance “red-green” or “yellow-blue.”
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
Depending on your space and goals, excellent drywall alternatives include PVC panels (for fast, mud-free installation), wood planks or shiplap, plywood/OSB (durable for garages), cork (adds warmth/acoustics), or veneer plaster (traditional, smooth look).
Peel and stick tiles generally do not adhere well to textured walls because the texture creates air pockets that weaken the adhesive. For a lasting hold, you must either smooth the wall beforehand or use a flat barrier panel.
Several colors can work well on textured walls, including: Light neutrals (off-white, beige, light gray), which minimize how prominent the textures appear by reflecting light evenly. Earth tones (soft greens, tans, and browns) that add warmth without emphasizing imperfections.
Yes, you can absolutely paint over textured walls. In fact, it is the quickest and most cost-effective way to update them. Success comes down to using the right, thick-nap roller to reach into the grooves and opting for a matte, eggshell, or satin finish to avoid highlighting the texture.
Choose skim coating for cosmetic flaws, like minor dings, texture removal, or wallpaper damage, provided the wall is structurally sound. Choose replacement for major damage, such as deep gouges, mold, sagging, or water damage, where the drywall core is compromised.
Skim the walls with the Magic Trowel
If you have a really heavy texture, you'll need more layers of joint compound. Each coat of mud should be smoothed in the same direction as it was applied onto the wall with the roller. Alternate directions of each consecutive coat.