Hot take: sponges beat paintbrushes for cheap texture walls

I was at my buddy's place in Austin last weekend and noticed his living room wall had this cool speckled look. He said he did it with a regular dish sponge and $12 of flat paint from the hardware store. He just dabbed it on in sections while the base coat was still wet. Took him about 3 hours for a 12x14 room. Has anyone else tried this trick or got a better cheap tool for adding texture?

2 comments

2 Comments

wells.morgan1d ago

My buddy tried the sponge method last year and the texture started flaking off in some spots after about 6 months. A cheap paint roller with a thick nap gives you way more control and lasts longer without peeling.

joelsanchez1d ago

12 bucks at Home Depot for a 3/4 inch nap roller beats sponges every time. You gotta use the right mud mix with it though - too much water and it'll crack in a month. I did my whole basement with a roller and some joint compound thinned out with a little bit of dish soap, and it's still solid 4 years later. The sponge thing looks okay for small patches but on any wall bigger than a bathroom it's a gamble.