If you’re remodeling a room and looking for something other than the standard, smooth drywall texture, there are many options.
You can do something simple and classic or go bumpy and bold.
Here are 16 modern drywall textures to choose from.
Top Modern Drywall Texture Types
Orange Peel

Orange peel style is nothing new, but it’s still popular and a classic break from a standard drywall finish. It looks like what you’d find on a piece of citrus fruit – a subtle bumpy texture.
Orange peel is also one of the easier textures to apply since you can do it with a paint roller or a spray gun.
Concrete Texture

Concrete texture is another subtle one that works with modern rooms. As the name sounds, this style mimics the look of unfinished concrete.
You’ll often see this texture on basement walls, but it can easily work in a living room.
Sand Swirl

If you’re looking to make a statement, the sand swirl might be the wall texture for you.
This method involves adding sand to primer, allowing it to sit overnight, and then applying it to the walls. To get the swirls, you apply the mixture with a thick bristle brush.
The sand swirl is a bold look, so don’t do your entire house in this finish unless you’re sure it’s the style you want.
Comb Texture

The comb is an artistic texture, great for modern homes. It gets its name from its hair comb-like strokes on the wall.
And fortunately, if you like this style, it’s pretty straightforward to DIY – you start by rolling drywall compound onto the wall in a small section. Then, you take a trowel with teeth and use it to make your pattern.
The most popular pattern is repeating half circles, but you can customize the strokes to your liking.
Rosebud

If you love flowers and are looking for an interesting texture to apply to a bedroom, consider rosebud. This style appears to have a repeated rosebud pattern stamped on the wall.
You start by thinning drywall mud until it’s a liquidy consistency. Then, you roll the mud on the wall, working in small sections.
After one area is up, dip a round brush into the drywall mud and push it into the wall.
You’ll need to buy a brush specifically for this texture to get the best results.
Plain, Smooth Drywall

Perhaps the most modern drywall texture is no added texture at all. While you might think this is boring, a smooth flat surface will never go out of style. (And as a bonus, you don’t have to do any extra work to get this look.)
Slap Brush/Crows Feet

The slap brush method is a popular one for craftsman-style houses. It has a unique texture that’s not too overpowering.
For the slap brush method, start by thinning regular joint compound and applying it to the wall in small sections using a paint roller. Then, while the mud is still wet, take a thick bristle brush, dip into the compound, and slap it on the wall.
Repeat until the entire wall is textured.
Slap Brush and Knockdown

A popular look for southwest-style homes is the slap brush and knockdown texture.
For this style, you start by using the slap brush method discussed above. Then, after a section of your stomp brush texture is dry, you go over it with a drywall knife, knocking down all the bumps to create a smoother surface.
Repeat, working in sections until you’ve completed the job.
Popcorn

Chances are, you’ve seen popcorn ceilings and may have even removed them from your home. But did you know you can also put popcorn texture on the walls?
Popcorn texture is rough and bumpy and makes a statement. It’s also sound-dampening, so it’s often in rooms that need soundproofing.
If you like the popcorn texture, you can get it by spraying a styrofoam, water, and polystyrene mixture on the wall. However, before you make the leap, be sure you love this look since it’s difficult to remove.
Spray Sand Texture

If you like the orange peel texture, the spray sand is quite similar, only a little more uniform without the long cracks.
While there are many ways to achieve this, one of the most common is mixing primer with sand, allowing it to sit overnight, and then spraying the mixture on the drywall.
Stucco/Skip Trowel

Do you love the look of stucco? If so, you can bring it into your home with the skip trowel texture.
Getting this look is time-intensive, but the result is very modern, especially with a dark or neutral coat of paint on top.
The process of stucco texture on drywall includes spreading thin layers of mud or plaster on the wall with a large knife, working in overlapping circles. You then follow this up with a trowel held at an angle.
Venetian Plaster

The Venetian plaster wall texture has been around for centuries. It gives off a very high-end expensive look but is labor-intensive and costly.
To get a Venetian plaster texture, you’ll need to mix marble dust with plaster, apply it in thin layers, and polish it.
Lace

Lace closely resembles stucco but has a less intense, more romantic feel. Lace is a great texture to try out in a bedroom or sunroom.
To get the lace texture, you’ll start by thinning out drywall mud with water. Then, add it to a sprayer and splatter it on the wall.
After it’s dry, go back over the pattern with a drywall knife knocking down the spatter lines.
Multi-colored Lace

Try multi-colored lace if you want an attractive, 3-D like look on your wall.
All you need to do is paint your walls before applying the lace texture. This way, there’s a contrast between the wall and the lace pattern.
Hawk and Trowel

The hawk and trowel method will create a modern, rock-looking design on your wall. This is an excellent choice for bedrooms or small bathrooms that need a natural element.
This texture requires switching back from two tools – a hawk and a trowel. Also, since you need to be very quick, this texture is harder to DIY.
Santa Fe

The Santa Fe texture is a good choice if you’re trying to get an aged look in your home. It features random swirls and indents.
For this style, you’ll need to use an 18″ curved drywall knife to apply a thin layer of mud over your wall. Don’t fix imperfections as you go. In the end, you should cover about 60-95% of your drywall with mud.
Final Thoughts
You can customize almost all of these styles to your liking.
But because removing texture is so tricky, it’s essential to choose one you’ll be happy with for years to come. This usually means going for a classic look like orange peel or concrete instead of the super dramatic choices.
Start with a small room if you want to try something bolder like rosebud or hawk and trowel. Then, after you’ve lived with the texture for a while, you can determine if you’d like to expand it to the rest of your home.