How do you texture paint walls?

Textured paint is made by adding some inert material to your paint, either while it is still in the can, or by sprinkling it on while the paint is still wet.

The most common usage is to give "grip" to painted stairs. An additive known as "Shark skin" - it is really just a fine sand - is added to paint in the can, stirred in and the steps are painted with the mixture. The result is a non-slip surface. The difficulty is that if you do not continually stir the paint the additive settles to the bottom of the can.

The best way to use this product is to paint the stairs, wait for the paint to dry, tape or mask off all of the tread but a 1 1/2 inch strip at the front edge of the step, apply another coat of paint and while it is wet sprinkle the "Shark skin" into the wet paint. Remove the tape or masking and wait for the paint to dry.

This gives you a a tidier look, a non-slip edge and does not ruin the paint you have left.