Textured, even excavated inside walls--the kind with gorgeously exposed plaster or peeled-back wallpaper--are in fashion. The different kinds of walls with texture, such as those with the "orange peel," popcorn, or faux-stucco walls, can be found in your home or rental.

What is a textured wall?

Interior walls with texture (think: "orange peel," popcorn, or swirled patterns) serve a useful purpose as the texture conceals the signs of drywall construction--that is, the seams that are taped between the drywall sheets meet, as well as other flaws. It's cost-saving. Maybe some people really enjoyed it in the 1970s, but the main reason for the current practice is to reduce costs. It's easy and cheap.

This is why you'll often find rough walls in rental and commercial structures. It's also a stronger wall than smooth walls and is less susceptible to small scratches and tears. There are those who feel the texture is a nice touch: texture reflects light and creates shadows making plain walls less "boring.

Methods to rid yourself of textured walls that are not needed:

For many of us, the most desirable wall is the smoothest one that you can afford. Here are some methods to transform a rough surface into an even one. These techniques can also be used on walls that are damaged in different ways (should you become bored of the old-fashioned plaster appearance in the future).

1. Apply a thin coat.

After the installation of drywall, it is taped, and the fasteners seams are skim-coated and covered by a thin layer of joint compound, also known as "mud," to level the surface prior to papering or painting. This method also helps get rid of walls that are textured. A thin layer of mud is sprayed over the entire surface of the wall, let dry, then sanded to smoothness. For walls with a lot of bumps, it is recommended to apply several coats.

A room that is skim-coated can be messy and time-consuming. It is best left to an expert with the expertise (and techniques) to stop dust from getting into every corner of your house.

After the surface has been made smooth, it is then covered with a primer and then wallpapered or painted, depending on the style you prefer.

2. Replace the textured wall using new, untextured drywall.

This could be less expensive than skim coating the whole room. It's probably your best choice if the texture is particularly heavy--such as the stucco look you might see in Spanish-style homes. However, take note that putting up new drywall can also mean skim-coating to seal the seams to create an even surface, along with dust and dirt that comes with it.

3. You can cover the walls with a different substance, like wood.

Wood paneling is getting more and more popular nowadays. Flooring companies are creating walls now using beautiful wood. If you're looking for industrial style, this can be extremely stylish.

To solve the issue, it is possible to take the baseboards off and then run the paneling down into the ground. We recommend installing a Fry Reglet metal component that keeps the panel's bottom to the floor just above it to appear as if the panel is floating (the metal part is virtually unnoticeable).

Another option is to remove the baseboards, put some of the stock wood on the lower part of the wall and then reinstall the baseboards flush to the paneling.