The Broom Trick For Textured Paint Finishes

In the world of home design, texture is key. It's fun to fill a room with everything from plush couch cushions to stone fireplaces to smooth marble countertops. This masterful blend of materials and surfaces gives any room depth and intrigue, and enhances the sensory experience of everyone who visits.

There are many ways to add texture to your home décor. But one of the best hacks involves repurposing an old broom around the house. Next time you want to add some paint to an item like a repurposed nightstand or bookshelf, grab a whisk broom head for a textured paint finish. By carefully gliding it across a wet layer of paint, you'll create a new pattern in the paint. The color will remain, but the bristles will help make that paint become three-dimensional. Textured and a little rustic, the piece will now have tons of visual and tactile intrigue thanks to a simple household tool. 

To begin your DIY project, get a whisk broom head with stiff bristles. If it's one you've used before, just make sure it's as clean as possible. It needs to be ready to go as soon as you paint your piece, because this technique requires the paint to still be wet to achieve that movement and texture.

When you're ready to use the broom on the freshly painted item, start with an easy touch — too heavy and slow, and your lines can get a bit wobbly and inconsistent. You can create any pattern you like. Go from side to side and up and down for a hatched pattern, or in just one direction for a more striped look. For a more eclectic look — like on a painted dresser at a beach house — you could try some waves or swirls. Play around with layering, too. You can add another coat of paint on top of the already textured paint for even more dimension.

This method is best used on small items or spaces, like when you're repainting furniture like a pro or want to add texture to a backsplash. There's no reason it wouldn't work on a bigger space like an accent wall, but it can be tough to maintain that steady handiwork across such a long and tall space. If you do want to attempt the job, consider attaching the broom head to something like a wallpaper brush in order to best cover the space.