Using a spray gun and hopper to apply texture to a wall can cover imperfections and create interest in an otherwise humdrum room.

Step 1: Remove furniture and belongings from the room. Cover the floor, ceiling, doors, woodwork, fixtures, switches, and outlets with plastic sheeting and painters tape to protect them from overspray.

Step 2: Use spackling and a putty knife to fill nail holes, cracks and other major imperfections. Allow the spackling to dry, sand the area smooth and apply primer to the patched areas.

Step 3: Clean the wall thoroughly with a non-residual cleaning product such as TSP or Dirtex.

Step 4: Mix drywall joint compound with water until it reaches a pancake-batter-like consistency. Properly mixed material should be smooth and free of lumps. The compound should run off a trowel held vertically, but stay on the top of a trowel held horizontally. When using pre-mixed joint material, add about 1/3 gallon of water per gallon of compound. When using a dry mix, add about 10 pounds of dry mix to 1 gallon of water, until the desired consistency is met. Let dry-mix compound set for 15 minutes after mixing to allow moisture to be thoroughly absorbed. Add additional water if necessary.

Step 5: Properly assemble the texture spray gun and hopper. Set the gun opening to a mid-sized hole and fill the hopper about 2/3 full of texture mix.

Step 6: Point the gun at a section of cardboard or a plastic covered vertical surface and test the spray pattern. Adjust the air flow to create the desired effect. Increased pressure creates smaller splatters and decreased pressure creates larger splatters.

Step 7: When the desired splatter size has been determined and a practice swatch has been sprayed, hold the gun 15 to 18 inches from the wall and start spraying in a circular and somewhat random pattern. Avoid spraying too much or too little texture in any one area and keep moving at all times.

Step 8: Once the texture has been applied, use a wet sponge to wipe away over spray from surrounding areas.

Step 9: Allow the textured area to dry for 10-15 minutes. When the texture loses its glossy appearance and becomes tacky to the touch, a wide trowel or squeegee can be used to knock down the rough peaks of the splatters, if desired.

— Have a home improvement question for the Fix-It Chick? Email it to Linda Cottin at features@ljworld.com.