Walk through most homes in the Albuquerque area and you'll find textured walls. Texture hides small flaws in drywall, softens light, and stands up well to everyday bumps. The trick is knowing which one you have, because a patch in the wrong texture stands out every time the sun hits the wall.
Orange peel is a fine, splattered texture that looks like the skin of an orange. It's subtle, easy to clean, and common in newer homes. Knockdown starts as a heavier splatter that's flattened with a trowel before it dries, leaving a mottled, stucco-like look that's popular across the Southwest. Hand-troweled and skip-trowel finishes are applied by hand and have more depth and variation, which suits adobe and Santa Fe style interiors.
Smooth walls take the most work, because every seam and screw has to be finished perfectly with no texture to hide behind. They look clean and modern, but they show every dent and need a higher-quality paint job.
If your walls are damaged, have a dated texture, or have a popcorn ceiling above them, re-texturing a room is a fast way to make it feel new. Matching a patch to existing texture is a skill of its own. Ask to see a small test area before the whole wall gets done.