Updated October 2026: Revit wall art means changing how a wall looks without rebuilding it. This guide shows five ways to do it: paint walls with the Paint tool, add decals for logos and artwork, fill walls with poche in plan and section, assign wall materials in the wall type, and cut wall openings. The steps are checked against Autodesk’s Revit help, with a note wherever Revit 2027 or an older release looks different.
If you only need the shortcut for painting: press PT, pick a material in the Material Browser, then click the wall face.
Quick answer
To make wall art in Revit, use the Paint tool (Modify > Geometry > Paint, shortcut PT) to change a wall’s surface material, or place a Decal (Insert > Link > Decal) to add a logo or image. Paint and decals change only the look of the wall, not its structure or layers.
To change the material of the whole wall, edit the wall type’s Structure. To fill walls with a solid color in plans and sections, set the Walls Cut Pattern in Visibility/Graphics.
Practice file · .RVT
Follow this guide on the same Revit file
The Revit project (.rvt) from this tutorial and its reference files are on the Mashyo Patreon. Open it beside this page and try each wall art method on a real model instead of an empty project.
Get the wall art practice file
$5.5/month on Patreon. One membership unlocks all 40 Mashyo practice files. Cancel anytime. See the full file library.
Which Revit Wall Art Method Should You Use?
Each method changes a different thing. Pick the one that matches what you want the wall to do.
| What you want to do | Use this | Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Change the color or finish of one wall face | Paint tool (PT) | Paint walls |
| Put a logo, mural or picture on a wall | Decal | Decals |
| Fill walls solid black or with a pattern in plans and sections | Cut Pattern in Visibility/Graphics | Poche walls |
| Change what the wall is made of | Edit Type > Structure material | Wall materials |
| Cut a void or shaped hole in a wall | Wall Opening tool | Openings |
How to Paint Walls in Revit
Details: The Paint tool applies a material to the selected face of a wall without changing its structure or layers. It also works on roofs, floors, massing, and families, so it is the quickest way to change the look of a Revit wall.
Steps
- Go to the Modify tab > Geometry panel > click Paint (Shortcut: PT).
- In the Material Browser, select a material.
- Click on the surface of the wall you want to paint.
- Click Done in the Material Browser when you finish.
✨ Tips: Select multiple surfaces by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking.
To remove paint, select the “Remove Paint” tool under the main tool and then click on the painted surface.
Paint covers a whole face. To paint only part of a wall, split the face first. Learn more about splitting walls.
How to Add Decals to Walls in Revit
Details: Decals are a great way to add graphics and branding to your Revit projects. Whether you want to add a logo, a sign, a painting, or a custom design, decals place an image on a flat or cylindrical wall surface for rendering.
Steps
- Go to the Insert tab > Link panel > click the Decal drop-down > Decal Types, then click Create new decal and name it.
- In the Decal Types dialog, click Edit next to the decal attribute.
- Select the Source prompt box > select an image (BMP, JPG, JPEG or PNG).
- Click Open > click OK.
- Go to Insert tab > Link panel > Decal drop-down > Place Decal, then click the surface of the wall.
- To change the image later, select the decal, then in the Properties palette click Edit Type.
Note: Place decals in a 2D view or an orthographic 3D view. Autodesk does not allow decals in perspective 3D views. In the decal attributes you can also set reflectivity, transparency, and luminance.
How to Poche Walls in Revit (Solid Fill in Plan and Section)
Details: How to fill all walls with a solid color or pattern in plan and section views. Poche walls can help you distinguish between different types of walls or highlight important features in your drawings.
Steps
- Go to the View tab > Graphics panel > click Visibility/Graphics.
- On the Model Categories tab, find Walls. In the Cut column > Pattern subcolumn > click the white rectangle.
- Select “Black” for Color and “Solid” for Pattern.
- Click OK.
The cut pattern shows wherever a wall is cut, such as in plans and sections. If we add a section box to our 3D view, this is how it will appear.
How to Add Materials to Revit Walls
Details: Change the material of each layer in a wall type. This is different from painting: the material becomes part of the wall’s structure, so it flows into schedules and applies to every wall of that type.
With Revit’s extensive library of materials, you can add everything from wood grain to concrete texture to your walls. Each material also controls the surface pattern and cut pattern the wall shows in views.
Steps
- Select the wall to which you want to add the material by clicking it.
- In the Properties palette, click Edit Type.
- Click Edit next to the “Structure” parameter.
- In the Edit Assembly window, click the three dots in the Material column of the layer.
- Select an existing material or create a new one.
- Click OK.
Learn how to customize material transparency in views
Painted surfaces sit on top of the wall type material. To reveal the material of the wall, you can split the painted surface.
How to Add Openings to Walls in Revit
Details: use the “Wall Opening” tool to create voids within the wall. It is a quick way to cut rectangular or shaped openings without placing a door or window.
Steps
- Select the wall.
- In the Modify | Walls tab > Modify Wall panel > click Wall Opening.
- Click and drag the opening box to apply it to the wall.
For custom openings, see our Cutting Geometry tutorial.
That’s it! These five ideas for Revit wall art are sure to add visual interest to your projects. Use paint and decals for the look, wall type materials for the build-up, poche for clear drawings, and openings for the shape.
Practice file · .RVT
Now try all five on a real model
Painting, decals and poche are quick to read and easier to learn by doing. The practice file for this lesson gives you the Revit project from this tutorial, so you can run each step yourself and keep the file for reference.
Download the wall art practice file
$5.5/month on Patreon. One membership unlocks all 40 Mashyo practice files. Cancel anytime. See the full file library.
FAQs
What is the Paint tool shortcut in Revit?
The default shortcut for the Paint tool is PT. You can also find it on the Modify tab, Geometry panel.
What is the difference between painting a wall and changing its material?
Paint changes only the surface of one face and leaves the wall structure alone. Changing the material in Edit Type > Structure changes a layer of the wall type, so every wall of that type updates.
How do I put a picture or logo on a wall in Revit?
Create a decal type (Insert > Link > Decal > Decal Types), choose a BMP, JPG, JPEG or PNG image as its source, then use Place Decal and click the wall. Decals work in 2D and orthographic 3D views, not perspective views.
How do I fill walls black in Revit plans?
Open Visibility/Graphics, go to Walls on the Model Categories tab, click the Cut Pattern box, and choose a Solid pattern with a Black color. Revit applies it to every cut wall in that view.
Is there a Revit practice file for this tutorial?
Yes. The Revit project file for this lesson is available to Mashyo members on Patreon for $5.5/month, together with the practice files for the other Mashyo tutorials. You can cancel at any time. Open the wall art practice file on Patreon.
Mohamed Fakhry has helped thousands of architects and designers find their next project with step-by-step guidance on his blog, mashyo.com. About Mohamed
His journey began during his university years when he recognized the need for information-rich 3D models to accelerate learning and improve production processes. Now, Mohamed shares his expertise through Revit tutorials that are accessible to all.
