How do you texture drywall without it looking like hot garbage?

For context, I’m talking about texturing smaller drywall repairs like, say, a patched 3-inch hole (don’t get me started on railings not installed to code…) or even nail pop repairs as per the other recent post. Assume I’ve mudded and sanded and it’s nice and smooth and now I want it… less smooth. To match, say, an...