Can You Put Wallpaper on Textured Walls? An Expert Guide

One of the most common questions homeowners ask when renovating is, "Can you put wallpaper on textured walls?" The short answer is yes, you can, but it requires specific preparation and materials to ensure a smooth, long-lasting finish.

If you attempt to apply standard wallpaper directly over texture without the right prep, you risk telegraphing (where bumps show through) and adhesion failure.

This expert guide covers everything you need to know about wallpapering over textured surfaces, from skim coating to selecting the best wallpaper for textured walls.

Phase 1: Assess Your Texture Before Wallpapering

Before purchasing supplies, you must determine the severity of your wall texture. This dictates your preparation method.

• Light Texture (Orange Peel, Light Knockdown): Can often be managed with sanding and heavy-duty vinyl wallpaper.

• Medium to Heavy Texture (Popcorn, Heavy Stucco): Requires skim coating or lining paper. You cannot simply wallpaper over this directly.

DreamDen Pro Tip: Unsure if a pattern is "busy" enough to hide your wall texture? Use the DreamDen AI design tool to upload a photo of your room and visualize different busy patterns. Seeing it virtually first can save you costly mistakes!

Phase 2: Preparation Strategies for Textured Walls

Choose the method that fits your DIY comfort level to ensure the wallpaper adheres properly to the textured wall.

This video demonstrates how to prepare a textured wall for wallpaper installation:

Option A: Skim Coating (The "Gold Standard")

For a truly flawless finish, the best way to put wallpaper on textured walls is to eliminate the texture entirely.

1. Apply a coat of joint compound (mud) over the entire wall using a wide trowel.

2. Let it dry, sand it smooth, and wipe away dust.

3. Crucial: Apply a high-quality primer-sealer. Joint compound is porous and will suck the moisture out of wallpaper paste if not primed, causing the paper to fall off.

Option B: Lining Paper (The "Bridging" Method)

Lining paper is a thick, unpatterned utility paper hung horizontally (cross-lining). It acts as a bridge over the bumps, creating a false flat surface.

• Why use it? It creates a smooth canvas and absorbs the shrinkage stress of the final wallpaper.

• Tip: Use a heavy-grade lining paper (1200-1400 grade) for the best results on texture.

Option C: Sanding (For Light Imperfections)

If the texture is minor, you can knock down the high points.

1. Use a pole sander with medium-grit sandpaper (80-100 grit).

2. Safety: Wear a mask and seal the room; this generates significant dust.

3. Clean: Wash the walls with sugar soap or TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) to remove all dust. Dust is the enemy of adhesive.

Phase 3: Best Wallpaper for Textured Walls

Not all wallpapers are created equal. When trying to hide texture, your choice of material is just as important as the prep.

What to Choose

• Material: Vinyl or Non-Woven. These are thicker and more dimensionally stable. "Expanded vinyl" is particularly good as it has a slightly puffy backing that absorbs wall imperfections.

• Pattern: Busy, chaotic, or organic patterns. Your eye will follow the design rather than the shadows created by wall bumps.

• Color: Darker colors tend to absorb light and hide shadows better than white or pastels.

• Texture: Fight texture with texture. A wallpaper with a tactile surface (like grasscloth faux-effect or embossed vinyl) camouflages the wall underneath.

What to Avoid

• Metallic or Shimmering Papers: These reflect light and will highlight every single bump on the wall.

• Solid Light Colors: These show shadows mercilessly.

• Thin Paper: Standard thin paper will conform to the texture immediately.

Phase 4: Application Techniques

When installing on a less-than-perfect surface, change your technique:

1. Paste the Wall (if possible): Using non-woven paper where you paste the wall (not the paper) is generally easier and less prone to tearing over rough spots.

2. Use a Soft Brush: Do not use a hard plastic smoothing tool. A hard edge can tear the wet paper against the sharp texture bumps. Use a wallpaper smoothing brush with bristles to gently press the paper into the texture.

3. Watch the Seams: Seams are the weak point on textured walls because there is less surface area for the glue to grab. Use a seam roller gently to ensure the edges are locked down.

4. Allow Longer Drying Time: Textured walls may hold pockets of air or moisture. Allow extra time for the adhesive to fully cure before moving furniture back or painting trim.

Visualize Your New Room Today

Don't just guess how it will look. Upload a photo of your room to DreamDen AI and let our advanced AI generate stunning design variations instantly. See exactly how that bold wallpaper looks in your space before you buy a single roll.

FAQ: Common Questions About Wallpapering Textured Walls

1. Can you put peel and stick wallpaper on textured walls?

It is generally not recommended to put peel and stick wallpaper on textured walls. The adhesive on peel-and-stick products requires 100% surface contact to stay up. On a textured surface, the adhesive only touches the "peaks" of the texture, leading to peeling. If you must use it, sand the wall significantly first.

2. Do I need to sand textured walls before wallpapering?

Yes, at a minimum, you should sand down the "peaks" or sharp points of the texture. This prevents the texture from puncturing the paper and increases the surface area for the adhesive to grip.

3. Will thick wallpaper hide texture?

Yes, thick expanded vinyl or heavy-duty non-woven wallpaper is the best wallpaper for textured walls. It can hide light to medium texture (like orange peel) effectively, but heavy textures (like popcorn) will still require skimming or lining paper.

Summary Checklist

• Test: Run your hand over the wall. If it's sharp, it will cut the paper. Sand it down.

• Prime: Never skip sizing/priming, especially after sanding or skimming.

• Select: Buy a sample of your chosen wallpaper and tape it to the wall to see if the texture shows through before buying rolls.

About the Author

The DreamDen AI Team Where There is a Dream, there is DreamDen. We are an innovative AI-powered interior design platform dedicated to making home renovation stress-free. From generating instant design ideas to connecting you with trusted professionals, we help you turn your vision into reality.