The year is 2025, and the wallpaper is back. Not the fussy, flowery borders of the 1990s, but strong patterns, rich textures, and murals that change the way the room looks. You want to get rid of that old, boring beige paint and put up something really beautiful, but when you touch your wall, you feel that annoying roughness that is always there. This becomes the biggest concern that is holding up your design project right now: can you use wallpaper on walls that have texture? While many easy sites give a disheartening “No,” the correct answer is a booming, qualified, and thrilling YES, provided you follow the right preparation technique for your unique wall type.
Can You Put Wallpaper on Textured Walls?
Yes, you absolutely can put wallpaper on textured walls, but the outcomes will entirely depend on two crucial variables: the severity of your wall’s texture and the preparation you are ready to do.
Think of it this way: wallpaper is just a thin layer of paper or vinyl. When you apply it to a bumpy surface, the thin material spreads across the peaks and dips. If the texture is too extreme (like thick stucco or a heavy popcorn finish), the wallpaper will reflect the bumps, and worse, the air pockets generated under the paper won’t allow the adhesive to attach correctly, leading to annoying peeling.
This is why many people ask if you can wallpaper over textured walls without concerns. The most important thing is to make the texture such that it is either smooth enough for the glue to grip every square inch or not visible under the wallpaper.
If you miss the prep, your lovely new wallpaper will certainly fail. If you choose the appropriate way to prepare your texture, the results can be perfect and endure a long time.
The Factors That Matter: What Kind of Texture Do You Have?
Before you even think about buying a roll of paper, you need to play detective. The strategy for success changes drastically depending on the type of texture adorning your walls.
1. Orange Peel Texture (The Easiest)
This is the most common texture and resembles the dimpled skin of an orange. It’s subtle, inconsistent, and often spray-applied.
- The Challenge: The small, random bumps can trap tiny air pockets, which may look like small pinpricks beneath a thinner paper.
- The Solution: This texture is often manageable with minimal prep, especially if you use heavy-duty vinyl wallpaper. A simple sanding and a heavy-duty primer can be enough.
2. Knockdown Texture (The Medium Challenge)
This texture starts as a splatter (like stucco) that is then “knocked down” with a trowel, creating flat, uneven surfaces with defined edges and valleys.
- The Challenge: The sharp, defined edges of the knockdown can cut or rub against the paper backing, and the valleys create significant air gaps.
- The Solution: You will almost certainly need a primer and a wallpaper liner (more on this later) to bridge the deep valleys and soften the sharp points.
3. Popcorn or Heavily Aggregated Texture (The Hardest)
Often found on ceilings but occasionally on walls, this consists of large, dense aggregates that create a rough, sponge-like surface.
- The Challenge: Adhesion is minimal to non-existent. Trying to stick wallpaper directly to this is a recipe for disaster.
- The Solution: The only reliable solution here is removal or a skim coat. Anything less will fail quickly.
4. Textured Wallpaper (The Hidden Layer)
This is a specific scenario where you might be wallpapering over textured wallpaper (like old vinyl Anaglypta).
- The Challenge: If the old paper is firmly attached, you’re adding texture on top of texture, which can create a distorted, uneven finish.
- The Solution: If the existing wallpaper is stable and its texture is mild, you can often prime and paste over it. If it’s peeling or its texture is aggressive, removal is mandatory.
Preparing Textured Walls for Wallpaper: The 3-Tier Approach
This is the most crucial section of your entire project. The level of prep you choose will directly correlate with the quality and longevity of your final result. We break this down into three proven methods, from least labor-intensive to most thorough.
Tier 1: Sanding and Primer (The Quick Fix for Mild Texture)
This is your go-to if you have a very mild orange peel texture and are using a heavy-duty wallpaper.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Textured Walls Ready:
- Light Sanding: Using a pole sander with 80-grit sandpaper, gently scuff the surface of the wall. The goal is not to remove all the texture, but to knock down the highest peaks the points that will be taking the most stress from the wallpaper. Do not oversand, as you can damage the drywall beneath.
- Clean the Dust: Vacuum the walls thoroughly, then wipe them down with a damp (not soaking wet) cloth or a tack cloth to remove all fine drywall dust. Adhesives absolutely will not stick to dust.
- Apply a Specialized Primer: This step is non-negotiable. Forget standard paint primers. You need a specialty product like a Gardz or a high-quality, oil-based, pigmented shellac (BIN). This seals the surface, prevents moisture from the paste from damaging the wall, and most importantly, it creates a surface with a “tooth” that the adhesive can firmly grip.
Tier 2: The Wallpaper Liner (The Best Compromise)
The most underrated solution for medium-to-heavy textures (like knockdown) is the use of a blind or lining paper. This is a thick, blank paper (often fiberglass or pulp) that is designed to be pasted onto the textured wall before the decorative wallpaper.
- How it Works: The thick liner paper bridges the valleys and dips of the texture. It effectively creates a smooth, continuous, and highly absorbent surface for your final wallpaper layer.
- The Process:
- Clean and prime the textured wall first (as in Tier 1).
- Apply the liner paper using a heavy-duty adhesive. The liner goes up exactly like standard wallpaper, but you butt the seams together (do not overlap).
- Allow the liner to dry completely (24-48 hours).
- Apply your final decorative wallpaper directly on top of the smooth liner paper.
Tier 3: Skim Coating (The Pro Solution for a Flawless Finish)
If you have thick texture, or if you are aiming for a perfect, museum-quality smooth wall beneath a high-end paper, a skim coat is the only way to go. This involves applying a thin, smooth layer of joint compound over the entire wall surface.
- The Process: This is a professional drywall technique and is the most labor-intensive, requiring multiple coats and extensive sanding. It essentially turns your textured wall into a brand-new, perfectly smooth canvas.
- The Advantage: Once skim-coated, primed, and sealed, your wall is functionally no different from any new construction wall. You can use any type of wallpaper even the thinnest papers with guaranteed, perfect results.
Best Types of Wallpaper for Textured Walls
Your choice of wallpaper is just as crucial as your prep work. Some papers are designed to camouflage texture, while others will highlight every flaw. Choosing the right material increases the likelihood that wallpaper works on textured walls beautifully.
| Wallpaper Type | Suitability for Textured Walls | Why It Works |
| Solid Vinyl / Fabric-Backed Vinyl | Excellent | Thick, durable, and highly moisture-resistant. Its inherent thickness helps it to bridge small dips and resist tearing from sharp texture edges. |
| Anaglypta/Embossed | Excellent | This is thick, paintable, textured paper. It’s designed to be textured itself, which makes it the ultimate texture-hider. |
| Grasscloth / Natural Fibers | Good | The naturally woven, rough texture of the grass fibers distracts the eye from minor wall texture, creating a pleasing overall look. |
| Paste-the-Wall | Good | Tends to be thicker and easier to maneuver than traditional pre-pasted paper, which helps during the challenging process of installing wallpaper on textured walls. |
What to Avoid
When preparing for installing wallpaper on textured walls, stay away from these:
- Thin Paper or Foils: They are too thin and will conform to the texture, highlighting every bump, creating an unpleasant topographical map effect.
- High-Gloss or Metallic Finishes: Any reflective surface will catch the light, drawing immediate attention to the shadows and inconsistencies created by the underlying texture.
- Standard Peel and Stick Wallpaper: This is the riskiest choice. While highly convenient, the adhesive on most standard peel and stick wallpaper for textured walls is designed for perfectly smooth surfaces. It will stick only to the peaks of the texture, leaving the rest of the paper unsupported. This almost always leads to bubbling and corner peeling within months, especially in humid environments.
Pro Tip on Peel and Stick: If you insist on using peel and stick, you must use a wallpaper liner (Tier 2 prep) underneath, or use a “heavy-duty” commercial-grade peel and stick product specifically marketed for textured walls.
Applying Wallpaper to Textured Walls
Once the wall is prepped (either sanded, lined, or skim-coated), the application process is similar to a smooth wall, but with a few critical adjustments. The technique for how to apply wallpaper to textured walls requires extra care and attention to the edges.
1. Choose the Right Adhesive
Since the wall is still slightly more challenging, you need maximum adhesion. Forget pre-pasted papers; you need a high-solids, professional-grade vinyl adhesive. This is often the best adhesive for textured walls because it is heavy-bodied and sets slower, giving you more time to work the paper into the subtle texture of the wall.
2. The Power of the Seam Roller
For smooth walls, you use a smoothing tool to push out air bubbles. For textured walls, you need a specialized seam roller. This is a small, hard-rubber roller designed to apply firm, even pressure along the seams and across the body of the paper. Use it extensively to ensure the paper is forced into the subtle valleys of the texture. Be gentle, but firm, and work slowly.
3. Edge and Corner Security
The edges are where wallpaper on a textured wall almost always fails.
- Use Seam Adhesive: Apply a thin bead of specialized seam adhesive (often sold in small tubes) under the edges and corners of the final panels. This is a belt-and-suspenders approach to prevent lifting.
- Overlapping: If using thick, non-woven paper, a slight 1/16-inch overlap on the seams can provide extra security against the texture pushing the seams apart, though ideally, you should always aim for a perfect butt-joint.
4. Wait, Don’t Paint!
We commonly get asked about painting over textured painted walls before wallpapering. While you should prep your textured walls (as in Tier 1), you shouldn’t necessary paint them with a decorative coat. The specific primer gets the wall ready for the glue, whereas a regular latex wall paint keeps water out and can make the wall slick, which can hurt the glue’s ability to stick. Stick to the specialist primer only.
Tips and Tricks for a Successful Project
- Test a Sample: Before you commit to the whole room, buy one roll (or a large sample) of the paper and stick it up in an inconspicuous spot. Monitor it for 24 hours, paying close attention to the seams and corners. This simple step can save you hours of wasted effort.
- Use the Right Tools: A high-quality utility knife with constantly sharp blades is essential. Dull blades will rip the paper when trimming, which is especially noticeable against a textured backdrop.
- Work Slowly: Applying wallpaper to a textured wall takes patience. Don’t rush the process of smoothing. You need to take the time to press the paper firmly into all the subtle peaks and valleys.
- Check the Warranty: If you’re using high-end wallpaper, check the manufacturer’s warranty. Most void the warranty if the paper is applied to an unprepared textured wall. This alone should convince you that prep is mandatory!
Ultimately, the question can you put wallpaper on textured walls comes down to preparation. There is no magic wallpaper that instantly makes a rough wall smooth. It is your commitment to sanding, lining, or skim coating that delivers the spectacular final result.
Final Thoughts
Stepping back and looking at your finished, newly papered wall knowing the texture that lies beneath is one of the most satisfying moments in any DIY project. The transformation from a drab, bumpy surface to a smooth, patterned masterpiece is truly incredible.
Don’t let a little bit of orange peel or knockdown texture derail your design dreams. With the right strategy choosing the appropriate prep method and the best wallpaper for textured walls you can achieve a professional, durable finish that rivals any smooth-wall installation.
Whether you decide to tackle the full skim coat yourself or if you realize you need professional help with the surface preparation, the experts are ready to assist. If your project involves extensive drywall work or you’re looking for high-quality Wall Texturing Services in Seattle before that final paint or wallpaper finish, our team at Seattle Painting Experts can ensure your walls are the perfect canvas for your vision.
FAQs
Is there a special peel and stick wallpaper for textured walls that actually works?
Generally, no. Most peel and stick wallpapers are PVC-based and thin, designed for flat, non-porous surfaces. For textured walls, the only types that might work are those specifically labeled as “Heavy-Duty Vinyl” or “Commercial-Grade Removable.” Even these perform best when applied over a thin layer of wallpaper liner.
What is the most reliable way to ensure wallpaper on textured wall does not peel?
The most reliable way is using a full skim coat followed by a specialized wall primer like Gardz. This eliminates the texture completely, ensuring 100% adhesive contact. If a skim coat is not possible, use a thick wallpaper liner as a stable base.
Will painting over textured painted walls help the wallpaper stick?
No. Applying a coat of standard latex paint over your existing textured, painted wall is redundant and can even make the surface slicker. You must use a non-vinyl, heavy-bodied, dedicated wallpaper primer/sealer (like Shieldz or Gardz) to ensure the proper porous surface needed for the paste to grab.
How can I tell if wallpaper works on textured walls I have before starting?
Purchase a sample of your desired wallpaper and a small can of primer. Prime a 2-foot square section of your wall. Apply the sample paper over the primer. If the paper fully adheres and the texture does not show through the surface after 24 hours, you have a good chance of success.
