As anyone who has ever peeked behind their wallpaper knows, not all walls are created equal. Some feature smooth surfaces with clean, crisp lines and angles. Others are covered in quirky textures and wonky wall angles (thanks, house settling!). When it comes to choosing the right wallpaper for your home, this can be a tricky question. After all, some homes have perfectly smooth walls on which wallpaper looks fantastic. Other homes have textured walls which may or may not suit wallpaper… So can you put wallpaper on textured walls? It really depends on the type of wall texture as well as the type of paper you choose. Let’s take a closer look at both options!
Can You Put Wallpaper On Textured Walls?
Well, that depends on what kind of wallpaper you’re talking about, and what kind of textured walls you have. There are some kinds of wallpaper that tend to be more difficult to install on textured walls, such as those that have a peel and stick application. When putting wallpaper on textured walls, it’s important to make sure there is a strong bond between the wall and the paper so that when you need to remove the paper later, it doesn’t damage the wall.
How To Install Wallpaper On Textured Walls?
Use Sticky Tape
A simpler solution than installing wallpaper with specialized adhesive is to use sticky tape to adhere it to the wall. This works well on smooth walls, but it’s not suitable for textured walls. The adhesive in standard wallpaper is designed to stick well to a variety of substrates, but it’s designed specifically for smooth surfaces such as glass, metal, or painted walls. Most wallpaper adhesive isn’t strong enough to stick to a textured surface. Sticky tape is best used for applying patterns or designs that don’t require any sort of special or unique wall covering. You can use it to create a cheap and simple accent wall, but it’s not a good idea for large or elaborate designs like landscapes or floral bouquets.
Install With Double-sided Tape
Another way to install wallpaper on textured walls is to use double-sided tape to adhere it to the wall. Double-sided wallcoverings are designed to be applied directly to a wall using a layer of double-sided tape. Use a sponge or roller to apply a layer of adhesive to the wall and then apply the wallpaper. Double-sided tape isn’t as strong as specialized mounting adhesives, but it’s significantly easier to apply. Double-sided tapes are designed to be thin and easy to peel; they’re even easier to apply than standard wallpaper. You don’t have to worry about getting a level finish or bubbles in the paper; just peel the backing and stick it on the wall. Double-sided tape is best suited for smaller patterns or designs. It’s a good option for single-wall accent walls or for covering up wallpaper that’s already been installed on textured walls.
Professional Installation
Fighting the urge to do it yourself isn’t always easy, but sometimes you need professional skills and equipment to get the job done right. Double-sided wallcoverings are best used by professional installers. Homeowners often struggle to get a consistent level of pressure and coverage on double-sided wallcoverings; this makes them more likely to tear or bubble during installation. A professional installer can get the job done right and make sure the wallcovering is applied perfectly. Double-sided wallcoverings are ideal for covering up textured walls. They are designed to be applied directly to the wall using a layer of double-sided tape, with the paper on the other side. Double-sided wallcoverings are best suited for covering up a large area of textured wall or a room with a lot of texture. It’s not a good idea to use them on a single-wall accent wall because it can be difficult to get the design or pattern to line up perfectly with the rest of the room.
Use Dry Wall Anchors
Drywall anchors are designed to be hammered into a wall to provide a place for screws or nails to secure a piece of wallcovering. Double-sided wallcoverings are designed to be applied directly to a wall using a layer of double-sided tape. But drywall anchors can be used to hang wallcoverings in places where you can’t use double-sided tape, like over a fireplace mantle or on a textured wall. Double-sided wallcoverings and drywall anchors are best suited for covering up a small area of a textured wall. It’s not a good idea to use them on a large wall in a single room, or where you want to create a uniform design. If you want to install a single-sided wallcovering with drywall anchors, make sure you get a design with a solid backside. This will prevent the design from showing through on the other side of the wall.
Use Liquid Adhesive
Another way to install wallpaper on textured walls is to use liquid adhesive to adhere it to the wall. Liquid wallpaper adhesive is essentially like a super-thick sticker. You apply the adhesive directly to the wall, then lay the wallpaper on top and smooth it out. Liquid wallpaper adhesive is best suited for small designs and simple patterns, like single-wall accents. It’s not a good idea to use it for large areas of a wall, or for covering up an existing wallpaper design on the wall. Liquid wallpaper adhesive can be used to create a single-wall accent, but it’s best used for applying a small pattern or design to a wall. It’s ideal for applying decals and small graphics to walls, especially textured ones.
Why You Should Put Wallpaper On Textured Walls?
It’s Easy to Fix If You Change Your Mind
If you put a smooth, paintable surface onto your walls, you’ll have to start all over again if you change your mind about the design. But if you put wallpaper on the textured walls, you can easily remove it and start again. This means you can change your mind as often as you like without having to start from scratch. You can even get wallpaper that has the effect of a smooth wall so that you can change the design as many times as you like and have the flexibility to have different designs in different rooms! If you put a smooth, paintable surface on your walls and a few years down the road you realize it’s not what you want, you’ll have to get your walls professionally repainted. This is a costly and time-consuming process that not many people want to go through.
Wallpapering Textured Walls Saves Time
Let’s say you don’t want to wallpaper your walls but you still want to paint them. Painting a wall texture is a long, tedious process that can take months to finish. But with wallpaper, all you have to do is remove the old wallpaper, apply fresh wallpaper, and then start decorating. You don’t have to paint your textured walls, which means you don’t have to deal with endless amounts of time and effort. Wallpapering your textured walls also allows you to create a clean, uniform look that you wouldn’t be able to achieve with paint. You don’t have to deal with finding a color scheme that suits your walls or designs that work with the texture of your walls.
Which Types Of Wallpapers Work Best On Textured Walls?
- If you do decide to install textured paper on textured walls, we recommend choosing either jute, hemp, sisal, or linen paper.
- These types of paper typically have a rougher surface, which will disguise the texture of your walls.
- Jute, hemp, sisal, and linen papers are also eco-friendly options, which is a bonus! If you decide to go with textured paper, we recommend using a paste made from starch.
- Starch paste works well on textured walls, and it’s easy to work with. As always, make sure to follow the paper’s installation instructions to the letter.
Pros Of Installing Textured Wallpaper
- Textured wallpaper is more affordable than non-textured wallpaper.
- Some types of textured wallpaper are more durable than non-textured wallpaper.
- Textured wallpaper can boost your wall’s insulation.
- Some types of textured wallpaper are easy to clean.
- Textured wallpaper can make a room feel cozy and warm.
Cons Of Installing Textured Wallpaper
- Some types of textured wallpaper are prone to bubbling or wrinkling.
- Textured wallpaper may feel less smooth under your hands.
- You may need to use more paste when installing textured wallpaper.
- Some types of textured wallpaper are more difficult to remove.
- Some types of textured wallpaper require special tools.
Summing Up
That’s it for our guide on how to install wallpaper on textured walls! As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to both options. If you have textured walls, we recommend choosing a non-textured wallpaper. This will help to disguise your wall’s texture and create a smooth, crisp finish.
