Overcoming Textured Walls: Best Practices for Installing Wallpaper on Rough Surfaces

Wallpaper is a fantastic way to add color, pattern, and personality to any room. But what if your walls aren’t perfectly smooth? Can you wallpaper textured walls? The answer is yes—with the right approach. Many homeowners and renters turn to wallpaper as an alternative to painting, especially when dealing with outdated or unattractive textured walls. 

Whether you’re covering an old popcorn ceiling texture, trying to modernize knockdown walls, or simply looking for a quick update, wallpapering textured walls can provide a stylish transformation without the need for extensive remodeling.

Types of Textured Walls

Textured walls aren’t all alike. Some surfaces are subtle and can be easily covered, while in other cases, more preparation is needed before applying wallpaper to textured walls. Common types of textured surfaces include:

• Orange Peel: A light, dimpled texture that is often manageable with thicker wallpaper.

• Knockdown: More pronounced than orange peel, but still possible to wallpaper with proper preparation.

• Popcorn Texture: Highly raised and uneven, making it one of the most difficult surfaces to cover without significant smoothing.

• Brick or Wood Paneling: Rough surfaces with deep grooves require special techniques or a wallpaper liner before installation.

Common Issues with Wallpaper on Textured Walls

One of the biggest concerns with wallpaper on bumpy walls is adhesion. Does wallpaper stick to textured walls? It depends. If the texture is too rough, wallpaper may not make full contact with the surface, leading to air pockets, lifting edges, or bubbling. 

Uneven surfaces can also create visible imperfections, preventing the wallpaper from laying smoothly. Furthermore, peel-and-stick wallpaper may struggle to adhere to textured walls, so traditional pasted wallpaper tends to be a better option in these cases.

The good news? With the right preparation, tools, and humidity-resistant adhesives, applying wallpaper to textured walls can yield stunning results. As always, you can rely on ROMAN Products for a variety of high-quality specialty wallcovering adhesives and wallpaper installation accessories that give installers effective options for even the toughest jobs. Keep reading to discover to learn more about how to wallpaper textured walls.