🎨 Can You Install Wallpaper on Textured Walls?

fixitrocket
Jul 2
2 min read

If you live in Austin, you’ve probably noticed that most walls come with a textured finish. Whether it’s orange peel, knockdown, or heavy texture — the big question is:

Can wallpaper be installed directly on textured walls?

The short answer: Yes, but it’s not ideal. Here’s why 👇

🔍 What Happens If You Skip Smoothing the Wall?

Wallpaper is designed to adhere best to smooth, flat surfaces. If applied directly to texture, even the best wallpaper may:

bubble or peel over time 🫧
fail to stick properly, especially at edges
highlight the wall texture underneath, ruining the design

In other words — it might look fine at first, but not for long.

💡 What's the Best Practice?

📌 Level 5 wall preparation is the industry gold standard before wallpapering. It includes:

Skim coating the entire wall with joint compound
Sanding it smooth
Priming with high-quality wall primer

Yes, it takes more time and budget — but it ensures:✔️ Long-lasting results✔️ Perfect adhesion✔️ A smooth, luxury finish ✨

💰 Trying to Save Money?

If full prep isn’t an option, choose thick, non-woven or vinyl wallpapers — ideally over 250 gsm (grams per square meter). These are stronger, more forgiving, and can slightly mask texture.

But keep in mind: this is still a compromise. We don’t offer guarantees on wallpaper jobs done directly over texture.