Textured walls, common in many homes, can pose a design challenge. If you've ever dreamed of using wallpaper but were stopped by your wall's uneven surface, we have great news. The design world of 2025 is all about innovative solutions, and wallpapering a textured wall is now easier and more effective than ever.

This guide will provide expert advice on selecting the perfect wallpaper for textured walls, ensuring a beautiful, professional-looking result.

The Core Challenge: Why Textured Walls Resist Wallpaper

Understanding the "why" helps in finding the "how." Wallpaper can struggle on textured surfaces for two key reasons:

1. Poor Adhesion: The uneven surface, with its tiny peaks and valleys, provides less area for the wallpaper's adhesive to make contact, which can lead to peeling.

2. Visible Bumps: The wall's texture can show through thinner wallpapers, a phenomenon known as "telegraphing," which prevents a smooth, clean finish.

The solution lies in choosing wallpaper with the right characteristics to overcome these issues.

What to Look For: The Best Wallpaper for Textured Walls

To ensure success, focus on these three key features when making your selection:

• Material Thickness: This is the most important factor. A thick, heavy-duty wallpaper will be much more effective at covering and smoothing over the texture underneath. Excellent choices include:

  • Heavy-Duty Vinyl: A top performer for durability and its ability to hide imperfections.

  • Embossed Wallpaper: These papers have a raised pattern, adding their own texture that masterfully conceals the wall's texture.

  • Non-Woven Papers: A modern favourite, these are thick, breathable, and much simpler to work with during installation and removal.

• Pattern and Design: A dynamic pattern is a powerful tool for visual distraction. The more there is for the eye to look at, the less it will notice any minor surface variations.

  • Effective Patterns: Large-scale florals, botanicals, complex geometrics, and abstract designs are ideal.

  • Patterns to Avoid: Solid colours, especially those with a sheen or gloss, are the least forgiving and can highlight bumps.

• Finish: Always opt for a matte or flat finish. Glossy and satin finishes reflect light, which accentuates every small bump and dip in the wall's surface. A matte finish absorbs light, helping to create the illusion of a smoother wall.

The Latest Style Wallpaper: 2025 Trends That Work

You don't have to sacrifice style for function. Many of the most trending wallpaper in 2025 designs are perfectly suited for textured walls.

1. Natural and Botanical Themes: Large leaf prints, floral murals, and detailed nature-inspired patterns remain incredibly popular. Their organic complexity is perfect for disguising texture.

2. Faux Finishes: Wallpapers that mimic other materials like linen, grasscloth, or plaster are a brilliant choice. They introduce a new, intentional texture that overrides the one you're trying to hide.

3. Geometric Revival: The bold, repeating lines found in Art Deco and modern geometric patterns create a strong visual field that effectively masks underlying unevenness.

4. Premium Wallpaper from Designers: When you invest in premium wallpaper from designers, you are often getting a product made from superior, thicker materials with high-end printing techniques that contribute to better coverage.

Application Methods: Stick and Peel vs. Traditional

Your choice of application can impact the final result.

Stick and Peel Wallpaper

This is the go-to choice for wallpaper for temporary decor. Modern stick and peel wallpaper has improved significantly, offering better adhesion than ever before.

• Best For: Renters, accent walls, and those who love to frequently update their style.

• Pro Tip: Look for peel-and-stick products specifically labeled as "high-tack" or suitable for textured surfaces. Always test a sample on your wall for several days to check its bonding strength.

Traditional Wallpaper (with Paste)

For a more permanent and robust application, traditional wallpaper is the most reliable method.

• Best For: A long-term design choice where maximum durability is desired.

• Pro Tip: Using a quality wallpaper paste helps fill in minor crevices, and modern "paste-the-wall" papers make the process much cleaner and simpler than older methods.

Tips for a Perfect Installation

1. Wall Preparation is Key: Begin by cleaning your walls thoroughly with a suitable wall cleaner or degreaser to remove any dust or oils. If you have any very sharp points in your texture, you can lightly sand them down.

2. Always Use a Primer: Apply a coat of wallpaper-specific primer. This is a critical step that creates an ideal, uniform surface for the adhesive to stick to. It ensures a stronger bond and makes eventual removal much easier.

3. Test with a Sample: Before you commit, order a sample. This allows you to see how the paper looks in your room's lighting and test how well it covers your wall's texture.

4. Use the Right Tools: A flexible plastic smoother or a soft wallpaper brush is better than a hard scraper for pressing the paper onto an uneven surface without causing damage.

By following these guidelines, you can confidently choose a beautiful wallpaper that will transform your room and prove that textured walls are no barrier to great style.