Can You Put Wallpaper on Textured Walls? (Yes — Here's How)

Yes, you can put wallpaper on textured walls. The key is proper prep: either skim-coat the wall smooth, install a liner paper underneath, or use a thick peel-and-stick wallpaper that’s forgiving of minor imperfections. This guide covers all three methods with the exact steps, plus which wallpapers actually work over orange peel, knockdown, and other common wall textures.

Textured walls are the single most common installation complaint we hear from homeowners — and also the single most over-hyped “dealbreaker.” If you’ve been told wallpaper won’t work on your walls, keep reading. In most cases, it absolutely will.

Why Textured Walls Are Tricky

Textured walls come in a few flavors — orange peel (a fine stippled surface common in newer homes), knockdown (a flatter, splotchier texture where the peaks have been knocked back), skip-trowel (hand-applied stucco-look finishes), and the occasional full popcorn wall (rare, but it happens).

The issue isn’t adhesion — wallpaper sticks to textured walls just fine. The issues are:

• Texture telegraphs through thin wallpaper. If the paper is thin enough, the pattern of the texture shows under the print.
• Seams gap over ridges and valleys. On a smooth wall, two wallpaper strips butt edge-to-edge cleanly. On a rough wall, seams can bridge over low spots and show a hairline gap.
• Bubbles form over deeper dips. Air gets trapped when the paper can’t press flat against the wall.

All three issues are solvable. You have three proven options, ranked from most permanent to fastest.

The 3 Methods That Actually Work

Method 1 — Skim Coat the Wall (Best for Long-Term)

If you plan to live with this wallpaper for five-plus years, or you want the smoothest possible finish, skim coating is the gold standard. You’re essentially filling the texture with joint compound to create a new smooth surface.

What you’ll need: All-purpose joint compound (a 5-gallon bucket covers roughly 200 sq ft), a 10” or 12” drywall knife, a mud pan, 120-grit and 220-grit sandpaper, a sanding pole, primer, and patience.

Step-by-step:

1. Clean the wall. Dust, cobwebs, loose paint — get it off. A damp sponge works for most walls.
2. Apply a thin first coat of joint compound. Hold the knife at about a 20-degree angle and draw it down the wall in long passes. Aim for a layer just thick enough to fill the texture’s valleys — not a thick plaster coat.
3. Let dry fully. Typically 12 to 24 hours depending on thickness and humidity.
4. Sand smooth with 120-grit. A pole sander saves your arms on a full wall. You want the high ridges knocked down and the surface uniform.
5. Apply a second thin coat. This one fills remaining imperfections. Work in smooth, overlapping strokes.
6. Dry, then finish-sand with 220-grit. You’re going for glass.
7. Prime the wall. A drywall primer or PVA primer seals the mud and gives wallpaper adhesive something consistent to grip.
8. Install your wallpaper as normal.

Skim coating takes two days for a typical room but gives you a wall that’s essentially new drywall — any wallpaper will install cleanly, and future paint-or-paper changes are easy.

Method 2 — Install Lining Paper First (Most Common)

Lining paper (also called liner paper or bridging paper) is a plain, heavy-weight paper designed to go under decorative wallpaper. It’s the most common professional solution for textured walls because it’s fast, forgiving, and reversible.

What it does: The liner bridges the wall’s texture and gives you a smooth, consistent surface for your final wallpaper. Seams align cleanly, bubbles are rare, and the texture below won’t telegraph through.

Step-by-step:

1. Size the wall with wallpaper primer. This isn’t optional — primer gives the liner adhesive a consistent surface and prevents the liner from grabbing the wall unevenly.
2. Cut the liner paper to length, running it horizontally across the wall rather than vertically. Horizontal hanging means your decorative wallpaper seams will never line up with liner seams (which would telegraph).
3. Apply paste to the liner (or use pre-pasted liner), hang it edge-to-edge without overlapping, and smooth with a wallpaper brush.
4. Let dry for 24 hours. Non-negotiable — liner needs to shrink and set before decorative paper goes on.
5. Install your decorative wallpaper as normal.

Pros: Fast, reversible, and inexpensive ($30-60 per room). Cons: Adds a bit of thickness (usually not visible), and you need to dry a full day before the final install.

Method 3 — Use Heavy Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper (Fastest)

If you’re a renter, a DIY first-timer, or you just want this done today, heavy peel-and-stick is your friend. The thicker the paper, the better it masks mild texture.

Our Peel & Stick Canvas and Peel & Stick Linen are both thicker than competitors’ vinyl peel-and-stick — which matters specifically for this use case. A thin peel-and-stick will telegraph orange-peel texture; a heavy canvas or linen-weight paper will not.

Step-by-step:

1. Clean the wall. Wipe down with a damp cloth, let dry. Oil-based residue is the main enemy of peel-and-stick adhesion, so on kitchen or bathroom walls use a mild degreaser.
2. Prime if the wall has never been painted or has chalky flat paint. A roller coat of primer is enough.
3. Start in a corner. Peel a few inches of backing, stick the top edge to the wall, and work down, peeling the backing as you go.
4. Use a felt-edge smoother (or a wallpaper brush) to press the paper firmly into the texture. This is the key step — pressing firmly forces the adhesive into the valleys of the texture so the paper stays put.
5. At seams, butt the edges rather than overlapping. Overlap creates a visible ridge on textured walls.

Expected results: Heavy peel-and-stick on orange peel or light knockdown looks great. On heavy knockdown or skip-trowel, you’ll still see the texture shape, just softened.

Best Wallpaper Types for Textured Walls

Not all wallpapers handle texture the same. Here’s what to reach for:

If you’re unsure which material is right for your room, our wallpaper material guide walks through every option.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After years of customer installs, these are the five mistakes we see over and over:

1. Skipping primer on an unpainted wall. Drywall that’s never been painted will suck the adhesive out of the wallpaper. Always prime first.
2. Not cleaning the wall. Dust and grease are adhesion killers. A damp rag and a mild cleaner takes five minutes.
3. Overlapping seams to hide gaps. Creates a visible ridge. Butt seams, or go back and re-prep the wall.
4. Using a thin wallpaper over heavy texture. No amount of skill will hide the texture through a thin paper. Upgrade material or skim the wall.
5. Rushing the liner paper dry time. 24 hours isn’t optional — install too soon and you’ll get bubbles as the liner shrinks.

How Long Will It Last?

The honest answer depends entirely on prep:

• Skim-coated wall: 7-10+ years. This is essentially a new drywall surface.
• Liner paper underneath: 5-7 years. Liners eventually loosen at the edges, but well-installed liners hold up beautifully.
• Peel-and-stick on textured wall (no prep): 2-4 years. Adhesion weakens at high points of the texture over time.
• Pre-pasted paper on unprepped textured wall: 1-2 years. Not recommended.

If you want wallpaper on a textured wall to last as long as wallpaper on a smooth wall, skim-coating or lining is the path. If you want it up this weekend, heavy peel-and-stick gets you 80% of the look in 10% of the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put peel-and-stick wallpaper on textured walls?

Yes — but it depends on the texture depth and the paper weight. Heavy peel-and-stick (canvas or linen weight) works well on orange peel and mild knockdown. Thin peel-and-stick from most competitor brands will show the texture through. On skip-trowel or heavy knockdown, expect some softened texture to still show.

Do you need to sand textured walls before wallpapering?

Light sanding helps if you’re using liner paper or skim coat — it knocks down the highest peaks and gives the first coat something to grip. You don’t need to sand the wall smooth on its own; that’s what the skim coat or liner paper is for.

Will wallpaper seams show on textured walls?

Seams are the single most common issue on textured walls. On orange peel, a heavy wallpaper with careful butt seams usually hides them. On heavier textures, expect seams to telegraph unless you skim coat or line the wall first.

Is lining paper required for textured walls?

Not required, but highly recommended if you want the best finish with a normal-weight decorative wallpaper. Lining paper is the standard solution in professional installs on textured walls — it’s the middle ground between skim coating (permanent) and heavy peel-and-stick (fast but thicker).

Can you wallpaper popcorn ceilings or walls?

Technically yes, but don’t. Popcorn texture is too deep and too friable — it flakes off as you try to install. If you have popcorn walls and want wallpaper, scrape and skim coat first. Popcorn ceilings also may contain asbestos in homes built before 1980, so test before scraping.

What if my wall has both smooth and textured areas?

This happens after drywall repairs or patches. Feather joint compound into the textured area to blend, then skim coat or line the whole wall for a uniform surface. Wallpaper over mixed textures without blending first will show every transition.

Ready to Pick a Wallpaper?

At Applied Coverings, we print every wallpaper to order on your choice of five materials — including our heavy Peel & Stick Canvas and Linen, both specifically suited for textured-wall installs. Every roll is made in California and shipped directly to you.

• Browse our Peel & Stick Wallpaper collection for the fastest install path
• Upload your own design to print a custom pattern on any of our five materials
• See our full installation instructions for step-by-step guidance
• Removing old wallpaper first? Our complete removal guide covers every method

Professional installation also available in San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles — our installers work with textured walls regularly.