How to Wallpaper Over Textured Walls: The Complete Guide

Short answer: You can wallpaper over textured walls, but the method depends on the severity of the texture. Light textures (orange peel) can accept thick paste-the-wall wallpaper directly. Medium textures (knockdown) need lining paper or a light skim coat first. Heavy textures (popcorn, artex) must be skim coated smooth before any wallpaper will adhere properly.

Textured walls are one of the most common challenges Australian homeowners face when wallpapering. Whether your home has the stippled ceilings and orange peel walls popular in 1990s builds, or the heavier knockdown textures found in older renovations, this guide walks you through every method for achieving a smooth, professional wallpaper finish.

At Olive et Oriel, we print custom-sized wallpaper in Australia in both peel and stick and paste-the-wall finishes. We have helped thousands of customers navigate textured walls, and this guide captures everything we have learned.

Step 1: Assess Your Wall Texture Severity

Before choosing a preparation method, you need to understand what you are working with. Run your hand across the wall and categorise the texture into one of three levels.

Texture Type	Description	Feel	Preparation Needed
Light (Orange Peel)	Fine, slightly bumpy surface resembling citrus skin	Barely raised, smooth-ish	Minimal — prime and apply thick wallpaper
Medium (Knockdown)	Flattened splatter pattern with irregular shapes	Noticeably uneven, some flat areas	Lining paper or light skim coat
Heavy (Popcorn/Artex)	Raised bumps, swirls, or deep patterns	Very rough, peaks and valleys	Full skim coat required

Understanding texture severity saves you time and money. A light orange peel finish that only needs primer and quality wallpaper is a very different project from a heavy popcorn texture requiring multiple skim coats.

Step 2: When to Skim Coat (And How to Do It)

Skim coating is the process of applying a thin layer of joint compound over the entire wall to create a smooth surface. It is the most reliable method for preparing textured walls for wallpaper, but it is also the most labour-intensive.

You should skim coat when:

• The texture is heavy (popcorn, artex, deep swirl patterns)
• You are using thin or light-coloured wallpaper that will show imperfections
• You want the most professional possible finish
• You plan to use peel and stick wallpaper (which needs a smooth surface for adhesion)

How to skim coat a textured wall:

1. Protect your space. Lay drop sheets and tape off trim, skirting boards, and adjacent walls.
2. Apply the first coat. Using a 250mm (10-inch) or wider taping knife, spread a thin layer of joint compound across the wall. Work in sections, keeping the compound roughly 1-2mm thick. Do not worry about perfection on this coat.
3. Allow to dry. Drying time varies by humidity and temperature, but expect 12-24 hours in most Australian climates.
4. Sand smooth. Using 120-grit sandpaper on a sanding block, sand the dried compound until smooth. Wear a dust mask and eye protection.
5. Apply a second coat if needed. If texture is still visible or the surface is uneven, apply another thin coat and repeat the sanding process.
6. Prime the wall. Once smooth, apply a coat of wallpaper primer or PVA-based sizing. This seals the compound and improves wallpaper adhesion.

Skim coating a standard bedroom wall (roughly 3m x 2.7m) takes most DIYers 2-3 hours of active work, plus drying time between coats.

Step 3: The Lining Paper Method

Lining paper is a cost-effective alternative to skim coating for medium textures. It is a plain, uncoated paper that creates a smooth base for your decorative wallpaper.

How to apply lining paper:

1. Hang horizontally. This is called cross-lining. By hanging lining paper in the opposite direction to your wallpaper, you prevent the seams from aligning, which would create visible ridges.
2. Use a heavy-grade lining paper. For textured walls, choose 1400-grade or heavier lining paper. Lighter grades will not adequately bridge the texture.
3. Apply paste to the paper. Traditional lining paper requires paste applied to the paper itself. Allow it to soak for the recommended time before hanging.
4. Butt-join the edges. Do not overlap lining paper strips. Butt the edges together tightly.
5. Allow 24 hours drying time. The lining paper must be completely dry before you wallpaper over it.

Lining paper works well for knockdown textures and light-to-medium irregularities. It is faster than skim coating and requires no sanding, making it a popular choice for renters and time-poor renovators.

Which Wallpaper Types Work on Textured Walls?

Not all wallpapers perform equally on textured surfaces. Here is how the main types compare.

Wallpaper Type	Suitability for Texture	Notes
Non-woven (paste the wall)	Best option	Thick material bridges minor texture. Paste applied to wall fills small gaps.
Peel and stick (self-adhesive)	Light texture only	Adhesive needs full surface contact. Fails on medium/heavy texture without prep.
Traditional paste-the-paper	Good with prep	Works well over lining paper or skim-coated walls.
Vinyl wallpaper	Moderate	Thicker vinyls can mask light texture but may trap moisture on sealed walls.

Peel and Stick Wallpaper on Textured Walls

We are often asked whether peel and stick wallpaper works on textured walls. The honest answer: it depends entirely on the texture severity.

Peel and stick wallpaper relies on a pressure-sensitive adhesive that needs consistent surface contact to bond. On a smooth wall, this adhesive works well and allows for easy repositioning and removal. On a textured wall, the adhesive only contacts the raised areas, leaving air pockets in the recesses. Over time (sometimes within hours), the wallpaper begins to peel away.

When peel and stick can work on texture:

• Very light orange peel texture
• Walls that have been primed with a quality primer
• When you press firmly during application, using a wallpaper smoother
• In climate-controlled rooms (heat and humidity accelerate peeling)

When peel and stick will not work:

• Knockdown, popcorn, or any medium-to-heavy texture
• Bathrooms or kitchens with humidity fluctuations
• Walls with flaking or chalky paint

If you love the convenience of peel and stick but have textured walls, prepare the surface first (skim coat or lining paper), and the peel and stick will perform just as well as it does on smooth walls.

Paste-the-Wall Wallpaper on Textured Walls

Paste-the-wall (non-woven) wallpaper is our top recommendation for textured walls that have been minimally prepared. Here is why:

• The paste fills gaps. When you apply paste directly to a textured wall, it fills the recesses in the texture, creating a more complete bond than pressure-sensitive adhesive can achieve.
• The material is thicker. Non-woven wallpaper substrate is typically heavier than peel and stick, which helps it bridge minor texture imperfections.
• Application is forgiving. You can slide the wallpaper into position on a paste-coated wall, making pattern matching easier on uneven surfaces.

Our paste-the-wall wallpaper is printed on a premium non-woven substrate that performs exceptionally well on lightly textured walls. For medium textures, we still recommend lining paper first for the best possible finish.

Our Recommendations for Textured Walls

After years of helping customers navigate this challenge, here is our practical advice:

1. Do not skip the assessment. Five minutes running your hand across the wall saves hours of frustration later.
2. When in doubt, prepare the wall. Lining paper is inexpensive and adds only a few hours to your project. The finish is noticeably better.
3. Choose paste the wall for unprepared light textures. The paste fills minor imperfections better than self-adhesive.
4. Choose darker colours and busier patterns. These are more forgiving of any texture that telegraphs through the wallpaper.
5. Order a sample first. Our wallpaper samples start at $4.99 and let you test adhesion on your specific wall before committing to a full order.

Every Olive et Oriel wallpaper is custom-sized to your walls and printed in Australia with free express shipping. Whether you choose peel and stick or paste the wall, you will receive panels cut to your exact measurements, reducing waste and making installation on prepared textured walls straightforward.

Tips for Specific Texture Types

Orange Peel Texture

This is the easiest texture to wallpaper over. Clean the wall, apply a coat of wallpaper primer, and hang your wallpaper using the paste-the-wall method. In most cases, the texture will not show through a quality non-woven wallpaper.

Knockdown Texture

Knockdown has more pronounced irregularities than orange peel. We recommend lining paper for the most reliable result. If you prefer to skip lining paper, a single light skim coat sanded to 120-grit will do the job.

Popcorn or Cottage Cheese Texture

This heavy texture must be addressed before wallpapering. Options include scraping (if the texture is not painted over), skim coating with two coats of joint compound, or having the texture professionally removed. Do not attempt to wallpaper directly over popcorn texture.

Artex and Swirl Patterns

Common in older Australian homes, these deep patterns require skim coating. Be aware that artex applied before the 1990s may contain asbestos. If your home was built before 1990 and has artex ceilings or walls, have the material tested before disturbing it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping primer on skim-coated walls. Joint compound is porous and will absorb paste unevenly, causing bubbles and poor adhesion.
• Using thin wallpaper on prepared-but-not-perfect walls. Even after skim coating, minor imperfections may remain. Thicker wallpapers are more forgiving.
• Rushing the drying time. Whether you have skim coated or applied lining paper, allow the full recommended drying time. Applying wallpaper to a damp surface causes mould and adhesion failure.
• Ignoring humidity. Australian bathrooms and kitchens can be humid. In these rooms, paste-the-wall wallpaper with a water-resistant finish outperforms peel and stick on any surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put peel and stick wallpaper on textured walls?

Peel and stick wallpaper struggles to adhere to heavily textured walls because the adhesive cannot make full contact with the surface. On lightly textured walls (such as orange peel), peel and stick may work if you press firmly and use a quality product. For medium to heavy textures, prepare the wall first with skim coating or lining paper, or choose paste-the-wall wallpaper instead.

Do you have to smooth textured walls before wallpapering?

Not always. Lightly textured walls with an orange peel finish can accept thicker wallpapers (such as paste-the-wall non-woven) without smoothing. Medium and heavy textures should be smoothed via skim coating or covered with lining paper to prevent the texture showing through your wallpaper.

What is the best wallpaper for textured walls?

Thick, non-woven paste-the-wall wallpaper is the best option for textured walls. The heavier material bridges minor texture imperfections better than thin vinyl or peel and stick options. Dark colours and busy patterns also help disguise any remaining texture.

Can you wallpaper over orange peel texture?

Yes. Orange peel is a light texture that most quality wallpapers can cover without additional preparation. Clean the wall, apply primer, and use a thick paste-the-wall wallpaper for the best result.

How do you skim coat a textured wall for wallpaper?

Apply a thin layer of joint compound (roughly 1-2mm thick) across the entire wall using a 250mm or wider taping knife. Allow it to dry completely, then sand smooth with 120-grit sandpaper. Apply a second coat if the texture is still visible. Finish by priming with wallpaper primer before hanging.

What is lining paper and do I need it?

Lining paper is a plain, uncoated paper applied to walls before wallpapering. It creates a smooth, even surface that improves wallpaper adhesion and hides imperfections. You need lining paper if your walls have medium texture, minor cracks, or uneven surfaces that you do not want to skim coat.

Will wallpaper hide textured walls completely?

Wallpaper alone will not hide heavy texture. The bumps and ridges will telegraph through most wallpapers, creating an uneven appearance. Light textures may be hidden by thick wallpapers with busy patterns. For a professional finish on textured walls, always prepare the surface first.

Can you wallpaper over knockdown texture?

Knockdown texture can be wallpapered over with preparation. Apply lining paper horizontally across the wall first, or skim coat with joint compound and sand smooth. Once the surface is prepared, any wallpaper type will adhere properly.

Need help choosing the right wallpaper for your textured walls? Our team is here to help. Browse our full range of peel and stick and paste-the-wall wallpaper, or read our complete installation guide for step-by-step hanging instructions.

Surface Preparation Guide by Wall Type