Textured wallpaper can add an extra dimension to a room – an effect you can’t achieve with paint alone. There are lots of different types of textured wallpaper; you can make a statement with embossed wallpaper, go glitzy with glitter wallpaper, or keep it cosy and classic with a linen effect.
Wallpaper with texture is a great choice for a feature wall, and it’s a good way to add a touch of personality to your home decor. With this in mind, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about using textured wallpaper in your home.
Types Of Textured Wallpaper
From embossed to flocked and from crushed velvet to glitter, there are lots of different ways to incorporate textured wallpaper in your home, with different textures suitable for different rooms.
1. Embossed Wallpaper
Embossed wallpaper refers to any wallpaper that has a slightly raised pattern to provide added texture. This could be a brick effect, an embossed flower design, or even a stone effect for conservatory wallpaper with a difference.
The embossed wallpaper designs in our collection include:
- A.S. Creation’s House Brick Pattern Faux Effect Embossed Wallpaper (£9 per roll) – a classic red brick effect that’s perfect for using to create a feature wall
- Opt for an embossed stone effect textured wallpaper with the A.S. Creation Pebble Stone Pattern Embossed Textured Beige Wallpaper (£10 per roll)
- Add a luxurious feel to a room with an embossed damask design and a touch of sparkle with the A.S. Creation Damask Pattern Floral Leaf Embossed Glitter Black Silver Motif Wallpaper (£13 per roll)
- Use A.S. Creation’s Gothic Skull Floral Embossed Black & Multi-Coloured Wallpaper in a teenager’s bedroom (£16 per roll) for a quirky sugar skull design with added texture
- Go for a subtle embossed design with the neutral-coloured Holden Decor Siena Plain Beige Wallpaper in Heavyweight Vinyl (£24 per roll), which features raised lines for added texture, and would look great in any room
2. Linen Effect Wallpaper
Linen effect wallpaper works well in any room; the fabric effect of this type of textured wallpaper can help to make a room feel extra cosy. Linen wallpaper works well with wooden flooring, providing a textured contrast. Bring linen effect wallpaper to your home with:
- Arthouse Textured Linen Effect Wallpaper in Plain Light Grey (£16 per roll), which adds a warm, cosy feeling to a living space or bedroom, and is also available in heather, blush, yellow, and natural shades
- Go for a dark grey linen wallpaper with the Arthouse Linen Texture Plain Pattern Smooth Faux Fabric Wallpaper (£11 per roll)
3. Flocked Wallpaper
Flocked wallpaper was originally created in the 17th century by adding flock – tiny particles of waste fibre from the cloth industry – to wallpaper to create an effect that looked like the velvet hangings that were popular at the time.
Today, flocked wallpaper describes any wallpaper created using this effect, and it can be a great way to add an extra touch of luxury and drama to a living room or bedroom. Some of our favourite flocked wallpapers include:
- Go for a traditional damask flocked wallpaper design in shades of pink and rose gold with the Sipri by Muriva Italian Classic Beatrice Damask Pattern Vinyl Rose Gold Wallpaper (£25 per roll)
- With its black on black textured effect, A.S. Creation’s Flocked Floral Damask Wallpaper In Black (£16 per roll) is a brilliant way to add extra drama to a feature wall in a bedroom or living room
- Create a country cottage feel in your home with a tartan flocked wallpaper design in grey and neutral tones, with Holden Decor’s Linen Check Fabric Motif Smooth Traditional Grey Charcoal Wallpaper (£12 per roll)
4. Crushed Velvet Wallpaper
Crushed velvet wallpaper is a bold choice, but it can add an extra element of cosiness and warmth to a room. Grey crushed velvet wallpaper is especially popular, and it can look great paired with a grey sofa and rug in a contrasting texture. If you’re interested in this type of textured wallpaper, check out these designs:
- Arthouse Trellis Wallpaper in Gunmetal Grey with a Crushed Velvet Finish (£20 per roll) is a luxurious crushed velvet grey textured wallpaper with metallic accents in a geometric trellis design, providing an almost art deco feel. This gorgeous wallpaper is also available in rose gold and champagne
- Combine crushed velvet with a touch of glitter with the Grandeco Crushed Velvet Effect Industrial Textured Glitter Vinyl Wallpaper (£16 per roll)
- Make a statement with pink crushed velvet wallpaper with the Arthouse Velvet Crush Foil Pattern Rose Metallic Leaf Motif Textured Vinyl Wallpaper (£19 per roll)
5. Glitter Wallpaper
Glitter wallpaper can be an extremely glamorous choice. Try to avoid wall to wall sparkle and opt for a hint of glitter instead; it’s a great way to add extra texture to your home decor, and it can work really well in children’s bedrooms, or in a kitchen or dining room if you love to entertain.
Here are a few different ways to experiment with glitter wallpaper in your home:
- Create a dramatic boudoir feel in a master bedroom with the stylish Arthouse Glittery Metallic Damask Wallpaper in Gunmetal Grey (£16 per roll)
- Add a touch of sparkle to a dressing room or bedroom feature wall with the Arthouse Sparkle Sequin Metallic Glitter Wallpaper (£28 per roll), which is available in on-trend rose gold, hot pink, navy blue, white, gold, silver, and black
- Try a glitter wallpaper in your kitchen with the Holden Decor Granite Tile Kitchen Embossed Glitter Wallpaper, which features a glittery tiled effect
- Arthouse Glitterati Plain Pattern Pink Bobble Textured Glitter Motif Wallpaper (£18 per roll) is the perfect choice for the bedroom of a little girl who loves all things pink and sparkly
- Another gorgeous choice for a children’s bedroom is the Holden Decor Ballerina Dancer Pattern Children’s Yellow Wallpaper, which features butterflies, swans, ballerinas, and a touch of glitter
How To Style Textured Wallpaper
You may need to experiment to find the best way to style your textured wallpaper. Teaming a linen or velvet wallpaper with a heavy carpet runs the risk of making a space feel smaller, so it’s important to think about what you’re pairing your textured wallpaper with. Here are some top tips for accessorising textured wallpaper:
- Use contrasting textures and patterns, but be careful not to overdo it. For example, linen wallpaper might look too much paired with linen curtains; instead, team your linen wallpaper with wooden flooring and a woven rug to create the illusion of extra space and depth in the room. Similarly, if you’re going for a velvet wallpaper, accessorise it with harder textures to create contrast
- Emphasise the embossed effect of your wallpaper with accessories in that colour or design; for instance, if there’s glitter in your wallpaper, go for glitter vases or sequin cushions
- If you’re going for a multi-coloured textured wallpaper, pick out one colour for the rest of your accessories, and tie in vases, ornaments, and even your soft furnishings
- Use textured wallpaper on a feature wall or on two adjacent walls rather than in a whole room to prevent it feeling too claustrophobic
- Let the wallpaper do the talking – use textured wallpaper on a feature wall to make a statement, and don’t cover it in photos or prints
- If you want a textured wallpaper that won’t date, go for a subtle design in a neutral colour, like a linen effect wallpaper
How To Decorate Over Textured Wallpaper
Whatever type of wallpaper you go for, you may change your mind over your chosen design in the future. You can of course strip your wallpaper and go for plaster, paint, or a new wallpaper design, but you can try to decorate over your textured wallpaper too.
Can You Paint Over Textured Wallpaper?
If you’re painting over textured wallpaper, there is of course a risk that the pattern will come through the paint. However, if you really want to avoid removing your wallpaper, you can paint over it by following these steps:
- Apply a thin coat of joint compound (known as spackle) to the paper and leave it to dry
- Sand the wallpaper to create a smooth surface ready for painting
- Before you start painting over textured wallpaper, make sure the surface is clean to prevent any dirt or grease spoiling your finished effect
- Then, apply a coat of primer and leave to dry thoroughly – this may take up to 24 hours
- Next, apply your first coat of paint – you’ll most likely need at least two coats, possibly more, depending on the colour and design of your textured wallpaper
Can You Wallpaper Over Textured Wallpaper?
You can try to apply spackle to textured wallpaper to create a smoother surface before you paper over it, but it’s probably best to strip the wallpaper fully to prevent uneven lumps and bumps. What’s more, if you’re applying spackle to wallpaper, and then papering over the top of it, you’ll only be leaving yourself with extra layers to remove in the future.
Experiment With Wallpaper Finishes
Think about where you can use textured wallpaper in your home to add an extra dimension to your decor. The textured wallpaper collection at I Want Wallpaper includes embossed, crushed velvet, blown vinyl, non-woven, paper, and heavyweight vinyl wallpapers, so there’s something for every home.
Shop our full collection of textured wallpaper here, or contact us if you have any questions about any of our designs.