Embarking on a wallpaper installation project can be transformative, but it's vital to approach it with realistic expectations. This article guides you through managing your expectations, especially when dealing with imperfect walls, irregularities, or textures.

Understanding the "Perfect Wallpaper" Myth

Your experience installing wallpaper plays a pivotal role in the overall installation process. Seasoned installers bring a wealth of knowledge, honed skills, and a keen eye for detail to ensure a seamless application. From navigating challenging wall surfaces to precisely matching patterns, experienced hands understand the nuances that contribute to a successful installation.

In contrast, those new to wallpaper will find the process more intricate, benefiting from patience, practice, and a gradual refinement of techniques. Ultimately, the level of expertise you bring to the table shapes not only the efficiency of the installation but also the final aesthetic outcome.

Walls with Irregularities

Walls with irregularities or texture may not yield a perfect alignment, and small misalignments are natural in such scenarios. Choosing forgiving patterns, such as abstract or busy designs, can help disguise imperfections more effectively.

Practical Tips

Before installation, inspect the walls for imperfections and address minor issues to create a smoother surface. Discuss the condition of your walls with professional installers to gain insights and suggestions based on specific characteristics. Consider testing a small wallpaper sample on the wall to anticipate potential challenges before committing to the full installation.

Textured walls: A complex scenario 

Why would you wallpaper a textured wall? Usually is one or combination of both answers: 

• I want to use wallpaper to cover and hide the wall surface
• I want this awesome wallpaper on this wall which happens to be textured

Technical challenges

Walls are textured to avoid finishing them. It is normal to find deformations like raised or depressed areas. Textures themselves have different rates of deformation. All this can cause the wallpaper not to align properly in some areas, affecting the overall quality of the finished project.

This means textured walls are not technically suitable for wallpapers.

What to do?

You need to flatten your wall and also finish it, by skimming, sanding, and at least priming; before applying wallpaper. 

BUT CAN I WALLPAPER A TEXTURED WALL?

Yes you can, but have in mind a wallpapers are not magic, if the surface is not adequate, installation will never be optimal. Expect misalignment between panels and try to look at the overall project rather than tiny details.

A wallpaper will never “hide” completely the wall texture, it might soften it, but wall imperfections will always show through.

Maybe you are in a rental, don’t have the budget, or maybe because you don’t want to go through the hassle. For projects where you need the easiest way to put a wallpaper over a textured wall, we can only recommend the Long Term Peel and Stick.

Long Term Peel and Stick is our easiest solution for textured walls:

• Has a strong adhesive to hold over a texture
• Convenient under a lower budget, it does not require a professional installer
• The wall texture will always show through
• During removal expect it to lift some paint chips off your wall, but better a safe than a fall off.

Never use a removable peel and stick on a textured wall, it will eventually fail.

If you want to use a traditional wallpaper over a textured wall is completely up to you. Individual results might vary depending on the wallpaper type, glue type and installer experience.

Professional installers and textured walls

When you have texture a professional will tell you to smooth out the wall prior to wallpapering. This is the right thing to do. 

A professional installation means high quality results that can only be achieved by smoothing out the wall prior wallpapering. It is completely your personal choice but consider a wallpaper install over a textured wall will never yield professional results. 

Silver Linings 

In the pursuit of the perfect wallpaper, managing expectations is crucial. Appreciate the nuances that come with different wall conditions, and by understanding limitations, embracing imperfections, and working collaboratively with experienced installers, you can achieve a result that transforms your space while aligning with the charm and character of your home.