One Mistake To Avoid When Styling A Textured Wall, According To Our Expert

Do you love textured walls but feel like most of them exude a dated vibe? Whitney Vredenburgh, owner of Nested Spaces Home Staging & Design and Home Staging Resource-certified RESA-PRO member, has got you covered. There are plenty of ways to liven up your walls without dating your space. "At Nested Spaces, we are seeing a rising interest in wallpaper, millwork, lime wash and plaster and even murals. We just painted an office in a faux lime wash and plan to hang art behind the desk on the focal wall," she said in her exclusive interview with House Digest. However, it turns out that adding texture can sometimes complicate the issue of how and what to hang on your walls.

The main mistake people make when styling these walls is often doing too much. "These trendier walls, [they] typically do not need artwork or wall decor," says Vredenburgh. So, whether you're adding texture to your home with an easy paint trick or opting for textured wallpaper, you may want to scale down your plans for styling that wall.

If you want artwork to be the center of attention on a textured wall, you have to make the background as neutral as possible. "A lime wash or plaster or even a grasscloth wallpaper holds art seamlessly," Vredenburgh told House Digest exclusively. "I have seen beautiful gallery walls over lime wash and plaster ...," she added.

That said, she cautioned that "a patterned wallpaper or mural requires more skill to add artwork that looks and feels cohesive." So, if you want to hang art and other decor on a focal textured wall, consider a more timeless option for the base. "Classic millwork like picture molding is typically a timeless look," Vredenburgh said. The secret to achieving success with a gallery wall — even on a classic background — is to make sure all of your art has "...a similar frame or color story, which makes the wall feel more cohesive," according to Vredenburgh.

If, on the other hand, you want a more contemporary textured wall, it may be better left to stand on its own, without too much styling to distract from it. Not sure what you want? Plenty of accent walls are trending in 2025, and one of these is sure to inspire you.

While a bit of understated texture can handle art, some textured walls become the art itself. "I love seeing artwork over a textured wall or wallpaper. It's all in the execution of the accent wall and the artwork placed over it," Vredenburgh said while speaking exclusively with House Digest. However, with more complicated wallpaper or murals, sometimes it's better to let the wall shine on its own.

"We see a lot of beautiful textured walls as a focal wall with a fireplace, for example," said Vredenburgh. This approach also tends to work in smaller, more private spaces. "We also see textured walls in powder rooms, laundry rooms, primary bedrooms and entryways," she added. However, if you want to go really bold and create a focal point that cannot be ignored, consider a mural. Use tips on painting your own wall mural to get the look you want on a budget. Or, if you can afford it, Vredenburgh suggested "... hiring a professional trim carpenter, wallpaper installer or painter to execute your ... vision."