When choosing luxury wallpaper, the decision often comes down to more than just pattern—it’s about how the wallpaper feels, how it interacts with light, and the kind of mood it creates in a space. Two of the most popular categories are textured and flat wallpaper. Each has its own distinct qualities, and understanding the differences can help you make the right choice for your home or project.
Depth and Dimension
Textured wallpaper brings literal depth to your walls. Whether it’s grasscloth, textured metallic wallpaper or embossed vinyl wallcovering, these designs add a physical layer that gives the room a more sculptural, tactile quality. That depth softens sharp corners and adds quiet complexity to otherwise simple spaces. It can also make minimalist rooms feel richer, offering visual interest even in a monochromatic palette.
Non-textured wallpaper, by contrast, offers depth in a different way—through printed detail. Because it’s applied to a smooth surface, flat wallpaper allows for intricate patterns, photo-realistic murals, and precision line work that would be difficult to replicate on a textured base. The result is a clean, clear visual expression that can be dramatic, whimsical, or graphically bold, depending on the design.
Feel and Sensory Impact
Texture naturally invites touch. Running your fingers across a grasscloth wallpaper or a metallic surface can evoke a sense of calm and intimacy. It slows the pace of a room, offering subtle sensory moments that enhance the experience of a space. These wallpapers are perfect for areas meant for restoration: bedrooms, reading nooks, or any place where you want to feel grounded.
Flat wallpapers, though less tactile, are more visually immediate. They’re crisp, sharp, and energetic. In rooms that benefit from brightness and clarity—like kitchens, offices, or modern living areas—a flat wallpaper can provide a polished and dynamic backdrop that supports clean-lined furniture and vibrant art.
How Light Interacts with Each Style
One of the most important—but often overlooked—factors in choosing wallpaper is how it behaves in different lighting conditions.
Grasscloth textured wallpapers tend to diffuse light. Their surface catches natural and artificial light at varied angles, creating shadows and subtle shifts in tone. This quality brings atmosphere to a room, especially in spaces with soft, indirect lighting. In candlelight or low evening light, textured wallpapers come alive, enhancing the room’s warmth and intimacy.
Flat non-woven wallpapers reflect light more evenly. This helps brighten a room and maintain clarity of pattern or mural at any time of day. If your design includes detailed illustrations, vivid colors, or complex layouts, flat wallpaper ensures they remain visible and vibrant, even under harsh or direct lighting.
Naturally, the most reflective results are achieved with metallic wallcoverings. They create a living surface that shifts through the day. The reflective finish enhances natural light and adds quiet movement to walls, making spaces feel brighter and more layered. Perfect for adding a touch of understated luxury without overpowering the room.
Is Textured Wallpaper Better?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends entirely on your design goals.
Choose textured wallpaper if:
- You want tactile richness and layered depth.
- Your space is built around comfort, calm, or warmth.
- You’re drawn to subtle, sensory interiors that shift with the light.
Choose flat wallpaper if:
- You want bold visuals and great print detail.
- Your room has a contemporary feel or high visual energy.
- You need a clear, clean pattern to anchor your room design.
Final Thoughts
In many beautifully designed homes, textured and flat wallpapers coexist. A flat, panoramic mural might lead into a hallway lined with woven grasscloth. A crisp floral wallpaper could complement a textured ceiling treatment. The magic is often in the mix.
At Feathr, we celebrate both approaches. Whether you’re leaning toward the sculptural softness of texture or the clarity and color of flat design, we offer a curated collection of wallpapers to help you create a space that feels as good as it looks.