Paintable Wallpaper vs Wallpaper Panels: What’s the Difference?
If you’ve been researching texture techniques for furniture, you’ve probably come across both “paintable wallpaper” and “wallpaper panels” — and wondered what the difference is. They’re related but distinct products, and understanding the difference will help you choose the right one for your project.
What Is Paintable Wallpaper?
Paintable wallpaper is a thick, textured wallpaper with a raised, embossed or woven surface pattern — designed specifically to be painted over. It has no colour of its own (it’s white or off-white) and the texture shows through the paint once applied.
It’s sold in rolls, like standard wallpaper, and is applied with wallpaper paste or PVA adhesive. On furniture, it’s typically applied to flat surfaces like drawer fronts and cabinet panels before painting.
Key characteristics:
- White or off-white — designed to be painted
- Raised, embossed or woven texture
- Sold in rolls
- Applied with wallpaper paste or PVA
- Texture shows through paint
- Fully customisable colour — paint it any colour you like
What Are Wallpaper Panels?
Wallpaper panels (also called feature panels or decorative panels) are pre-printed, pre-coloured wallpaper sections designed to be applied as a complete decorative element — typically to a wall, but increasingly to furniture. They have a printed design or pattern and are used for their visual design rather than as a base for painting.
Key characteristics:
- Pre-printed with a design or pattern
- Used for the printed design, not as a paint base
- Often sold as individual panels rather than rolls
- Applied with wallpaper paste
- Not designed to be painted over
Which One Is Right for Furniture?
For most furniture applications at Sweet Pea Interiors, paintable wallpaper is the right choice. Here’s why:
- It gives you complete colour control — you paint it in whatever colour suits your piece and your room
- The texture adds dimension and a handcrafted quality without competing with your paint colour
- It’s more versatile — the same wallpaper can be used on pieces in completely different colour palettes
- It integrates seamlessly with the painted finish — the texture and colour work together as one cohesive surface
Wallpaper panels can also be used on furniture — particularly on the back panels of open bookshelves or display cabinets, where the printed design becomes a decorative backdrop. But for drawer fronts and cabinet doors where you want a painted finish with added texture, paintable wallpaper is the better choice.
How to Use Paintable Wallpaper on Furniture
The process is straightforward:
- Cut the wallpaper to size
- Apply wallpaper paste or PVA to the furniture surface
- Position and smooth the wallpaper
- Trim edges and allow to dry fully (24 hours minimum)
- Paint with mineral paint in your chosen colour
- Seal with a topcoat
- Add new handles
Read our full step-by-step guide to using paintable wallpaper on furniture →
