All About Embossed Wallpaper

Types of Raised Design Treatments

Lincrusta®, Anaglypta® and embossed wallpaper all have raised design surfaces. Lincrusta, made of linoleum, is the most authentic-looking. Anaglypta is a heavy embossed paper that is more affordable and easier to work with. Regular embossed wallpaper is standard-weight wallpaper with a slightly raised design surface.

Special Adhesive

Clay-based wallpaper paste is necessary for applying raised or embossed wall treatments -- regular wallpaper adhesive is too thin and would turn embossed wallpaper to mush.

Painting

This warm honey-colored latex paint makes a beautiful one-color finish. Painted wallpaper can be left as-is or finished with an antique glazing medium.

Glazing

You can apply glaze with a paint roller and immediately wipe off the excess with a clean rag, leaving glaze in the recessed areas.

"Picking Out"

Another glazing technique called "picking out" illuminates the embossed design in a more subtle way. To create this finish, dip the end of a paintbrush into a glazing medium and dab off almost all of the glaze onto a paper towel. Then brush the glaze lightly on the surface so that only a small amount of glaze collects in the crevices of the design.