One of the most time-consuming tasks in home interiors is stripping wallpaper. If you’re redecorating a room and you want a freshly painted look but you’re staring at four walls of heavily patterned wallpaper, you know you’ve got a challenge on your hands. But as is often the case in home makeovers, the challenge is always worth it in the end. Whether you want a strong, bold statement look or a fresh, crisp minimal style, paint can often by a more stylish choice. So you’re probably wondering – can you paint over wallpaper?
The answer is yes, if you’re careful and do your prep and research first. The extra steps may seem like a bit of a faff, but when faced with removing a room-full of wallpaper, it’s often the easier option. In this guide we’ll look at what types of wallpaper can be painted over, how to prepare wallpaper for painting and a step-by-step guide on how to paint over wallpaper.
A note from the experts: COAT Paint:
It’s widely recommended that wallpaper is removed before painting begins, to ensure a smooth, even finish. But we know that when faced with the task at hand, you might want to make life easier and go against the grain. We get it! So we got the inside scoop from the paint experts at COAT about painting over wallpaper - this is what they told us:
“In an ideal world, you don’t want to be painting wallpaper. I mean, if you asked a painter decorator, they’ll likely say to remove it and any adhesive on the wall first. Painting over a smooth surface is always the preferred option.
However, when you remove wallpaper, there is a chance you can damage the wall beneath. If you’re using a steamer and you hold it too long over a section of the paper, you might blow the plaster. Or it might be old and naturally come apart in places as you tear off the wallpaper. Depending on how bad it is, you might have to replaster the wall. And if you’re faced with layer upon layer of wallpaper, it could take you ages to get rid of it. In that case, it would be quicker to paint over it.”
What type of wallpaper can you paint over?
A good rule of thumb is, if your wallpaper is easy to remove, don’t paint over it. Fabric-backed vinyl is the type of wallpaper you shouldn’t paint over, but often this is very easy to take off the wall. Similarly, wallpaper that’s peeling in multiple places can be pulled easily from the wall so shouldn’t be painted over.
Any wallpaper that has a texture or finish on top – shiny metallic wallpaper, embossed wallpaper – may not adhere to your paint and could leave an uneven finish, so consider this before painting over this type of wallpaper. It’s not an instant no, though – sanding the very top layer off your wallpaper can help the paint grip to the surface and give you that smoothness without removing the paper entirely.
However, realistically it’s smooth vinyl wallpaper that’s best to paint over, particularly if it’s been hung for a long while, as the vibrancy of the colours will have faded and the adhesive will be very set (that’s what makes it such a pain to remove!). Just make sure you do the proper prep first…
How to paint over wallpaper – a step-by-step guide
You’ll need
- Cloth and gentle soap solution
- Wallpaper paste
- Painters’ tape
- Sandpaper
- Oil-based primer
- Your chosen COAT paints shade
- Brush and roller
Step 1: clean the walls
A good clean will help your primer adhere to the walls and give a smooth, even finish. Dust with a dry cloth first, then wipe down with a damp cloth. For greasy patches on kitchen walls, use a very diluted soap solution just to cut through heavier grime.
Make sure you don’t wet the walls too much, as this could affect the adhesive under the wallpaper and cause it to loosen.
Leave plenty of time for the walls to dry.
Step 2: repair rips, tears and peeling
To ensure your final painted look is super smooth and secure, take time to repair any weak areas in your wallpaper. Look out for small rips and tears as well as peeling edges, and stick back down with a thin layer of wallpaper paste.
If your wallpaper has a textured finish, use sandpaper to gently buff it away and wipe down with a damp cloth.
Wait until all walls are totally dry before you start priming.
Step 3: tape the edges
Before you start painting, tape up any areas you don’t want to cover with painters’ tape – light switches, plug sockets, doorways and skirting boards. Remember to remove this tape before your walls are entirely dry, otherwise the tape may pull off the paint with it.
Step 4: prime the walls
Priming the walls is a very important step in painting over wallpaper, as a primer will help the paint adhere to the walls and ensure a smooth finish.
You need an oil-based primer here – anything water-based could soak into the wallpaper and loosen the adhesive. Use a brush to cut in the edges with the primer, then a roller to cover the full walls. Allow to dry fully.
Step 5: time to start painting!
Once you’ve prepped your wallpapered walls, you can paint them as you would any other wall. If your wallpaper has a bold pattern or if you’re using a light paint over a dark wallpaper, use thin layers to build up the colour and get that opaque coverage. Allow plenty of drying time between layers so you don’t saturate the wallpaper beneath, causing the adhesive to loosen.
The finished look
Painting over wallpaper with emulsion takes a bit of time and can be a bit fiddly, but taking those extra steps to prep the walls will really make a difference to the finished result. Just take a look at these inspo pics for just how impactful those block colour walls can be!
