Can you paint over wallpaper?
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I live in a very old house. One of my upstairs bedrooms is wallpapered in an outdated 70's looking floral. I have stripped wall paper before when I knew there was drywall underneath. Due to the age of this house I have doubts that there is drywall underneath. I would love to update this room but I am afraid of what I might find if I start to strip the paper. Is it possible just to paint over it?
14 answers
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I painted over wall paper (that was intact) and it worked just fine. Do a small test spot. Back in the 80's I had a friend that professionally hung wallpaper; he told me that once the wall is papered to consider the paper part of the wall and to paint over it. Well fast forward 30 years, I took his advice and it worked well and still looks good several years later. Matter of fact, it's time to paint it again.
Beth
on Oct 30, 2013
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You definitely can. Better that then to find horsehair plaster or something under there!
My Wonderful Walls
on Oct 30, 2013
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In most cases, it is better to take it off if you possibly can but I can see why you are hesitant. As long as the wallpaper is firmly attached and there are no lifting seams or loose edges then yes, you can paint over it. I have personally painted over a wallpaper border in a bedroom, and several whole walls of wallpaper in a bathroom with good results. Painting over it wasn't my first choice but the paper wasn't coming off for anything and it turned out okay. I would definitely recommend using some type of primer to make sure the pattern is well covered before you apply your color of choice.
Shari
on Oct 30, 2013
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Is the paper vinyl or paper? If paper, then hot water and spray bottle and a metal putty knife carefully scraping the paper. Repeated wettings works and I have done this many times for myself and others. You should have no problem removing the paper and you can even use white vinegar to remove the paste. If vinyl, then try a spot where a seam do a test in an area and wet the wall paper and you may have to score the wallpaper so that the water can penetrate. You may have plaster and lathe if the house is old and that will be easier to peel off wallpaper. There are so many ways to see how hard or easy it will be to remove. You can paint over wallpaper but most professionals and even renovation experts will not. If you do decide to paint, then you must use a good primer and do light coats otherwise you can inadvertently wet the wallpaper and it can become loose (had a friend who did this and it was a mess). Good luck.
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Oct 30, 2013
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wow, if the paper is in good shape, leave it, you might have lots of layers to go through. How much time and effort are you willing to put into it is the real question.
Robin James
on Nov 01, 2013
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Hi, my son had a houise that was over 100 yrs old, and we wanted to paper over it, but the walls were made of a differant substance yrs ago and once the paint got to it, it looseened the wallpaper causing the walls to sort of come apart. We ended up putting paneling over it, which made the walls a little sturdier. Good Luck, Arlene
Arlene Buono
on Nov 01, 2013
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Yes, but use an oil based primer.
Sch40902
on Nov 01, 2013
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You know your walls, so paint. As Mary suggested use a primer. I would let it dry between coats. I also did this to a rental that had plaster horse hair walls! Nightmare walls. : )
Sherrie
on Nov 01, 2013
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I have a century home and have painted over the wallpaper after stripping 10 layers in one of the bedrooms only to find lathe & plaster. I sanded the seams that were very noticeable and used an oil base primer just ask at the paint store and they will give you the proper primer.
Cindy
on Nov 01, 2013
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You can, I have, just make sure the wallpaper is tightly adhering to the wall
Cindy
on Nov 01, 2013
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use kilzs premium, if you use oil based you can't use a latex paint over it it will peal off, kilz prem will seal it, it will seal any water spots, cigarette stains, smoke stains, mold you name it, i am an artist and i use kilz to seal my projects so i don't have to spend time taking off the old paint etc,
Kat Davis-Moran
on Nov 03, 2013
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Use a tablespoon of laundry sofner to the full spray bottle of water to remove that paper. If that wall paper starts to come off after you painted it you're going to have to replace the drywall.
Jean Lingle-mosher
on Nov 03, 2013
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I painted over wallpaper with no issues. Just be sure the paper is well adhered,and if any seams need to glued down be sure to do that first.
Karen K
on Nov 04, 2013
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I painted over 20 yr old wallpaper in my salon hallway in June. I sanded the seams down a little bit first and then primed with kilz. It's alright. But honestly if I had it to do over again I would have spent the extra two days of frustration to just take down the wallpaper.
Stephen Andrew
on Nov 08, 2013
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