How do I cover or remove a wallpaper border in the bathroom?

the wallpaper border on our bathroom wall was installed by previous owner.if I take it off I will not be able to match the paint, need suggestions to recover the border,remove the border easily, replace with something else. help appreciated.

  4 answers
  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Oct 13, 2019

    Hi Jane,

    I would remove the border and update the paint in the room. The reason is because eventually that wallpaper boarder is going to let loose and then anything you put over it will come loose too. To take it off, score the wallpaper then steam it. It MIGHT even work to score it then run a hot shower for the steam. It's also possible that it's strippable wallpaper. I had wallpaper in our master bedroom but once it was outdated I wanted to take it down and paint. Since it was strippable, I got a corner loose and gently pulled. I was able to get the whole room done in a very short time. Of course, I did have to wash off the residue from the paste, but that was easy. I'd suggest trying to lift a corner of the wallpaper first to see if it IS strippable. Wishing you the best.

  • Gk Gk on Oct 13, 2019

    More than likely Jane is that the paint under the wallpaper border is the same as the rest of the wall. Most people paint the entire wall and then add the border. If you remove the border and clean off any glue you should be fine without having to repaint. Love the stenciled idea another DIYer posted for you!

  • 17335038 17335038 on Oct 25, 2019

    Depending on what product was used to adhere the border to the wall when it was installed, there most likely will be some damage anyway to whatever paint there may have been on the wall when the border was put on.


    Yes, it will be a job that will take some time, but I agree with Linda that it is best to remove the border now, then start fresh with repainting the entire wall.