Can you paint over wallpaper?

  7 answers
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Jul 14, 2018

    Valerie...I always remove wallpaper before I paint

  • Janice Janice on Jul 14, 2018

    Yes, you can. I would not recommend it though. When you paint over the wallpaper, the moisture from the paint may make the wallpaper bubble and become uneven, not to mention you will likely see the seams in the paper more than you did prior to painting. If later you or someone else want to remove the wallpaper, it will be more difficult than if you'd not painted over it. It would be best to remove the paper, insure all the remaining glue is cleaned off and then paint.

  • TracyRogersIsLoved TracyRogersIsLoved on Jul 14, 2018

    You can, but it will eventually look crappy due the paper lifting. Walmart and others sell a tool, PaperTiger, that is super for removing wallpaper. It is a scoring tool that will make perforations thru the paper so that hot water or paper removal solution can penetrate all underneath the paper enabling it to be pulled off relatively easy. Run the tool over the walls, squirt bottle to spray your solution on after scoring, and a little patience will get the job done nicely. Be sure to wipe up the water or solution as you go.

  • Just because you can, does not mean you should. Remove it . . . The end result will look far more professional. And if you paint over wallpaper and then have to take it down, and it will have to come off eventually, it will be 100 times harder to do so. Do yourself a favor and do it right the first time, then be proud of your work!

  • OceeB OceeB on Jul 14, 2018

    Hi Valerie,

    I have and you definitely can if it is in decent shape . Definitely if it is a quick change you are going for or perhaps have a future remodel but cannot live with the wall covering till that happens😬.

    We removed wallpaper for one room and ran out of time so opted to paint over the second wallpapered bedroom. And we definitely spackled and sanded. I am thinking we might have used a latex primer which now I realize probably caused bubbles. 😣

    There are several steps involved and lots of sweat equity when this is complete..


    First determine of wallpaper. Coated or uncoated?

    Then appropriate way to clean it per type.

    Next either glue down edges that have lifted or cut them out. Use a shellack or oil based primer for first coat.

    Look for any places that came loose and cut areas out.

    Next spackle area and wallpaper seams.

    Let dry over night and sand down.

    Respackle area and then sand with finer grit.

    Next add a second primer coat but use acrylic.

    Let dry and then paint away with your latex or chalk Paint


    here is a video also that explains well

    https://youtu.be/SZqW-YjV3GI



  • Joan Stanley Joan Stanley on Jul 14, 2018

    I painted a vinyl wallpaper that was in a bathroom. I worked very well and has been on there for about 10 years now. However, I would not do it to regular wallpaper.

  • Joan Stanley Joan Stanley on Jul 14, 2018

    I painted a vinyl wallpaper that was in a bathroom. I worked very well and has been on there for about 10 years now. However, I would not do it to regular wallpaper.