In recent years, modern wallpaper has seen a revival in popularity. However, existing wallpaper in your home might not always align with your desired aesthetic. While some wallpaper styles offer creative solutions, there are times when you just want a fresh start. Removing wallpaper can be labor-intensive, but what if you could simply paint over it instead of spending hours steaming, scraping, and dealing with the frustrations of home renovation?
It turns out that with the right preparation, you can paint over wallpaper successfully, leaving your guests none the wiser. It’s important to note that not all wallpaper is suitable for painting over. Ideally, the wallpaper should be in good condition—smooth and undamaged. If you invest the time to ensure your surface is smooth, flat, and clean, you can save significant time and effort without compromising on quality.
How to Paint Over Wallpaper So That It Looks Like It Was Never There
Start by cleaning your walls with a damp cloth, ensuring it is only slightly wet to avoid saturating the wallpaper. Allow the area to dry completely before proceeding. Next, address any damage to the wall or any areas where the wallpaper adhesive is lifting. Reapply adhesive to any lifted sections, or carefully remove them and use spackle to smooth any uneven edges. Once the adhesive or spackle has dried, sand the walls until they feel smooth, and then clean them again with a damp cloth.
Now you’re ready to prepare for painting. Remove any wall plates, and tape up areas like baseboards or trim that you want to protect from paint. Apply a coat of oil-based primer, as using a water-based primer can cause the wallpaper adhesive to loosen. Once the primer has dried completely, apply your chosen paint. Depending on the wallpaper’s color and pattern, you may need multiple coats to ensure the wallpaper is not visible. Because you’ve primed the surface, you can use any paint compatible with your primer, though latex paint is a popular choice.
Weigh the Pros and Cons Before You Start Painting or Peeling
So, you can paint over wallpaper, but should you? The main concern with painting over wallpaper is longevity. Even if your paint and walls are perfectly dry, the underlying wallpaper is still vulnerable to moisture, which can lead to lifting if it gets wet.
Despite spackling, patching, and sanding, leaving the wallpaper on the wall might result in a textured surface when painting. However, sometimes wallpaper can be particularly stubborn and difficult to remove without damaging the wall.
If removing the wallpaper proves too challenging, consider it an opportunity to prepare it as best as you can for painting. Removing wallpaper can also be costly, especially if you hire a professional. The upside is that once you paint over wallpaper, it’s much easier to touch up in the future if needed.
