How to Paint Over Wallpaper

I like to joke that the only thing worse than hanging wallpaper is removing it. Even if you manage to peel most of it away, there are usually spots where the paper just won't let go and you have to patch over the frayed edges.

Fortunately, it's possible to paint over your wallpaper without removing it... as long as you do it right.

In this example, my clients Mike and Anne had some stains in their wallpaper as the result of a roof leak. The water dripped down from a light fixture in the ceiling and onto the blue panels below the chair rail. They wanted the blue area painted over in the same color.

Step One: Check for any loose paper and re-glue it.
Step Two: Caulk all the edges to further glue and seal it in place.
Step Three: Prime the wall paper with oil-based primer. This keeps the water-based latex paint from softening the wallpaper glue. It's very important, so don't skip this step!

Step Four: Top coat with the color of your choice.

Painting over old wallpaper is possible if you're careful and follow all of the right steps. On the other hand, if you live in the Asheville or Weaverville area and you'd rather let a pro do it for you, please get in touch. I'll be glad to help.

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