Can You Paint Over Wallpaper? Tips & When to Avoid It

Do you want a new look for your walls, but don’t know how to get started because they are covered in paper? Well, you have come to the right place! Here, we will help you determine whether removing your wallpaper or painting it over is the correct choice for you.

We will discuss when you shouldn’t paint wallpaper, the steps to take when painting over it, and how to also remove paint from it. Oftentimes, you don’t need to remove existing wallpaper in order to redecorate, all you need to do is choose a colour you like and paint as you would a regular wall.

Remove My Wallpaper or Paint Over It?

Generally speaking, removing wallpaper to paint your walls is the best way to go about updating your space. However, there are times when wallpaper cannot be removed, such as when there is the possibility of damaging the wall beneath it or if there are multiple layers of paper stacked on top of one another. In that case, it’s much better to paint over your wallpaper.

When Should You Not Paint Over Wallpaper?

If you have old wallpaper that is ripped or peeling in places, you should not paint over it, as the wall surface after painting will be rough and uneven. There are also certain types of wallpaper that shouldn’t be painted over, like fabric-backed vinyl. If you don’t know what type of wallpaper you have, a good tip to remember is that if the wallpaper can be easily removed, it should not be painted, but if it is difficult to remove, it can be painted over.

What Kind of Paint Can You Use on Wallpaper?

It is important to note that there really isn’t a special wallpaper paint you need to use.

Indeed, any kind of quality wall paint can be used and will work well to cover the area.

How to Paint Over Wallpaper

When painting over wallpaper, the walls need to be cleaned before anything else can be done. First, use a slightly damp cloth to wipe away any dust and dirt from the walls. If your wallpaper is particularly grimy, following this, use a degreaser like a diluted solution of trisodium phosphate. It is crucial to ensure that you are not using too much as soaking the walls could cause the wallpaper adhesive to bubble or loosen. Afterwards, you will need to let the wall dry completely, which could take at least a full day.

Once the wall is dry, check for any damage to the wallpaper and fix it as needed. Then, you should use painter’s tape to protect your ceiling, baseboards, light switches, and outlets, as well as any other areas you don’t want to be painted. With the tape on, you can begin to apply the primer. Make sure that the primer you use is oil-based because that is safer for wallpaper. Once the primer is dry, it’s time to paint. There’s really no special way to do this, just apply the paint as you would on a bare wall. You will probably need two coats and you can check the paint can for the time it should take for each coat to dry.

How to Remove Paint from Wallpaper

If you’ve accidentally gotten paint on your wallpaper or decided in the middle of painting that you don’t actually want painted wallpaper or don’t like the colour you chose, you have a couple of options:

With wet paint, simply clean it using a sponge or towel and warm water. Keep in mind that you should dab the area rather than rub it as rubbing will cause the paint to spread and push into the paper, making it stick.

With dry paint, use either 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol. While it should be safe for all wallpapers, we recommend testing it on a small, hidden area to ensure that it does not cause any damage to your paper. If the test is successful, you can move forward with cleaning off the rest of the paint. Soak a cotton ball with the alcohol and wet the paint with it. It should sit there for a few minutes. Then, dab the area with a damp sponge. This will need to be repeated until all the paint is gone.

So, Can You Paint Over Wallpaper?

Throughout this article, we have answered the question of “Can you paint over wallpaper?” with a resounding yes, outlining the times when wallpaper should not be painted, how to paint your wallpaper, and how to remove unwanted paint.

At Prestige Painting and Contracting, we are an award winning painting company in the GTA, here to help you create a beautiful home. Contact us today!