You can paint over wallpaper if it is a plain or lining paper that is firmly stuck down, smooth and in good condition. It is not a good idea over vinyl, foil, heavily textured or peeling paper, or on a wall with damp behind it. In those cases, stripping the paper first will give a far better and longer-lasting finish.
Painting over paper is tempting. Stripping is slow, messy and can take lumps of plaster with it, and a coat of paint looks like an easy shortcut. Sometimes it is. Lining paper, for example, is made to be painted. But paint brings water to the wall, and that can soften old paste, lift seams and leave you with bubbles that are harder to fix than the original paper.
Here is how to tell which side of the line your walls are on, and how to do the job properly if you go ahead.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Shirting (129), Bone China Blue (107), Middle Buff (122)
When painting over wallpaper works
- Lining paper. Plain lining paper is designed as a base for paint and is the best case of all.
- Previously painted paper. Paper that has already taken paint well, such as an embossed paper painted years ago, will usually take another colour.
- Sound, flat, well-stuck paper. If the seams are tight, the edges are not lifting and the surface is smooth, a careful repaint can work.
When it does not
- Vinyl and foil papers. Their wipeable, non-porous surface gives paint very little to grip, and it will scratch off.
- Textured or patterned papers. Paint will not hide texture, and strong prints can show through pale colours.
- Loose, torn or bubbling paper. Painting over damage only exaggerates it.
- Walls with damp or cracked plaster. Covering the problem does not cure it. Find and fix the cause first.
A simple test helps. Paint a small, hidden patch, leave it to dry overnight, and check for bubbling or lifting seams. If the paper reacts badly there, it will do the same across the wall.
How to paint over wallpaper, step by step
- Check every seam. Run your hand over the wall. Re-stick any loose edges with a wallpaper repair adhesive and let it dry.
- Fill and smooth. Fill small dents and tears, then sand very lightly once dry. Go gently: you are smoothing the repair, not the paper.
- Clean the wall. Wipe down with a mild sugar soap solution and a well-wrung cloth to remove dust and grease, without soaking the paper.
- Prime. For unpainted lining paper, Farrow & Ball's guidance is one coat of their Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat, diluted with up to 10% water, in the tone that matches your topcoat. Over printed or previously painted paper, a primer helps seal the surface and stop the old pattern showing through. Our primers and undercoats page lists the options.
- Two topcoats. Apply two thin, even coats of emulsion, letting the first dry fully before the second. Thin coats put less water into the paper than one heavy one.
Which paint to use
A good-quality matt emulsion suits papered walls, and its low sheen is kind to the slight unevenness of joins. Little Greene's Absolute Matt Emulsion, Farrow & Ball's Estate Emulsion and Paint & Paper Library's Pure Flat Emulsion all give a soft, chalky look. In a hallway or family room, a washable matt such as Intelligent Matt Emulsion is more practical. Avoid higher-sheen finishes on paper: they highlight every seam.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Stiffkey Blue (281)
The alternative: strip it, or paper again
If your paper fails the tests above, stripping it is the honest answer. It takes longer, but you will be painting onto plaster again, and the result will last. And if you liked having pattern on the wall, there is no rule that says the replacement has to be paint: our wallpaper collection and guide to hanging wallpaper are good places to start. Pairing one papered wall with painted walls, as in the room above with Farrow & Ball's Baracé 6604 paper, is a classic approach.
Questions we are often asked
Will paint make my wallpaper bubble?
It can, because water in the paint softens the paste. Testing a small area first, and applying thin coats, reduces the risk.
Can I paint over woodchip?
You can, as it was usually intended to be painted, but the texture will stay. If you want smooth walls, it needs to come off.
Is it harder to strip paper once it has been painted?
It can be, as paint makes the paper less porous and slows down soaking or steaming. Bear that in mind if you think you may want plain plaster later.
