How to Prepare Papered Walls for Painting

Many homeowners look at the tired, old wallpaper that's been hanging on the walls for a decade or more and long for a makeover. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to dramatically alter the look of a room is by painting the walls. Painting alone is a time-consuming task, but when faced with the thought of stripping the wallpaper in addition to painting, some people will just continue facing those drab walls. Instead of settling for dull, you can paint directly onto papered walls after a minimal amount of preparation.

Things You'll Need

• Wallpaper glue
• Spackling paste
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Microfiber cloth
• Interior primer

Instructions

1. Check every square inch of wallpaper for loose pieces and glue them back to the wall with wallpaper glue.

2. Search the wall for dents and other imperfections on the surface of the wallpaper. Depending on the lighting quality in the room, you may need to use a shop light for good illumination.

3. Fill holes and dents with spackling paste and allow the paste to dry completely.

4. Sand the repaired areas with fine-grit sandpaper until they are flush with the remainder of the wall and smooth to the touch.

5. Wipe the repaired areas with a microfiber cloth to remove sanding dust.

6. Prime the walls with a good-quality interior primer. Oil- and shellac-based primers work well to prevent wallpaper color from bleeding through.

Tips & Warnings

• If the wallpaper is peeling in many places, it may need to be removed before painting.

• Vinyl wallpaper will not usually hold paint well and should be removed before painting.

References

• Danny Lipford: How to Paint Over Wallpaper