Paint over wallpaper instead of scraping it off

Be Jane is a new monthly home-improvement feature in digs. It's adapted from www.BeJane.com, the online community created by Heidi Baker and Eden Jarrin to inspire women to tackle home-improvement projects.

Have you been living with wallpaper you've hated for years and you're finally ready to do something about it? Good for you!

While the idea of removing wallpaper sounds awful, here's the great news: You may not need to remove it at all. Painting over wallpaper is possible. It's actually the ideal solution for wallpaper applied to plaster walls or over unprimed drywall.

Keys to a beautiful outcome

• A surface that is smooth and in good condition.

• Wallpaper that is securely attached to the wall with seams together and firmly adhered.

• A wall covered with nonvinyl wallpaper.

Before you start

• First, paint a test patch that is at least 6 inches by 6 inches. Don't skip this step! If the wallpaper starts to pull away from the wall, you'll probably need to remove the wallpaper; painting it would not be successful. But if the wallpaper dries smooth, then get started.

• Compile or buy the items on the supply list.

Here's how

1. Begin by wiping down walls thoroughly with a damp sponge. The goal here is to remove any dust, grime or unseen wallpaper paste that may prevent paint from adhering. Wait until the walls are dry before continuing.

2. To be safe, consider turning off the power that feeds the area you're working in at the circuit breaker panel. Check all of the switches and plugs to be certain the power is off; many rooms have more than one circuit breaker.

Supply list


Here's what you'll need to paint over your wallpaper

• Sponge

• Flathead screwdriver

• Rags

• Utility knife

• Spackle

• Fine sandpaper (220 grit)

• Blue painter's tape

• Drop cloths

• Latex or vinyl gloves

• Shellac-based, stain-blocking primer

• Wallpaper adhesive

• Paint

• Rollers

• Brushes

• Paint trays

Be Jane

Jane Tip: If your circuit breakers aren't labeled, plug in a clock radio to be able to hear when the power shuts off. This will make this task much easier.

3. Remove all switch and outlet covers and cover the outlets and the switches with blue painter's tape.

4. Feel the wall for any surface imperfections, and fill in any dents or scratches with spackle using a putty knife. Let dry and lightly sand until smooth. Remove any dust with a damp cloth before continuing.

5. Cover adjacent areas with blue painter's tape to prevent splatter. Place drop cloths on the surrounding floors.

Safety Tip: When purchasing drop cloths, disposable plastic is inexpensive and easy to manipulate but tends to be slippery. We suggest placing a canvas drop cloth on top of it to eliminate this potential hazard.

6. Stir the primer and apply a single coat to your walls. This will help the paint "stick" to the wallpaper.

Jane Tip:When buying your primer, ask the clerk to "tint" the primer with a little of your choice of color. This is especially handy if you're painting in a dark color as it allows for better coverage with fewer coats.

7. Wait 24 hours before painting to guarantee the wallpaper is dry. If it's raining or humid outside, consider waiting another 12 hours.

8. Repair any minor blisters or bubbles that may have formed overnight. Slit them with a utility knife and reattach them to the wall with wallpaper paste. Let dry and wipe off any excess paste with a damp sponge.

9. Once the spot treatment areas are dry, you're ready to paint!

10. Stir the paint and apply your first coat.

11. Once dry, apply a second coat. After a few hours, you can remove your masking tape, but wait at least 24 hours to put on the outlet and light switch covers.

Great job! You did it! Now celebrate by putting on your favorite CD and enjoy your good-as-new room.