The short answer
You can paint over wallpaper if it's firmly stuck down, smooth, and designed to be painted – such as lining paper or woodchip. It's not a good idea over vinyl, textured, patterned or loose wallpaper, or in kitchens and bathrooms where moisture can make the paper lift.
Most professional decorators prefer to strip wallpaper before painting. It takes longer up front, but the result looks better and lasts longer.
When painting over wallpaper can work
These situations are usually fine:
- Lining paper that's well stuck and has been painted before
- Woodchip or other paintable papers in good condition
- Plain, matt papers with no loose seams or bubbles
- Walls where the plaster underneath is known to be in poor condition and stripping would cause damage
When you shouldn't
Avoid painting over wallpaper in these cases:
- Vinyl and washable papers – paint struggles to stick to them
- Loose seams, bubbles or peeling edges
- Bold patterns or dark colours that may show through
- Kitchens and bathrooms, where moisture can cause the paper to lift
- Multiple layers of old paper
Rather leave it to a professional?
How to paint over wallpaper properly
If you decide to go ahead, preparation is key. Clean the paper gently, stick down any loose seams with border adhesive, and lightly sand any lumps. Apply a primer – usually an oil-based or shellac-based primer – to seal the paper and prevent the pattern or adhesive from bleeding through. Then apply two coats of emulsion.
Expect it to look like painted wallpaper. Seams may still be visible, especially in raking light.
Why decorators prefer to strip
Stripping wallpaper reveals the condition of the walls, so any cracks can be filled and the surface made good. It also avoids future problems if the paper later peels. And once a wall has been painted over paper, removing the paper later becomes much harder – the paint acts as a barrier to steam and water.
Costs
Stripping wallpaper typically adds £3–£8 per m² to a decorating job, more if there are multiple layers or the paper has been painted. If the plaster underneath is damaged, a decorator may recommend lining the walls or a skim coat. Painting over wallpaper avoids the stripping cost but may need extra priming.
Our guide to whether to wallpaper or paint may also help, and you can get quotes from local decorators.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Stripping wallpaper | £3 – £8 per m² |
| Stripping painted or multi-layer paper | £6 – £12 per m² |
| Lining a room with lining paper | £150 – £400 per room |
| Priming over wallpaper | £2 – £4 per m² |
Indicative costs (2026)
