Wallpaper Primer Paint

To apply wallpaper primer, you'll need many of the same tools you'd use to apply wallpaper: sandpaper, a paint tray and liners, a paint roller with covers, a paintbrush, a putty knife, a screwdriver, and clean rags. You'll also need wallpaper primer and drywall compound or spackle.

Remove obstructions

Unscrew all wall plates, outlet covers, lights, and any other obstruction on the wall.

Sand bumps and fill gaps

Rub your hand on the wall to feel for bumps or use a straight edge. Lightly sand down bumps with fine grit sandpaper. Fill gaps with drywall compound or spackle.

Clean surface

Wipe down the walls with a damp cloth. The cloth should be wrung out as much as possible. Afterward, open windows or turn on a fan to dry the walls.

Cut in corners

Open the can and soak the end of the brush in the wallpaper primer. With the brush, cut in the corners with the wallpaper primer.

Roll on wallpaper primer

Pour wallpaper primer into a lined paint tray. Soak the roller cover in the product, then roll it out on the paint tray before applying to the wall. Apply one thin coat to the wall, making sure to meet up with all cut-in sections and not leaving any gaps.

Wait before wallpapering

Wallpaper primer dries to the touch in 30 minutes, but allow a full 24 hours of curing time before applying the wallpaper.

Clean the walls 

The first thing you’ll need to do is give the wallpaper a wipe with a damp cloth. ‘If there's dirt or dust in the wallpaper the paint won't stick properly and will peel off later,’ says interior designer and professional painter Tony Adams of DIY Geeks. He recommends using a diluted solution of TSP, particularly if the walls are greasy, but a mild detergent solution works well, too. Be sure to let the walls dry thoroughly. 

Ensure an even surface 

The cleaning process is a good opportunity to locate any uneven surfaces and make any necessary repairs.

Check for cracks, screw holes, seams and imperfections and use filler where needed. Where there have been repairs, sand them down smooth so that the area looks seamless when painted,’ says Ruth. 

If wallpaper is peeling or coming away at the edges, use adhesive to seal them down. Don’t be tempted to just paint over problem areas – it’ll only result in problems further down the line and potentially costly repairs. 

Cover the seams 

If the wallpaper has overlapping seams, peel them off with a putty knife, then fill the gaps with a joint compound. Allow it to dry, then sand again to create a smooth surface,’ says Jan Walter, founder of Gocolourize .

Use a primer 

Next, apply a primer to the walls. This ensures a smooth, white finish which is much easier to paint on to and results in a better quality finish. An oil-based primer is the best way to go. ‘A water-based one will soak into the wallpaper and weaken the glue,’ says Tony. This can result in the paper bubbling or coming away from the wall, neither of which is ideal. 

If you’re hiding a particularly colored or patterned print, consider painting over the primer again with a white matte emulsion.  

Apply at least two coats of paint  

When the primer is completely dry, apply the top coat. The process is the same as when painting a wall; start in the corner and paint in horizontal bands from top to bottom. 

When it comes to the must-have tools, a firm favorite amongst consumers is to use a roller for painting walls and a 2 in brush for cutting in around the edges. 

What kind of paint do you use to paint over wallpaper?

If you’ve covered your wallpaper with an oil-based primer, you can use any type of paint over the top – good quality paints are preferable. Never use a water-based primer as it can cause the wallpaper to bubble or become loose over time.