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While it is possible to paint over wallpaper, it’s not always ideal. If the wallpaper is firmly adhered, has no bubbling or peeling, and isn’t textured, you can try to prime and paint over it. Use an oil-based primer to prevent the adhesive from bleeding through. However, if the paper is damaged or loose, removal is the better long-term solution.

We don’t recommend wallpapering over older paper. That’s because creating layers of glue can invite bubbling or excess moisture on the wall’s surface. You should also prime your wall before applying wallpaper and smooth the wall as much as you can, and another layer of wallpaper complicates this process.

While peel-and-stick wallpapers require no time to cure, the adhesives for other types of papers will take a day or two to dry and up to three weeks to fully cure. The differences are the type of paper, the type of adhesive, and the humidity and temperature in the space. 

You can paint over existing wallpaper if you select wallpaper that is designed to be paintable. This type of paper is meant to add texture to walls. Alternatively, if you have old wallpaper you’d like to cover up, you can often paint over that instead of removing it. However, it needs to be smooth, damage-free, and non-textured. Otherwise, any bumps, tears, and texture will show through the paint.