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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.

While you could conceivably select any paint finish, paintable wallpaper tends to look its best with a flat or eggshell finish. A higher gloss paint might make the texture pop more, but it can look a bit dated once the paint has dried. And don’t worry about whether a water-based latex paint will loosen the wallpaper. Paintable wallpaper has a coating that prevents this from happening, so using latex paints without applying an oil-based primer to seal things first is fine.

How long peel-and-stick wallpaper lasts depends on a few factors, including the conditions in the room, the quality of the wallpaper, and the wallpaper's application. As a general rule, peel-and-stick wallpaper can last for at least five years, but you may decide to remove it sooner. Under ideal conditions, it can also last for much longer.

Factors that may shorten the lifespan of peel-and-stick wallpaper include high humidity in a room (such as a bathroom), dirty walls, and low-quality paper.

It’s best to remove wallpaper rather than paint over it. You should only paint over wallpaper if removing it would damage the wall, the surface is relatively smooth, or there are minimal problem areas—such as slight peeling and lifted seams—that you can fix easily. Painting over wallpaper can save time, but it can create more problems if the wallpaper is in poor condition and you don’t properly prep the area for painting. Depending on the state of the wallpaper, color, and textures could show through, and moisture from the paint could loosen the adhesive, causing unsightly bubbling.