Painting Over Wallpaper in London: The Trade View on When to Do It and When to Strip

The Question Decorators Get Asked Every Week

In London properties — particularly Victorian and Edwardian houses and mansion block flats — wallpaper is the norm rather than the exception. Layer upon layer of it, in many cases: three, five, eight coats of paper applied over decades by successive occupants. When a client wants to redecorate, the question is almost always the same: can we just paint over it?

The honest trade answer is: sometimes, but rarely without risk, and in most London properties the correct answer is to strip first.

Why Painting Over Wallpaper Fails

The fundamental problem is adhesion — and more specifically, adhesion of two different systems to each other and to the wall behind. When you apply wet paint to wallpaper, the moisture in the paint activates the old paste beneath the paper. This can cause the paper to bubble, lift at the seams, or detach from the wall entirely, taking the fresh paint with it.

Even if the paper stays down during application, the seams are a persistent problem. Paint does not conceal the seam lines of wallpaper; in many lighting conditions it emphasises them by creating a slight ridge that catches raking light. In higher-sheen finishes — eggshell, satin, or silk — wallpaper seams beneath the paint become visible in a way that looks obviously undercooked.

A further risk in London properties specifically: walls that have been papered over bare plaster for decades may have developed damp or mould problems that are concealed beneath the paper. Stripping reveals these issues so they can be treated; painting over conceals them and allows the problem to worsen.

When Painting Over Wallpaper Is Acceptable

There are circumstances where painting over wallpaper is a reasonable choice:

The paper is sound, thin and well-adhered. If there is only a single layer of good-quality lining paper, the seams are tight and flat, the paper shows no lifting at edges or corners, and the surface is stable, painting over is defensible as a practical solution. Lining paper is specifically designed to be painted over.

The wall behind is in poor condition. Some London properties have plaster that is cracked, uneven or partially failed. A well-adhered paper is in these cases doing useful work holding the surface together. Removing it may result in a wall surface that requires extensive remediation before any decoration is possible.

The client is aware of and accepts the limitations. If a client needs a room decorated quickly, understands that seams may show and that the result is not equivalent to a stripped-and-prepared finish, and accepts that the paper may need to be stripped at a future redecoration, that is their decision to make. The decorator's job is to communicate the risks clearly.

Preparation If You Do Paint Over

If the decision is made to paint over existing wallpaper, preparation is critical:

1. Check adhesion thoroughly — press along all seams and edges. Any lifting section must be re-adhered with overlap adhesive (Solvite or Metylan overlap) and allowed to dry fully before painting
2. Fill seams — apply a thin layer of all-purpose filler or Polyfilla along any seams that are proud, sand flush when dry. This is imperfect but reduces the ridging effect
3. Apply a solvent-based or oil-based primer first — water-based primers deliver more moisture to the paper surface on first application and are more likely to cause bubbling. A solvent-borne primer (Zinsser BIN shellac-based, or an oil-based undercoat) applies moisture far more slowly and gives the paper paste less opportunity to activate. Apply this thinly and allow to dry fully
4. Apply topcoats in water-based products as normal — once the primer has sealed the surface, subsequent water-based topcoats present a much lower risk of paper disturbance

The Case for Stripping

In the vast majority of London properties where walls are to be painted, stripping is the right call. The process is straightforward:

• Score the paper with a scarifier tool (do not use a coarse Zinsser scorer — it damages the plaster surface beneath)
• Apply warm water mixed with a small amount of fabric conditioner or a proprietary stripping solution such as Polycell Maximum Strength Wallpaper Remover, using a sponge or garden sprayer
• Allow to soak for 5–10 minutes, then peel and scrape
• Remove all paste residue from the wall surface — residual paste is invisible when dry but will cause adhesion failure in the new paint
• Allow the wall to dry thoroughly before any decoration begins

The result is a wall surface that can be filled, sanded, primed and finished to a standard that painting over wallpaper will never match.

For professional wallpaper removal and decoration in London, contact us here to arrange a survey, or request a free quote and we will advise on the most practical approach for your property.