Can I paint over wallpaper?

[Iwantmychairback]

I have just found a big tub of white emulsion in the garage.
My hallway needs re decorating. I don’t want to order new wallpaper at a time like this, so could I paint the existing wallpaper? It’s not anaglypta (so) so probably not meant to be painted over. It’s a shiney white paper with textured ‘paint’ swirls on it. What do you all think? Will it look rubbish?
I don’t want to do it if it will look rubbish as I can’t get out to buy wallpaper, and when the shops are open again I will be back at work so then I won’t have time to re do it.

Why don't you test a small corner at the bottom somewhere, and see how it works out.

I've painted my whole flat over the wallpaper (couple of times now) and it's fine. No idea what anaglypta is though.

We have in our hall and it has lasted fine. We are going to put a further new coat of paint on it during lockdown

I think if the wallpaper is in decent condition , ie no bits torn, or peeling then you might get away with it. But it won't look nearly as good as painting on a properly prepared wall, and might need an extra coat, or two if the paint you have is not top quality. . As someone up thread said do a test section and look at it in different lights.

I think I would use the time to strip off the existing wallpaper and prepare the walls properly, I think in the long run you would get a better finish. I believe anaglypta paper is designed to be painted over so is a different proposition than ordinary wallpaper.

PS if you @ pigletjohn on mumsnet you would get proper advice from an expert.

I think it will look a little naff especially as the wallpaper is textured. Can you order wallpaper online?

Tried a small area.....definitely looks naff, so will wait until I can buy wallpaper again.

Iwantmychair don’t know if this will help but I tried to remove wallpaper from our main bathroom - yes I know, developers put it on 🤔.

However, the plaster started coming away so, as it was in good condition, I stuck it back down and painted over it in Dulux Matt bathroom paint. TBH, I had to do about 6 coats to cover it but it looks great now and you can’t tell at all that there is paper underneath. I just treated it as lining paper!

It will look good eventually but you will need LOTS of coats. Not too bad for a bathroom - as it was half tiled anyway - but a hallway sounds a big job. ☹️

Just thinking ... doesn't the wallpaper have lining paper underneath? If so you may be able to strip the wallpaper and then paint the lining paper without much issue, if it's sound.

I've painted over wallpaper so many times. If the paper is in good nick it'll be fine. Just work slowly and steadily over textured paper.

Yep we painted over the one feature wall in the lounge, tried to take paper off but it was hiding tje sins of the very unflat wall underneath!. It took 4 coats but looks good now