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So, you’ve just picked up a new investment property in the suburbs, or maybe you’ve finally decided to tackle the spare room in your Federation home that hasn’t been touched since 1985. You walk in, and there it is: wall-to-wall floral wallpaper.

As a professional painter working in Aussie homes for over 15 years, I get asked this question almost every week: “Mate, do I really have to strip this off, or can I just paint over it?”

The short answer is: Yes, you can paint over wallpaper. But-and this is a massive “but”-you have to do it right. If you just slap a coat of standard interior paint over old paper, you’re going to end up with a bubbling mess that looks like a topographic map of the Blue Mountains.

Here is the no-nonsense, trade-approved guide to getting it done properly.

To Paint or Not to Paint? Assessing the Situation

Before you even think about heading to Bunnings or your local paint shop, you need to assess the condition of the current wall covering. Painting over wallpaper is a great time-saver and can save your budget, but it’s not always the right move.

You can paint over it if:

• The wallpaper is adhered tightly to the wall (no loose corners).
• There is no physical damage, mould, or rising damp.
• The paper is flat (not textured), or you don’t mind keeping the texture.

You should strip it if:

• It’s vinyl-coated and peeling away easily.
• There are multiple layers of paper already.
• The texture is heavy, and you want a smooth, modern finish (common in Modern Coastal or Hamptons style renovations).

The “Trade Secret” Prep Work

This is where the DIY jobs usually fall apart. If you treat painting on wallpaper the same as painting on a standard Gyprock wall, you will fail. The glue behind wallpaper is water-soluble. If you hit it with a standard water-based acrylic sealer, that moisture soaks through, softens the glue, and the paper lifts off the wall.

Step 1: Secure the Seams

Check every inch of the wall. If there are loose edges or seams lifting, you need to stick them back down with a strong wallpaper adhesive. Don’t use Blu Tack or super glue; get proper adhesive.

Step 2: The Critical Seal (Oil-Based Only!)

This is the most important paragraph in this article. You must use an oil-based primer-sealer.

In the trade, we often use products like Zinsser BIN or a specific oil-based blocker from Dulux or Wattyl. The oil base “locks” the paper surface without penetrating through to the glue. It creates a hard shell that you can then paint over safely.

Pro Tip: Oil-based primers smell strong. Make sure you’ve got the windows open and good ventilation. It’s sticky stuff, so drop sheets are essential to protect your flooring and skirting boards.

Step 3: Patching and Skimming

Once the oil primer is dry (usually pretty quick), you’ll likely see the seams of the wallpaper. If you want a smooth finish, you need to “flush” these seams. We use a joint compound or filler, running a wide blade over the seams to level them out.

If the wallpaper has a texture you want to hide, this is where we might do a full “skim coat”-applying a thin layer of plaster over the entire wall to mimic the look of fresh Gyprock.

Step 4: Sanding

Give the walls a light sand to smooth out your patching and give the primer a “key” for the topcoat to stick to.

Choosing the Right Paint for Australian Conditions

Once your surface is primed and patched, you can switch back to standard water-based interior paints. In Australia, we are blessed with some top-tier paint technology designed to handle our conditions.

For a project like this, I highly recommend a Low Sheen or Matt finish.

• Matt Finish: Great for hiding imperfections. If you painted over wallpaper and the surface isn’t 100% perfectly smooth, a Matt paint will help disguise the lumps and bumps.
• Low Sheen: The standard for Aussie living rooms and hallways. It’s washable and durable (essential if you have kids or pets running into the walls).

Brands like Dulux Wash&Wear or Haymes Expressions are fantastic choices. If you’re renovating a rental property, Taubmans Endure is also a solid workhorse that takes a beating.

Integrating With Modern Aussie Design Trends

Just because the wall was dated wallpaper doesn’t mean the finish has to look old. Painting over wallpaper is often part of a larger renovation to bring a home into the current decade.

The Hamptons & Coastal Look

If you’re aiming for that breezy, white-on-white Hamptons look that’s massive in Sydney and Melbourne suburbs right now, painting over wallpaper can actually help. If the paper has a slight linen texture, painting it a crisp “Lexicon Quarter” or “Vivid White” can add a subtle, high-end warmth that flat plasterboard lacks.

Federation Restorations

In older homes, stripping wallpaper often results in damaging the fragile horse-hair plaster underneath. Painting over it is a preservation tactic. Deep heritage greens or navy blues (like Dulux “Hagrid” or “Deep Ocean”) look incredible over slightly textured heritage papers.

Beyond the Living Room: Whole Home Considerations

When you are tackling a room with wallpaper, it’s usually a sign that the whole house needs a bit of a refresh. It’s rare to find a house that needs wallpaper painting that doesn’t also need attention elsewhere.

For example, while you have the brushes out, assess your wet areas. There is a big difference between painting over paper in a hallway and painting on wall tiles in a bathroom. Tile painting requires a completely different primer system (usually an epoxy or specific tile laminate paint) because of the high humidity and direct water exposure.

Similarly, check the condition of your ceilings and painting on plastered wall surfaces in the bedrooms. If the wallpaper room is being updated, the contrast with yellowing ceilings in the next room will be obvious.

Don’t forget the exterior, either. In Australia, our harsh sun breaks down exterior surfaces faster than interior ones. If you’re doing a flip or a major renovation, curb appeal is king. A fresh coat on the cladding is vital, but so is the perimeter. A sharp-looking house with a tatty fence is a red flag to buyers. Professional fence painting can frame your newly painted interior perfectly.

Safety Note: If you are renovating an older home (pre-1990), be very careful with exterior structures. We often get asked about painting asbestos fence boundaries. This is not a DIY job. High-pressure cleaning asbestos is illegal and dangerous. Sealing it requires specific protocols to ensure fibres aren’t released.

Why VicPainter?

At VicPainter, we don’t just slap paint on and hope for the best. We understand the chemistry of adhesion. When we tackle a wallpaper project, we test the substrate first. We use premium oil-based sealers that ensure your new paint job doesn’t peel off in six months.

We treat your home like our own. That means protecting your architraves, covering your floors, and leaving the place cleaner than we found it. We know the difference between a quick cover-up and a lasting finish.

Also, if you are looking at the backyard and thinking about safety and aesthetics, we handle more than just walls. From pool fence painting to refreshing your timber deck, we cover the lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to paint over wallpaper compared to stripping it?

Painting over it is generally cheaper because it involves less labour. Stripping wallpaper is labour-intensive; we have to steam, scrape, wash, and then usually skim coat the damaged Gyprock underneath. Painting over it (if the condition is good) saves that stripping time, though the material cost for oil-based primer is slightly higher.

Can I use a 2-in-1 paint and primer on wallpaper?

Absolutely not. Most 2-in-1 paints are water-based acrylics. As mentioned earlier, water reacts with the wallpaper glue. You need a dedicated, stain-blocking oil-based primer first.

Will the seams show through?

If you just paint, yes, the seams will be visible. If you want a seamless look, we need to sand down the ridges of the seams and fill them with a jointing compound before priming. This is part of the VicPainter preparation standard.

Can I paint over vinyl wallpaper?

Vinyl is tricky because it’s non-porous (plastic). Paint slides right off. You need a very specific “adhesion primer” designed for glossy surfaces (like Dulux Precision Maximum Strength). We usually recommend stripping vinyl layers where possible, but if it’s stuck fast, we have the specialized primers to handle it.

Would you like me to assess your wallpapered walls and give you a free quote on whether to paint or strip? Contact us today to get your renovation started the right way.

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