Can wallpaper be painted and how to do it?

Wallpaper is the most common material for wall decoration. The modern look of wallpaper for painting has become a real boon for apartment owners. Such wallpaper can be coated with paint, and more than once. All this allows you to change the color atmosphere of the room, and at the same time significantly save financially.

Today there are several types of wallpaper, of which only vinyl and non-woven wallpapers are suitable for coloring.

If the second option is suitable for all types of staining, then some questions may arise with the first type. Such wallpaper is a material of two layers: paper or non-woven (wallpaper base) and PVC film (top layer).

It is customary to distinguish three main types of vinyl wallpaper:

• Foamed. Such wallpapers have a denser top layer, they are more resistant to dyes.
• Flat. Such wallpapers are distinguished by a thin top layer, which may contain other matter (for example, silk fibers). They are produced using the hot stamping technique, are a good decorative material and do not need additional changes in the form of dyeing.
• Thick or moisture resistant. This type has a denser PVC film, which allows it to withstand wet cleaning of the surface. Due to these qualities, the paint will not be able to get into the middle of the material and harden on the surface.

Wallpaper on a paper basis immediately disappears when choosing for painting. The paper base can swell, and as a result, the wallpaper will deform and peel off. In turn, the non-woven-based material is more resistant to moisture and dyes. The non-woven base will prevent the wallpaper from warping and will allow the paint to spread evenly on the surface.

From the foregoing, it follows that it is possible to paint wallpaper, but only vinyl on a non-woven basis.

Such wallpapers have the following advantages:

• Durability, which is achieved by the high density of the wallpaper. This makes it difficult to deform and damage the surface.
• High moisture resistance. They tolerate wet cleaning well.
• Resistant to sunlight. This fact allows you to keep the color for a long time and not fade.
• Wide range of. You can find wallpapers with both smooth and embossed surfaces. Types with different patterns and in different colors.
• Adheres well to any surface. They can even be glued to concrete walls.

This type of material also has a drawback - poor air conductivity. This can adversely affect the walls or ceiling if they are pasted over with such wallpaper without pretreatment from fungi. In general, vinyl wallpaper is a good option for coloring. In this case, some nuances should be taken into account.

The process of painting wallpaper consists of the following stages of work:

• The right choice of painting tool.
• Choosing the right paint.
• Proper wall preparation.

To paint vinyl wallpaper, you will need a roller and brushes, the pile height of which may vary. For monochromatic dyeing, it will be advisable to use a medium-sized roller. It will allow you to paint over a large surface in a short time. Use brushes of different widths and stencils to highlight the surface relief or apply a pattern. They will allow you to more accurately and accurately convey the drawing.

In order to choose a paint, several factors should be considered:

• The coloring matter, first of all, should not be toxic, since the work is carried out indoors.
• For coloring wallpaper, only an aqueous solvent is suitable, which does not violate or deform the structure of the wallpaper.

Based on these factors, the most suitable materials for decoration are:

• water-based paint;
• acrylic paint;
• latex dyes.

Water based paint is best used in a bedroom or children's room, as it produces muted and soft shades. The surface becomes matte, which makes it possible not to leave fingerprints, this is especially important for a child's room. The only drawback of staining with such paint is a further ban on wet cleaning.

Acrylic paint allows surfaces to dry very quickly, on average 4–5 hours. Therefore, it is most often chosen by those who are limited in time to repair. Such paint adheres well, and the surface acquires a soft glossy appearance. Moreover, such a wall can be wiped with a damp cloth.

Latex dyes are most commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens and hallways as they can be washed. They also do not absorb dirty, oily stains, which allows them to be easily and quickly wiped off the surface. The walls from such a dye take on a glossy appearance. It is good to apply patterns and drawings with such paint.

And for a lasting and effective result, you need to properly prepare the wall:

• First, you should remove the old wallpaper and cover up the cracks, if any.
• After the work done, it is important to treat the walls with a primer. It allows particles of old paint and concrete not to crumble. Another priming solution allows you to create a special film on the surface of the walls, which increases the adhesion effect. This allows subsequent layers of mortar or vinyl to adhere better and more firmly to the surface.
• An important point is the treatment of the wall with a special solution from mold and mildew. After all the subtleties and nuances have been taken into account, you can proceed directly to the very process of painting the wallpaper.

The process of painting wallpaper can be approached in a traditional and alternative way.

In this regard, the following options are highlighted:

• Painting the outside of the wallpaper.
• Repainting old wallpaper.
• Staining the seamy side.
• Combined staining method.

To begin with, the wallpaper is pasted on the wall. For this, it is best to use glue for heavy materials or special for non-woven wallpaper.

After the walls are "dressed", it is necessary to let them dry thoroughly (1-2 days). Then the surface of the material is degreased, dirt and dust are removed. Only then can you start painting the surface, which is best done with a roller.

It will not be difficult to repaint old vinyl wallpaper, you just need to clean the surface of dust and degrease it. This can be done with regular soapy water. A rag should be soaked in such a solution and the walls should be wiped thoroughly. After the walls are dry, you can start changing the color. This method does not differ from traditional surface painting.

Better to use a more saturated color and try to play on the contrast of the gloss of the surface. If the walls were originally matte, then during repainting it is better to create a gloss on the surface with the help of a denser paint.

Back dyeing is a modern way to change color.For this, the non-woven base is stained. Before pasting the walls, the seamy side should be covered with the desired paint and allowed to dry. Then you can stick them on the wall.

Then you can leave the wall in this state and after a while the color will appear. Or you can apply paint to the outer surface and, without allowing it to dry, wipe it off with a damp cloth or draw a drawing. This method will allow you to get an unusual and three-dimensional effect on the wall.

The combined staining method is the most laborious, but the result is effective and impressive. To do this, embossed wallpaper or material with a pattern is covered with paint, and then the details of the relief or pattern are painted with a thin brush.

For this method, it is best to take contrasting colors and type of paint. If the base paint has a matte effect, then it is better to draw the patterns with glossy paint.

Coloring wallpaper is not unusual today. Rather, it is a standard procedure for changing interior décor. All the nuances must be taken into account only for the desired and lasting result.

You can learn how to paint the wallpaper correctly from the following video.