Can you wallpaper over wallpaper? Sometimes, but usually it is not a good idea. It depends on what is on the wall now and how well it is stuck down. Over smooth non-woven wallpaper that is firmly stuck it can occasionally work. Over paper, vinyl, textured or painted-over wallpaper, it cannot. Below we go through each type of surface: what you can do, how to test whether the old wallpaper is still firmly attached, and how to strip it when you need to.
Why the old wallpaper usually has to come off
New wallpaper is only as strong as the layer underneath it. The paste bonds to the old wallpaper, and the old wallpaper is held to the wall by paste from years ago. If that layer lets go anywhere, your new wallpaper comes with it. In practice, three things go wrong:
- Bubbling and lifting. Fresh paste is wet. An old layer that absorbs moisture, such as paper wallpaper, softens and comes away from the wall in places. They show up as bumps that never go down.
- Seams showing through. Seams, edges and texture from the old wallpaper show through the new layer, especially when light rakes across the wall.
- Pattern showing through. A dark or busy design underneath can show through a light new design.
On top of that, next time you will have to strip two layers at once. Skip the stripping now and you will be doing it twice over later.
Surface by surface: can it be done?
Over old non-woven wallpaper
This is the only case where it can work, and only if everything is right: the old wallpaper is stuck down everywhere, including in the corners and along the seams, it is smooth with no texture, and it is light in colour. Even so, stripping it is almost always the better option here, because it takes so little effort. Non-woven wallpaper peels off the wall dry, in whole drops. That is one of the reasons it is so popular.
Over paper wallpaper
Do not do it. Paper absorbs the moisture from the new paste, swells and lets go. Even if it seems firmly stuck now, you will have bubbles within a few days. Paper wallpaper has to come off: soak it with warm water or use a wallpaper steamer, leave it to soak in briefly and lift it with a scraper.
Over vinyl wallpaper
Paste does not bond well to the smooth plastic top layer. Vinyl wallpaper is usually made of two layers, so first peel the vinyl top layer off dry. The paper backing often stays behind. If it is stuck down everywhere, you can use it as your base; if it is loose or damaged, soak that off the wall as well.
Over painted-over wallpaper
A wall where wallpaper has been painted over looks like a smooth wall, but it is not. The paint keeps water out, so the wallpaper underneath is hard to soak, and you cannot tell how well it is still attached. Our advice: take it off. First score the paint with a perforating roller so that water and steam can get through, then steam it off.
Over textured or relief wallpaper
Do not do it. Every bit of relief shows through a new layer, and with a large printed design you will see it immediately. Strip it and get the wall flat.
How to test whether the old wallpaper is firmly attached
If you are unsure about old non-woven wallpaper, go over the wall before you decide:
- Run a flat hand over the whole wall. If you feel a hollow spot or a bump anywhere, it is loose there.
- Check along the seams, in the corners and above the skirting board. That is where wallpaper lets go first.
- In a corner that will end up behind a cabinet, lift an edge and pull. If it comes away easily and in one piece, stripping is the quickest route.
- Hold a lamp at a low angle along the wall. If you can see seams or texture, you will see them through your new wallpaper later too.
Stripping old non-woven wallpaper
- Switch off the power and remove the cover plates from sockets and switches.
- Lift a corner at the top of a drop with a scraper.
- Pull the drop slowly downwards at an angle, keeping it close to the wall.
- If a drop comes away in pieces or leaves a thin layer behind, wet that layer and lift it off.
- Wash off paste residue with warm water and a sponge and let the wall dry thoroughly.
Preparing the wall for new wallpaper
Once the paper is off, the wall is bare, and that is the moment to get it right. Fill holes and cracks, sand them flat and dust the wall down. A very absorbent wall, such as fresh plaster or a wall that has just been stripped, needs a coat of primer first. The surface should be clean, dry and smooth. Then hang your new non-woven wallpaper as described in our step-by-step guide to hanging non-woven wallpaper.
Why a good surface matters even more with our wallpaper
Our wallpaper is printed on non-woven wallpaper, in 50 cm drops that you hang butted up against each other. Most designs have a large, continuous motif. That looks great on a flat wall, but it also shows everything underneath: a seam from the old layer, a bump, a dark patch. The lighter the design, the more that matters. A calm, light design such as Boho Love Natural, with large sand-coloured circles, or Go With The Flow Natural needs an even, light wall.
If you are not sure whether a design will hide what is underneath, order a sample first and hold it against the wall. A small sample of 12.5 × 18 cm costs €2.50 and, ordered before 4pm, arrives within 1 to 3 working days. You order the wallpaper itself by the roll or made to measure. For most designs one roll covers a wall of 200 × 280 cm; made to measure it costs €29 per m², with the width rounded up to whole drops. It is printed after you order; allow 2 to 8 working days for delivery in the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hang non-woven wallpaper over non-woven wallpaper?
Only if the old non-woven wallpaper is stuck down everywhere, smooth and light in colour. Because non-woven wallpaper peels off the wall dry, stripping it is almost always the better and quicker option.
Can non-woven wallpaper go over paper wallpaper?
No. Paper wallpaper absorbs the moisture from the new paste, softens and lets go. Strip it first with warm water or a wallpaper steamer.
Can you wallpaper over wallpaper that has been painted?
We would advise against it. You cannot tell how well the wallpaper under the paint is still attached. Perforate the paint, steam the wallpaper off and start on a bare wall.
Do I need to prime the wall after stripping?
If the wall is very absorbent, yes. A primer stops the paste soaking into the wall too quickly, so you can still slide the drops into place.
Getting started
Is your wall ready? Then browse all our wallpaper, or choose a calm style such as Japandi or Scandinavian. How to hang it afterwards is explained step by step in hanging non-woven wallpaper.
Wall ready? Choose your new wallpaper
All our wallpaper is non-woven: the paste goes on the wall, and later you peel it off dry. By the roll or made to measure for your wall.
