Wallpaper has gone in and out of style over the years. If you find yourself with walls coated in old wallpaper in your newly purchased home, you may be wondering what choices you have. You have most likely heard stories about how difficult wallpaper can be to remove and may think that your only choice is to live with it. However, you actually have several options these days for getting rid or your old, unwanted wallpaper whether you have recently purchased a new-to-you home or want to update your current home before selling it.

Consider your current situation, your desired final outcome and the amount of time and money you have to invest in this project to determine which of the following options will work best for you. In addition, you will find that working with a painting contractor on any of these methods will save you time and make your life simpler.

Take Off the Wallpaper

One of the most time-intensive options for getting rid of unwanted wallpaper is to remove it yourself. However, it is not as simple as it may initially seem. It takes a great deal of time and patience to soften the old adhesive holding the wallpaper to the wall. While many hardware stores sell adhesive removers and some products you already have at home could also work well for removing some types of adhesives, hiring a painting contractor for this will be your easiest solution.

Depending on the size of your project, this job could take anywhere from several hours to several days. Plus, if the wallpaper is stuck on your walls, it will need to be scraped off carefully. During this process, the walls could become nicked and need further repairs. While this is a time-intensive process, complete wallpaper removal is certainly the best option if you are dealing with more than one layer of wallpaper. To save yourself time, work with a painting contractor for the best results for wallpaper removal.

Paint Over the Wallpaper

Although it may seem counterintuitive to paint over your old wallpaper, it can work well and be a far simpler alternative if you only have one or possibly two layers of wallpaper on your walls. However, the wallpaper must be in great shape if you are going to choose this route. There should be no wallpaper pulling away from the walls. Every seam should lie flat and match up tightly to the paper next to it. If necessary, the wallpaper seams should be glued down.

When painting over wallpaper, you will need to apply a minimum of two coats of paint although you may need up to three coats if your wallpaper is particularly dark or has a very busy pattern on it. Interior painters can take care of this for you, ensuring perfect results. However, keep in mind that it may be even more difficult to remove the wallpaper in the future once paint is placed on top of it.

Add Beadboard

A clever way to cover over some or all of your wallpaper is to add beadboard. Beadboard refers to vertically placed wood panels that can be fixed over a plaster wall or drywall. Beadboard comes in many styles, including rustic, farmhouse and modern, and it can be painted or stained to match the look of your home.

If you have only one wall or a very small room that is covered in wallpaper, you could cover the entire space with beadboard. However, many individuals choose to cover only the bottom half of their walls and to add molding to the top of the beadboard for gorgeous wainscoting. This works particularly well in dining rooms where a chair rail would work well to prevent the walls from nicks.

Today’s beadboard is far easier to work with than it was decades ago. It now comes in convenient panels rather than individual, narrow boards. Plus, many types of beadboard can be painted or stained with the help of interior painters.

Install New Wallpaper Over Old Wallpaper

In some cases, covering over your old wallpaper with a more modern wallpaper can work well. It can certainly save time, especially if you are hiring inside house painters to help you. Once again, any loose seams or edges will need to be glued down and will need time to dry before new wallpaper is applied. This will decrease the chance for unwanted bubbles and staining. This method should only be used if you have two or fewer layers of wallpaper on your walls already.

Getting rid of your old wallpaper can be difficult, time-consuming and frustrating when you attack the project on your own. However, working with a painting contractor will save you time and give you incredible, professional-looking results. Whether the job takes only a few hours or lasts for several days, inside house painters will work carefully to create the exact look you want. When you want to modernize your older home, turn to Trusted Painters for results that will blow you away. With over 10 years of experience as a business, we know exactly how to help you achieve your desired look. Our Rockford interior painters are fully licensed and insured. From start to finish, you will enjoy working with friendly customer service professionals and knowledgeable tradesmen. Contact Trusted Painters in Rockford IL, today to get started with a free estimate on your project or to schedule a consultation to discuss paint colors and work schedules.