Can You Paint Under Wallpaper. While its usually better to remove your paper before painting there are some cases where painting over wallpaper may actually be beneficial. Painting over the wallpaper may be the better option under these circumstances.
You cannot paint right over it because weeks later as the paint cures it will start to crack and peel. After all weve all heard horror stories about wallpaper removal ranging from drywall that crumbled as the paper was removed to homeowners who peeled away dozens of layers of paper only to find more underneath. Once the paper is on the wall it may shrink slightly.
First and most importantly the drywall or plaster walls under the paper will remain intact.
When the wallpaper adhesive comes into contact with latex paint there is a real chance the integrity of the paint will degrade becoming soft mushy or rubbery. Once the paper is on the wall it may shrink slightly. Although it is as simple as painting a wall in theory wed recommend covering a few extra steps to make sure the finish is optimal and avoid any surprises down the line. If a wall has been painted a primer can make it so the wallpaper is less likely to roll or have issues.