Create The Right Wallpaper Base

Posted by Deepayan Saha on June 23rd, 2021

Brightening up your living room walls with wallpaper is a great idea. Selecting the prints and patterns can be exciting. But before you plan on a wallpaper it is better to do some research on how you should prepare your wall for the wallpaper.

Study the wall condition
How early can you have wallpaper fitted on your walls depends upon the condition of the wall. Painted drywalls are easy to prepare for wallpapers as a primer coating would be the best base. Walls that are older or have wood paneling or any other surface could require a little more work.

How to prepare them for wallpaper?
Walls that are painted should be given a coating of acrylic primer which creates the right surface for the wallpaper to stick effectively. Painted walls offer a ready surface. Clean the wall with a multi-surface cleaner and let it dry. Then apply a fresh coat of acrylic primer and let that dry completely. While cleaning the wall ensure that all holes, dents, and cracks on the wall are filled, and then apply the primer. Neatly rub the wall with sandpaper before the primer is applied. If the wall is textured, then sandpaper needs to be rubbed rigorously to get an even feel before the wallpaper is fitted on it.

Wallpaper on plastered walls
If it is a new house and the wall has not yet been painted or primed always use an acrylic oil primer and then apply acrylic primer to prepare the base coat. This protects the drywall from mildew and mold growth.

Wallpapering wooden walls
If your living room has walls with wooden paneling, wash walls with a degloss solution. Make sure that the surface is completely even and if there are any cracks or holes fill them up with sand and rub them with sandpaper. Wash the walls and let them dry, then coat with primer.

Wallpaper for old walls
Walls older by 20 to 30 years are generally plastered. Apply a coat of acrylic oil or primer. Follow the same rules for repairing and finally coat with acrylic primer before placing the wallpaper on the walls. Make sure it dries completely.

Wallpaper for wallpapered walls
If your walls already have wallpaper, it is important to strip the earlier paper with wallpaper removing solvent or wallpaper steamer for stubborn papers. Once removed, follow the same steps of filling the damaged areas on the wall and rub thoroughly with the sandpaper. Touching walls with an acrylic primer base is always important and must be applied underneath. Once that dries, stick your new wallpaper on the wall.

Preparing textured walls for wallpapering
If your walls are textured and no amount of sandpaper can even the textured ridges, then you can use lining paper that offers a smoother base. After using the lining paper apply acrylic primer and once dry your living room wallpaper will be ready to shape the walls.



Oil-based primers tend to trap moisture. While selecting your primer, buy breathable primers. Acrylic primers improve adhesion and therefore are a preferred choice as a base to wallpapers. Moisture-trapped walls have an affinity to peel, also moisture can breed mold and mildews. However, most wallpapers nowadays can overcome the challenges of moisture, even in places where the level of humidity is higher. If you can create the right base on the wall, that will take care of both moisture and mold and keep your living room wallpaper safe.