The Best - and Easiest - Ways to Remove Wallpaper

Perhaps you just purchased an older house with wallpaper you hate. Or maybe you have a room you've long loved for the floral print border you installed years ago - but the print is faded, the room is in need of an update. 

These and similar situations call for the need to learn the best and easiest ways to remove wallpaper and ready your walls for a remodel.     

You could simply paint your walls once you've removed the old paper. But wallpaper is in style once more, so you might want to explore today's options, which differ from those of earlier years, like removable wallpaper choices in intriguing colors and "biophilia-based" patterns, inspired by nature, to create harmonious interior spaces.

Though the following tips will help you remove wallpaper with relative ease,  if you apply this specially designed wallcovering, you can redecorate with even less effort next time. Hanging fresh wallpaper is one way to refresh your home and keep it looking new. Nearly all of today's wallpapers offered for sale are washable. 

Think you need to use a steamer and risk damaging your drywall to get rid of old wallpaper? You'll be glad to know, that's not necessary. Read on to learn today's best and easiest way to remove wallpaper and create a blank canvas for an exciting room redesign.    

The Best way to Remove Wallpaper

Any job proceeds more smoothly when proper preparations are taken, a game plan laid out, and dedicated time devoted to the task. The following process can spell success for any wallpaper removal project. 

Prepare First and Be Safe

There's no doubt that removing wallpaper is an ultimately rewarding, but also messy task, which involves wetness, and likely makes a mess.

But it can be completed with relative ease, should you take precautions, like the following tips:

• Commit plenty of time - perhaps a weekend, depending on the size of the room.
• Cover baseboards and floors to protect their surface.
• Turn off the electricity supply to the room.
• Remove the outlet covers.
• Tape off all the outlets.

It may not be the most fun task of a redecorating project, but if you prepare properly and follow the tips, you can do the job yourself, experience a sense of accomplishment, and save money which can be applied instead to include modern, novel concepts in your redecorating project.   

The Three Steps That Make Wallpaper Removal Easily Doable

Before beginning, test the paper first by scraping at a seam edge with a metal - not plastic - putty knife. It's a good idea to file the edges of the putty knife, to make them more rounded to protect the wall surface.

Be fairly gentle so as not to cause damage. If the paper peels off easily, you're in luck. Just keep scraping the seam edges and peeling off the paper.  But if the paper doesn't peel off easily, you'll need to soften the glue that adheres the material to the wall. 

Follow this simple process continuously till the walls are bare:

1. Score the wallpaper with a wallpaper scoring tool.

Roll the tool over small sections of the wallpaper. Small tears will be created. You don't need to press hard. The purpose of this step is to create spaces for the water or wallpaper-stripping solution to penetrate the paper's surface and soften the glue underneath it. 

2. Spray the scored area of the wallpaper with a paper stripper or plain water.

Allow the moisture a few minutes to soak into the glue. Or try a mixture of equal parts fabric softener and hot water. But wear gloves to apply the mixture to avoid burning your fingers.

3. Scrape away the paper.

Use your fingers to try to pull a small area of the paper loose from the wall. If it doesn't come loose, let it absorb the moisture a bit longer. When the perforated portion easily peels off when tested, use the putty knife to help peel off the paper. 

Repeat the three-step process on each section of the paper until all of it has been removed. 

How to Remove the Glue From the Wall

After the paper has been stripped from the wall, the surface may still be sticky with glue. Scrub the wall with hot water mixed with soap - dish liquid works well. Use a washcloth or sponge. It may not be pleasant, but you can not skip this step.  It's essential to remove all of the glue before painting or repapering.

The Challenge of Removing Wallpaper From Really Old Homes

Wallpaper that's been on a wall for many decades can be difficult to remove. The above process can work, but it may require more strength to remove the paper, especially if it was professionally installed. If the walls are plaster instead of drywall, you'll need to take more care to avoid gouging the surface.  

Ready to remodel a space but need to remove the wallpaper first? No worries! You can do it by following this classic three-step process. But if you're not up to the task of removing wallpaper from your kitchen or bath, contact us. Edesia Kitchen and Bath Studio is prepared to transform your meal prep or bathing space.