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To Paint or Not To Paint. That is the Question.

By Charissa Robinett

Home Stager with INTERIORS by Charissa LLC

June 17, 2007 02:36 PM

One of the things that drives me crazy about Sell This House on A&E is the way they paint over wallpaper instead of removing it. I always thought this was a big no-no. I'd be curious to know how you experienced stagers feel about this. Is this something I'm going to have to come to terms with in the world of staging? If you do suggest painting over wallpaper, how do your clients react and what tactics do you have for convincing them? If you don't have time to write a lengthy response, but would like to chime in, just respond "Paint" or "Don't Paint". Thanks in advance for your expert advice on this.

Charissa Robinett, Student ASID & IIDA
INTERIORS by Charissa - Joplin, MO

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Cari Pilon

RE:STYLE Home Staging - Brighton, MI

RE:STYLE Home Staging

Don't Paint!

Remove it with warm water (has to be warm) and fabric softener - melt the glue like butter!

Jun 17, 2007 03:17 PM

Charissa Robinett

INTERIORS by Charissa LLC - Joplin, MO

I actually invested in a wallpaper steamer. It's really not that hard and gets easier with experience. :-)

Jun 17, 2007 03:19 PM

Tom Burris

NMLS# 335055 - Baton Rouge, LA

Texas/Louisiana Mortgage Pro - 13 YRS Experience

Don't paint.

Although, the buyer wont know you did it for a couple of yrs when it flakes off

Jun 17, 2007 03:45 PM

Jeannette Neerpat

CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL

e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

No don't paint. I agree with everyone else.

Jun 17, 2007 03:57 PM

Julianna Hind

eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA

REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA

Do they do that on "Sell this House?" EEK! The paper needs to come down. The wallpaper seams can be seen when they are painted, and the buyer will worry about what comes next. It is better to use warm water and a little fabric softener like Cari says and get it off the wall.

Jun 17, 2007 03:57 PM

Cynthia Pagiatakis

Initial Impressions - Warren, ME

I think wallpaper should be banned, period.

Jun 17, 2007 04:01 PM

KRISTINE CROWE

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE - Dundalk, MD

I say don't paint over it. I've seen them do both on the show, sometimes they take it off and sometimes they don't. I guess it just depends on how difficult the task is.

Jun 17, 2007 10:07 PM

Nicola Lindsay

Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging - Saint Stephen, NB

CRSS

I grew up on the words, "If a job is worth doing , do it well"..Don't paint ...Remember they know who staged it and its your name ruined in the long run.

Jun 17, 2007 11:48 PM

Becca Briggs

Rochester, NY

Don't Paint. I have 20 yrs of painting over wall paper - what a nite mare! I would think that it would send up a red flag to buyer - what else have they cut corners on!

Jun 18, 2007 01:03 AM

Anthea Click

Fresh Perspectives - www.InsideNashvilleHomes.com - Franklin, TN

Nashville Home Stager - Selling Nashville, TN homes quickly!

Don't paint. I want to be known as doing a quality job, not just a cheap, quick fix.

Jun 18, 2007 07:15 AM

Maureen Graziano

Third Eye Home Staging - West Islip, NY

Hi all - I guess I am alone in this, but, when staging a home to sell, I say sometimes it is necessary to paint over the wallpaper. These days there are some paints that are designed for this job. Also, when wallpaper is removed it can be a "sticky situation". (no pun intended). For example, in older homes, when you rip off the paper, sometimes you will discover that is only the 1st layer. Sometimes there are 2 or 3 different wallpapers and they the wall underneath may need spackling, etc.

So for the above reasons, I think for staging to sell, it can be a good idea to paint over the existing wallpaper. After all, the new homeowner will want to paint anyway. As for painting over wallpaper in staging to dwell, definitely not! When you will be living in the home, it is worth the effort to do the job right!!!

Jun 20, 2007 12:55 AM

Karen Reynolds

Champagne Staging, LLC - Wake Forest, NC

I bid a house today that they are planning to paint over the wallpaper. The painter they have apparently specializes in this, and he guarantees you wont see the seams. Its a kinda old house so removing the paper would take have the drywall with it :( I cant wait to see what happens!

Jun 20, 2007 01:34 PM

Lori Hakeem Oxley

Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc. - Tampa, FL

I agree, don't paint over wallpaper. Have them take off the wallpaper and do it right...when I see these shortcuts, I wonder what else the owner has not done right.

Jun 21, 2007 03:53 AM

Christine Craig

Designology Interior Design - Santa Barbara, CA

Allied ASID & NKBA

NEVER paint over wallpaper. Yes it's a short term fix but in the long term it makes it a million times harder to get off. Painting seeps through paper and deteriorates it as well as mess with the glue and can oddly enough make it stick even more or come off and in many cases it does both so that then you want to take it down, you almost can't.

Can you tell this is one of my pet peeves.

Jun 21, 2007 04:35 PM

Charissa Robinett

INTERIORS by Charissa LLC - Joplin, MO

Well, it is one of my pet peeves too. I just wanted to make sure that professional home stagers like you all felt the same way. It sounds like the majority would not paint over wall paper, but there are a few that like, Tanya Memme of Sell This House, opt to do it for a variety of reasons. I thought it was funny because the last time I saw them do it on the show, they were kind of making excuses for it, probably for people like us who are adamantly against it. I'm glad to know I'm not alone!

Jun 22, 2007 04:06 AM

Susan Smith

Rooms That Work LLC - Sandy Hook, CT

Friends don't let friends paint over wall paper! In fact, friends don't let friends put up wall paper in the first place! The last house I lived in had wall paper everywhere...luckily not paint over it, but I did find they did wall paper over wall paper in one of the rooms. We finally got it all down, however, and it made a HUGE difference.

Susan

Jun 22, 2007 04:30 AM

Christine Craig

Designology Interior Design - Santa Barbara, CA

Allied ASID & NKBA

I think I am in the minority of people who actually doesn't mind wallpaper....well I like grass cloth and seagrass and textures...not a fan of prints.

Jun 22, 2007 04:47 AM

Charissa Robinett

INTERIORS by Charissa LLC - Joplin, MO

Christine, I'm with you. I don't mind all wallpaper. Most of it is hideous and you have to be careful not to overdo it, but it can do alot for highlighting architectural features and can help set the tone for the theme of the room. I agree wholeheartedly that wallpaper in a staged home is a bad idea, but I'm not anti-wallpaper for decorating a home. Not everyone likes the same things, but as long as the homeowners like it and understand that they should take it down when they try to sell their house, I would be glad to assist them in selecting a quality, non-cheesy wallpaper pattern.

Jun 22, 2007 06:28 AM

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

I like some wallpapers & borders also, I just don't want to paint over for a staging.

Howerer, we have done a wallpaper over paneling after filling in the all the cracks with spackle. The wallcovering is very thick and made to be painted. It wasn't my first choice but it did look good and with all the spackling it should be a long term fix.

Jun 22, 2007 08:21 AM

Cynthia Pagiatakis

Initial Impressions - Warren, ME

We have a situation here ... at 75% completion of staging, the hall paper started to be removed and YEEGADS! No one had primed or painted the sheetrock before papering!~ Now the problem is that total removal of wallpaper will also remove paper coating from sheetrock. I hate the idea of painting over wallpaper (although the resort I work at just painted over lots of paper, and due to the wonderful prep, no seams show anywhere!) ... but hate the idea of wall prep after sheetrock paper removed in spots.
Now what?

Jun 24, 2007 12:49 AM

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