I Hate My Wallpaper?

I don't see why you can't paint over the wall paper. If it's old and kind of beat up you may have to do some sponge painting or something like that. Maybe you could even get some kind of paneling or beadboard or wainscoting that goes over the wall paper. My mother-in-law has a red (almost cranberry) kitchen, but it's her walls that are red. She replaced her countertops with a nice pale yellow, almost butter-like colored top. It matched nicely with the red walls. With RED, I would definitely try to tone down the rest of the room with a light color. Go to the store and get a bunch of paint chips and put them up on the wall for a few days and see what you like. I definitely would not go with green anymore. That's just my opinion.

It sounds interesting. I would take down the wallpaper, and just paint it white. The white will brighten the room up and make it feel larger. You can find instructions on the web for removing old wallpaper.

LEONA LABINE

December 19, 20060 found this helpful

I would remove the wallpaper.
But if you do want to paint over it, make sure that you use an oil base primer and paint.
The latex paint is water based and will lift the edges of the wallpaper (yes I am talking from
experience LOL)

If you take a picture of your kitchen to Home Depot they can load it on a computer and they can show you what your kitchen would look like in different colors.

Good luck and never be afraid to try anything once, it's only paint and can always be changed.

would it be possible to paint the counter instead?

if not i would paint the walls a cream colour which would make the kitchen look very retro vintage 1950s style which is a great look and would add a few touches in very dark green as accents such as tea towels even a eggy yellow works with these colours i know because i have just put in a new kitchen inexactly these shades red, dark green, cream and buttermilk yellow my whole kitchen looks french provincial and i have accessorised with wicker baskets and red check teatowels etc

good luck

Connie Vowles

December 20, 20060 found this helpful

You can paint over wallpaper but you must prime it first. You can then use latex paint. I've done it with no problems. I used " Fresh Start" primer. It is a high adhesion primer. It lasted for 10 years until we redecorated again. We then took it off and put up wainscoting. If you take off the wallpaper first make sure the walls are very well cleaned before painting or the paint will not stick well. Good luck.

depending of course on the actual shade of red - Tan goes real good with several shades of red. I would try to steer clear of the "pink" based colors though, try a tan type color with a yellow base.

Debbie Dzurilla
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 696 Feedbacks

December 20, 20060 found this helpful

I would take down the wallpaper....or see if you can possibly hire it done as it is sort of a pain in the you know what to do. I then would probably paint the walls white. A red and white kitchen is pretty and very cheery. You might want to find a border for at the top of the wall. When my husband and I were first married, we had white old-timey metal cabinets, white appliances and a red counter-top. We painted the walls white and I had red and white curtains and accessories.

Also, royal blue goes with red....you might even consider a patriotic theme.

Thank you for all your replies! The wallpaper is on really tight. Not a loose piece anywhere! So I just might take the one suggestion and prime it because my kitchen is HUGE and to take down all the wallpaper I'd need the Home Makeover crew! lol!

Have tomato red counter tops, oak cabinets, oak pergo floors, oak wainscoting, white appliances in my kitchen. Painted the walls white, and sponge painted the walls with red matching the counters, leaving ceiling white. Use blue, red check towels, red or blue rug, have red, white blue pots and pans.

Prime the wallpaper with a high adhesion primer, and then use the type of paint that goes with the primer. Hint: use a tinted primer, especially if you decide to paint with a light color. Your paint person at the home/hardware/paint store can advise you. I get the most expert advice at a Sherwin Williams paint store, and the paint is about the same price per gallon as at discount stores.