How to paint a wall in 6 hours (without rushing)
May 18, 2026
Renter-friendly decor that won’t lose your deposit
May 18, 2026
Wallpaper from the 1980s wasn’t designed to come off easily. With steam and patience, you can still get it down without gouging the plaster.
What you need
Our Wallpaper Removal Kit (€89) has the steamer, scrapers and safety gear. Plus a bucket, old towels, and a ladder if you’re working near the ceiling.
Before you start
Test a small corner first. If the wallpaper has a vinyl coating, score it lightly with the wide scraper edge so steam can penetrate. Wear the included goggles — steam will splash and falling paste is unpleasant.
The method
1. Cover the floor
Old towels or a drop cloth. Wallpaper paste, when wet, is sticky and stains.
2. Fill and heat the steamer
Fill with tap water to the line. Plug in. It takes 5–10 minutes to reach steaming temperature. Don’t open it until ready.
3. Steam a 1m² section
Hold the steamer plate flat against the wallpaper for 30–45 seconds. You’ll hear the paper soften. Move to the next section while the first cools.
4. Scrape gently
With the wide scraper, work from a seam or corner. Pull at a shallow 30° angle — not perpendicular to the wall (which gouges plaster). The wallpaper should release in strips.
5. Stuck spots
Re-steam any section that resists. The mistake is forcing dry wallpaper — you’ll always damage the wall under it.
6. Wash the wall
Once all wallpaper is off, the wall will be coated in paste residue. Wipe down with the included spray bottle filled with warm water + a drop of dish soap. Then wipe with clean water. Let dry overnight before painting.
If the wall is damaged anyway
Small gouges: fill with ready-mix wall filler, sand smooth when dry, prime before painting. Large areas: contact a plasterer before painting over. Plaster damage that shows through fresh paint is a hard call to walk back.
