How to Protect Wallpaper

How to Protect Wallpaper
Written By
Bailey Richert
Bailey Richert
Published: Jul 2, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Polyvinyl varnish
  • Paintbrush or paint roller
  • Painters tape
  • Plastic floor covering

Protecting that wallpaper so it will last is something every homeowner wishes to do.

  1. Lay a plastic covering all over the floor in the room where you are going to protect the wallpaper. Tape to the baseboards of the walls if necessary to keep from slipping. This will protect your floor or carpet from stains.

  2. Use painters tape to protect edges of the ceiling or wall that are not covered in wallpaper. Apply the tape to the corners of the wall around the paper so excess varnish is not splattered against walls without wallpaper.

  3. Apply two coats of polyvinyl varnish on the wallpaper using a paintbrush or paint roller. Because the varnish will dry clear and roll patterns will not be visible, using a paint roller will save you considerable time. Use thin coats to avoid globs of varnish rolling down the wall. Polyvinyl varnish can be purchased at any home improvement store, but you should always make sure to buy an interior varnish. Exterior varnishes are for protecting outdoor structures, such as decks.

  4. Make sure varnish is fully dry before removing floor covering and painters tape.

Tips

Many wallpapers come with protection already over the designs. Ask your vendor if your wallpaper is protected before going through the hassle of painting varnish over it.

Warnings

Some varnishes in liquid form may give off fumes. Make sure to open all windows in the painting area for proper ventilation. Stop if you feel light-headed. Varnish will protect the wallpaper from liquid messes and small water damage, but it is not designed to shield wallpaper from major damage, such as the impact of thrown objects.

Photo Credits

wallpaper with a rolled edge image by Cherry-Merry from Fotolia.com

wallpaper with a rolled edge image by Cherry-Merry from Fotolia.com

Bailey Richert

Bailey Richert is a 2010 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a dual bachelor's degree in environmental engineering and hydrogeology, as well as a master's degree in systems engineering. After several years in the…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.