Forum Discussion

Fla904's avatar
Fla904
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015

Paint over wall paper and on cabinets?

I would like to paint my walls and cabinets. Have done some research online but nothing compares to getting advice from someone who's actually done it. Anyone here paint their cabinets or interior?

19 Replies

  • First you need wash everything with TSP. Then prime with something like Kilz primer. Finally you can choose a suitable paint color. Lighter the better. Dont skimp on any of the products or you will regret it. Latex paint is best, either semi or gloss.
  • There are a few good examples at diy rv.
    This is one of my favorites:
    http://www.doityourselfrv.com/dark-drab-light-airy-see-couples-totally-renovated-1988-tioga-motorhome/
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    On ours, the doors are wooden but the frames and cabinets are some kind of vinyl over probably pressboard or the like. It's common for that finish to turn grayish. I met a man who'd gone over the vinyl-clad with MinWax PolyShades, a modern version of the old "varnish stain." I think he said the shade was "Honey Oak." Coach really looked good.

    I've used PolyShades for other projects and been VERY pleased with the results, but I haven't tried the cabinet job. Too many things not working to spend time on things that are...
  • The house I'm currently living in had several rooms originally covered with wall paper and then painted over. Actually, under the wall paper was the old style Masonite (very heavy) wall paneling, very dark brown. Actually, it didn't look too bad since the previous owner filled the simulated cracks with putty and smoothed it out to make it look more like dry wall. However, we ended up ripping those walls completely out to enlarge those rooms. Looking back now, and looking at photos of the house when we purchased it .... I think it was ugly now. But, I've done almost a 100% remodel of this house (gutting rooms down to the studs and starting over with dry-wall) since then and do like the new looks much better!

    Yes, you can paint over everything and make it look good. You just have to make sure you prep everything before you apply any paint. Any imperfections in the wall paper will stand out like a soar thumb once painted, unless you paint a paisley pattern, which I'm sure you don't want to do.
  • Never painted in an RV. I have painted over wallpaper in rentals. It tends to cause wallpaper to lift from the wall. Not all over. Just in enough places to look bad. You wouldn't be happy. I would sand the cupboards and re-stain. Also strip the wallpaper and put on new.
  • Don't know about all RV's on my Toyota the cabinets are real oak for door frames and some other parts and then panels for the rest. The panels are not real wood, they are a picture of wood on thin plywood. No way to sand and refinish. Jim
  • LynnandCarol wrote:
    We would like to follow this post as we are also considering doing the same thing! We assume that a primer coat would be needed on the heavy wallpaper.


    X2 and then I'll try to convince my DW.
  • it,ll look like paint, sand down refinish, look like new. with the proper tools it,s not a hard job. and the whole family can pitch in.
  • We would like to follow this post as we are also considering doing the same thing! We assume that a primer coat would be needed on the heavy wallpaper.