How to Remove a Wallpaper Border in 5 Simple Steps

Wallpaper adds a personalized look and feel to any home room. Wallpaper borders can be used to break up walls, accent windows or door frames, and line ceilings. You might want to remove a border that does not fit your style.

You can remove wallpaper borders in just a few easy steps with materials that you probably already have in your home or can find in many hardware stores. Learn how to remove wallpaper borders and the materials you will need to do so.

Steps for Removing Wallpaper Border

Follow these steps to remove an old wallpaper border and update your room.

1. Decide on your removal method and prepare the area

Determine how firmly the border is attached to the wall before attempting to remove it. Depending on the length of time the border has been attached to the wall, how much adhesive was used and the type of border, certain removal projects could require a lot more elbow grease.

Apply hot water on a small area, then use your fingernail to peel the paper away from a seal. If the border comes off easily, you can continue by peeling the wallpaper back in small pieces, using a putty blade as leverage if needed.

You will need to use a solution if the wallpaper is not budgeable or resistant.

Prepare the area before you start your project:

• Remove all the furniture from the bedroom.
• Spread a dropcloth to protect your floor.
• Switch off the electricity
• Painter’s tape can be used to cover electrical outlets and light switches, as well as baseboards.

2. Mix your solution and apply

Pour the liquid fabric softener into a spray container. White vinegar or dish soap can be used to make this mixture, or you can buy a wallpaper removal solution at the store.

Spray the border with wallpaper remover solution in small sections and wait 10 minutes. The mixture will soak into the glue and begin to soften it. The border can be removed by spraying the wallpaper remover solution on small sections at a time.

You may have to reheat your homemade solution several times throughout the project.

3. Peel back the border and perforate remaining pieces

Continue pulling the border back gently until you feel resistance. Keep your spray bottle nearby and spray behind any stubborn areas. This will allow the glue to penetrate fully.

Try a more aggressive solution if you have any remaining wallpaper border. To puncture the wallpaper, you can use an utility knife or a wallpaper scoring tool. The scoring method is popular for large wallpaper removal projects. It can also be used to remove borders.

Reapply the solution after perforating the area. Wait 10 to 15 mins for the solution to soak in and soften glue. Continue scraping off the remaining pieces. Remove the remaining pieces.

4. Heat up if necessary

To melt stubborn wallpaper borders that are still stuck, use a steamer or hair dryer to apply heat. This method works well for wallpaper borders that are stubborn or have multiple layers of adhesive.

If there is wallpaper beneath the border, the heat will likely also remove the wallpaper’s base layer.

The remaining border of the wallpaper can be removed using a putty blade, plastic scraper or a wallpaper scraper available in most hardware shops.

You may have a wallpaper or glue that is particularly resistant. This project might require professional help to prevent damage to the walls.

5. Remove any remaining adhesive

After you’ve removed all of the wallpaper, use your sponge and solution to cover the remaining adhesive and let it soak for 10 more minutes. This will allow any wallpaper glue that is left to soften.

Then, you can use your putty blade to remove any stubborn adhesive that has remained. It is important to do this because it will allow you to begin any new project such as painting or hanging new wallpaper without residue or adhesive.

Final Steps

Plan your next steps in your room once you’ve learned how to remove the border from a wallpaper. Make any necessary repairs to your walls with joint compound or spackle. Wait a few weeks before beginning any home improvement project in the room. This will ensure that the walls have completely dried.

After removing the old border, you can paint, add new wallpaper or add a border. You can paint over any wallpaper that remains in the room if you have removed the border.