How do you cover up old wallpaper without removing it?

How Do You Cover Up Old Wallpaper Without Removing It? You can cover up old wallpaper without removing it by painting over it, skim coating with joint compound, or installing new wallpaper or paneling over it, though removal is best for long term. Methods, first painting over wallpaper, if wallpaper well adhered not peeling, you can paint over it, first clean wallpaper with TSP, repair seams with joint compound, sand lightly with 120 grit to roughen vinyl coating for adhesion, prime with oil based primer like Zinsser Cover Stain $25 to seal wallpaper and prevent paste bleed and pattern show through, then paint with 2 coats acrylic paint $30 per gallon, cost $100 to $200 per room, quickest method but texture of wallpaper seams may still show. Second, skim coating, apply thin coat of joint compound $15 per bucket over wallpaper using 12 inch knife, 2 to 3 coats to smooth texture and hide seams, let dry, sand, prime, then paint, cost $50 to $100 per room, creates smooth wall look. Third, install new wallpaper over old if old wallpaper flat and well adhered, prime old wallpaper with wallpaper primer $15, then hang new wallpaper, but may show seams. Fourth, cover with beadboard or wainscoting $1 to $3 per sq ft or new 1/4 inch drywall $1 to $2 per sq ft over old wallpaper for complete cover. So you can cover old wallpaper without removing by painting with oil based primer, skim coating with joint compound, or covering with new drywall or paneling.