Wallpaper has made a dramatic comeback. After decades of being overshadowed by paint, it is once again one of the most exciting tools in interior design and for good reason. A well-chosen wallpaper can transform a room in ways that no paint colour ever could, adding depth, pattern, texture, and personality in a single layer. But buying wallpaper is not as simple as picking a pattern you like. There is a lot that can go wrong, and a lot that can go very right if you know what you are doing.
Here is everything you need to know before you buy.
Understand the Different Types of Wallpaper
Not all wallpaper is made the same, and the material matters enormously for both durability and the feel of your finished room.
Vinyl wallpaper is the most common and practical choice for most homes. It is durable, moisture-resistant, and easy to clean, making it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways. It comes in solid vinyl (the toughest kind), vinyl-coated paper, and fabric-backed vinyl.
Non-woven wallpaper is made from a blend of natural and synthetic fibres. It is breathable, tear-resistant, and easier to hang and remove than traditional paper. This has become a favourite for DIY installers.
Fabric wallpaper, including grasscloth, linen, jute, and silk weaves, brings extraordinary texture and warmth to a room. It hides wall imperfections beautifully but requires professional installation and is difficult to clean.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a removable, adhesive-backed option that is perfect for renters, temporary spaces, or anyone hesitant to commit. The quality has improved significantly in recent years, though it does not match the longevity of paste-the-wall options.
Calculate How Much You Need and Then Buy More
Measuring for wallpaper is one of the most critical steps, and one of the most commonly mishandled. Getting this wrong means either running short mid-project or spending money on returns.
Start by measuring the total width of all the walls you plan to cover, then multiply that by the ceiling height to get your total square footage. From there, divide by the coverage area listed on your chosen wallpaper roll but do not stop there.
Always account for pattern repeat. A large pattern repeat means you will waste a significant portion of every drop matching the pattern across panels. The larger the repeat, the more wallpaper you need. A pattern with a 64 cm repeat, for instance, can eat up nearly a full extra roll in waste.
As a general rule, add a 10 to 15 percent buffer to your total, and always order all your rolls at the same time from the same batch. Wallpaper is printed in production runs, and colours can vary subtly between batches. Running out mid-project and ordering a new batch is one of the most frustrating mistakes a homeowner can make.
Learn the Different Hanging Methods
Wallpaper comes with different application instructions, and understanding them before you buy makes installation far less stressful.
Paste the wall means you apply adhesive directly to the wall surface rather than the paper. This method is faster, cleaner, and more beginner-friendly. Non-woven papers almost always use this method.
Paste the paper is the traditional method where you coat the back of each strip with adhesive and allow it to "soak" before hanging. It requires more precision and can be messy, but many classic and fabric-backed wallpapers require it.
Peel and stick needs no paste at all just peel off the backing and press to the wall. Ideal for smooth, clean surfaces, though it adheres less well to textured walls or those with flat paint.
If you are a first-time wallpaper buyer, choosing a paste-the-wall or peel-and-stick paper will make your project considerably easier.
Think About the Room Before the Pattern
The most common mistake people make is falling in love with a pattern before thinking about how it will live in the actual room.
Scale matters enormously. A grand, oversized botanical print can look stunning in a large dining room but completely overwhelm a small hallway. Conversely, a small, delicate pattern can disappear in a large space, reading as a muddled texture rather than a design. As a rule of thumb, scale your pattern to the size of the room.
Light changes everything. A wallpaper that looks rich and dramatic in a showroom can look flat and dark in a north-facing room that gets little natural light. Always order samples and live with them on the wall for several days at different times of day before committing to a full order.
Consider the ceiling height. Vertical stripes draw the eye upward and make low ceilings feel taller. Horizontal patterns and strong borders can do the opposite. In rooms with high ceilings, bold horizontal patterns and large-scale designs work especially well.
One feature wall or the whole room? Papering all four walls makes a bold commitment and works well for rooms with strong architectural character. A single feature wall behind a headboard, fireplace, or sofa can be just as impactful with less risk and less cost.
Order Samples Before You Commit
This cannot be said firmly enough: always order samples. The difference between a wallpaper as seen on a screen or in a catalogue and a wallpaper on your actual wall, in your actual light, next to your actual furniture, is significant.
Order at least two samples of any paper you are seriously considering. Put them on different walls in the room. Look at them in the morning and the evening. See how they look against your flooring, your sofa, your curtains. Live with them for at least a week before placing your full order.
Most quality wallpaper brands sell samples at a modest cost, and it is money extremely well spent.
Know When to Call a Professional
Wallpapering a simple, square room with a straightforward paste-the-wall paper is an achievable DIY project for most patient, careful people. But there are situations where professional installation is the smarter call.
If your room has awkward angles, alcoves, multiple doors and windows, or a complex ceiling line, the pattern matching and cutting required will challenge even experienced DIYers. If you are using a delicate paper wallpaper, a fabric weave, or a hand-printed luxury paper that cost you a significant sum, the risk of a costly mistake is simply not worth taking. And if your walls are in poor condition or have never been wallpapered before, a professional will know how to prepare them properly.
Conclusion
Buying wallpaper is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make for your home — but it rewards preparation. Take the time to understand the material, measure carefully, order samples, and think honestly about how the pattern will work in your specific space. Done right, a beautiful wallpaper will outlast trends, hold its own against paint in any comparison, and turn an ordinary room into something genuinely memorable.
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