Wallpaper delivers instant texture, color, and pattern that cannot be achieved by paint alone. There’s a wallpaper to suit every space, style, and budget, too. Rest assured: Learning the ins and outs—from purchasing the proper amount to applying it to walls—is entirely doable, and doesn’t even require many special tools (though a partner helps).
How to choose: Beginners may well want to stick with “random pattern” papers such as textured solids like grasscloth, stripes, or close-packed overall patterns. These make matching easier, as do “straight-across match” patterns, which are matched along the sides. Hold off on “drop repeat” patterns, which need to be matched both horizontally and vertically, until you’ve mastered the basic techniques.
How many rolls: The numbers in the chart below are based on a “double” roll, which typically covers about 66 square feet. To calculate how many rolls you need per room, divide the total square footage of the walls (including windows and doors) by the square footage of one roll. Buy extra paper to accommodate for errors and adjustments (at least 10 percent more paper). For difficult-to-match patterns, buy substantially more paper. Save leftovers for future repairs.
WALLPAPER ROLL calculator |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wall Height (Feet) |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
Room |
24 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
32 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
40 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
|
48 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
|
56 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
|
64 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
72 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
14 |
|
80 |
10 |
11 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
88 |
11 |
12 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
|
96 |
12 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
|
104 |
13 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
|
112 |
14 |
16 |
17 |
19 |
21 |
|
120 |
15 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
22 |
|
128 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
22 |
24 |
|
136 |
17 |
19 |
21 |
23 |
25 |
|
144 |
18 |
20 |
22 |
24 |
27 |
|
How to prep: Group furniture in the middle of the room and cover belongings and floor with plastic drop cloths. Spackle and sand the wall to smooth any imperfections, following the instructions for painting prep on page 89.
How to apply: Use a straightedge, a level, and a pencil to mark top to bottom where each cut strip will fit on the walls. When the last strip meets the first, be aware that you probably won’t achieve a perfect pattern match. To soften this mismatch, hang the first strip in a discreet corner, and then work around the room, back to where you started. Or begin by centering the pattern at a focal point, and proceed in opposite directions, making sure the last two strips meet in an inconspicuous corner location.