hacks

3 things you must do before buying wallpaper

Person hanging peel and stick wallpaper on wall/Photography: Gabrielle Langdon

1. Sample, sample, sample.

Never commit to a wallpaper pattern without experiencing it in your space first! And, yes, same goes for paint; in fact, as William Hefner of Studio William Hefner puts it, use "lots of samples and as large as possible. [Put them] directly in the room they are going in at the house." (Shop our 100% design accurate wallpaper samples from decorators' favorite brands like Maya Romanoff and Olivia + Poppy.)

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2. Consider your space.

Are the walls uneven or textured? Wallpaper won't hide that! You'll need to scrub and potentially sand your walls for the most even application. And while wallpapering rooms like the bathroom is a great design idea—and one we recommend!—you'll want to be sure that your space is well-ventilated enough. (If you're in a particularly humid climate, look into microvented vinyl or fabric-backed wallpapers.)

Consider scale, too: a pattern that looks small on your screen may feel overwhelming in your space. Need a hand? Just scroll down to see our wallpaper samples in a real-life room.

3. Measure—and triple-check your measurements—before purchasing your pattern.

Whether you're installing your peel-and-stick yourself or hiring a pro, you'll save time and potentially money by purchasing all you need from the get-go. There are plenty of wallpaper calculators available online that can help you nab precisely what you'll need.

Keep in mind, digitally printed peel-and-stick wallpaper is often printed in batches, meaning colors can vary slightly. Your best bet is to buy enough of what you'll need for your entire project upfront so that your rolls are a true match.

Need more inspiration? Learn how to master the accent wall, or check out 22 of our favorite wallpaper ideas.