Interior Decorating Home

Home Decor Tips - Selecting Your Wall Paper

Step One: Take room measurements.
You must first create a simple blueprint type plan of your room and how you want it to look in the end.  Then you should measure the length and width of the room and record them on your plan according to each wall.  The ceiling height should also be measured.  Be careful to note in your planning if your ceiling has a sloped or slightly elevated roof in some parts.  Include in your planning and sketching all the doors, windows and closets.  Then measure each wall section from one wall to the next.  The measurements should be so precise, that if you add up the total figures for each wall it will equal the total room size you measured in the beginning. 

Step Two: Take your blueprints and measurements to the store.

Ask the store representative to figure out based on your estimates how much wallpaper you need.  Some people choose to form their own estimate based on the numbers and even get help online through various wallpaper and renovation friendly websites.

Step Three: Buy the wallpaper.

Wallpaper is usually priced per single roll but manufactured and sold in double or even triple rolls.  The larger the roll, the more continuous and thus useful the length of paper is.  There is also European packaging, Metric packaging and American Rolls packaging when it comes to wallpaper widths.  The wider the paper is, you less you will have to hang up strips or seams.  Find out if your wallpaper is drop match or straight match.  A drop match will require more paper than a straight match. 

Step Four: Order and receive.

Before ordering, be sure and consider any manufacturer's suggestions about measuring, hanging or pasting.  They might even advise you to order special materials.  Be sure and find out beforehand about the store's return policy including the terms of service, additional fees and if the packaging has to remain unopened.  Some shrewd thinkers find it practical to order a double roll in case of any mistakes.

Now you're ready to start wallpapering.  Take your time and plan ahead for the best results!