How to measure your walls for wallpaper.
Use our handy guide on how to measure a wall for wallpaper to make decorating a doddle.
Buying too much or too little wallpaper can be an expensive error to make. But luckily for you, we've learnt from making our own miscalculations in the past. Using our expertise, we have created a useful guide on how to measure for wallpaper to help you get it right - the first time.
So let's dive straight in with our guide on how to measure a room for wallpaper.
Photo by Elisa Michelet on Unsplash
You might be familiar with the expression "measure twice, cut once". Well, the same can be said for wallpaper, where measuring can be the most important part of the decorating process. Follow our guide below and repeat two or even three times to make sure you have it nailed. You might want to begin by drawing a rough illustration of the room so that you can jot down your measurements as you go.
Step 1. Measure the full width of the wall or room you want to wallpaper.
Measure the full width of all the walls you are wallpapering and then divide this by the width of the wallpaper roll you plan to use. A standard roll of wallpaper measures 53cm wide but this can vary so always double or triple check. This figure will give you the total number of drops you will need for the wall or room. Remember when wallpapering a wall with a window that has a recess to measure into the recess so that your wallpaper can be cut and fitted around the edge and in to meet the window frame.
Image: The home of Quentin Leroux as featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Debi Treloar. See similar floral wallpaper designs.
Step 2. Measure the height of your wall or room.
For this step you'll need to measure the height of your walls, omitting skirting boards or any coving or cornice. Do this in a few points to make sure you get the tallest measurement for the room and add 10-15 cm for trimming down. Remember - safety first! Use a step ladder and get someone to help you with this measurement. They can always double-check your work - two minds are better than one!
Image: The home of Jane Rockett as featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Debi Treloar. See similar snakeskin wallpaper designs.
Step 3. The maths bit.
Multiply your total number of drops (from step 1) by the height (in step 2) - et Voila! You will get the total number of meters you need.
Once you have your measurements to hand you're ready to order your wallpaper. When you come to do this, just double-check the width of the roll you are purchasing is the same as you have calculated for in step 1. Be sure to order from the same batch to avoid any differences in colour or pattern. It's always better to over order and return any un-opened rolls than underorder and not be able to get an exact match with a different batch.
Featured Wallpaper Mural: Edo Mural Design Wallpaper Panel - Mint Green
Alternatively, you may have opted for a wallpaper mural as opposed to standard rolls. This is usually a bespoke process whereby you provide us with the exact measurements of the wall (width x height) and we print this to match your measurements exactly. This is why it is so important to make sure your measurements are spot on. If you are ordering a mural it's always worth checking how the wallpaper will be delivered. Often they come in panels and it's up to you to match the pattern so it may require a little space and planning before you go ahead and paste them to the wall.
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