How many rolls of wallpaper do you need?
When you are in the middle of a decorating project, the last thing you want is to run out of wallpaper. This guide helps you work out how many rolls you need, so you can finish the job without interruptions.
1. Measure your room
You might have the perfect style and colour in mind, but before you make the trip to your local store you will need a tape measure:
- Total measurement around the room — this includes windows and doors. Make the edge of a door or window your starting point.
- Wall height measurement — if you have a skirting board, measure from the top of the skirting up to where the wall meets the ceiling or border rail.
Top tip: for large rooms, use a pencil to mark intervals as you measure, writing the running measurement on the wall. If you lose your place you can go back to the last mark instead of starting again.
2. Check the roll calculator
Check your room measurements against the roll calculator and note how many rolls it suggests.
Remember: the calculator is a guide only. Roll usage depends on the pattern repeat of the wallpaper you choose, so it is better to over-estimate than to be caught short.
Batch numbers
Wallpaper is produced in batches, and each batch has its own number. It is the same wallpaper, but slight differences in colour can occur between batches.
Make sure every roll you buy for a room carries the same batch number — that is what gives you consistent colour and pattern from one roll to the next. It is also why working out your rolls in advance matters: you do not want to return to the store and find the batch you need has sold out.
Top tip: do not just pick up the first roll you see. The batch number is on the roll label — it is worth checking to avoid shade variations.
Wallpaper symbols
The symbols on a wallpaper label tell you whether it is washable, whether the pattern needs to be offset, and whether it is peelable when the time comes to remove it.
Ranges vary by store — find your nearest Homesavers to see what is in stock.
