Putting up new wallpaper is an exciting project. It’s one of the most effective ways to change the character of a room. But that excitement can sometimes be paired with a fear of getting it wrong. After all the effort of choosing a pattern and preparing for the job, the last thing you want is a result you’re not happy with. The good news is that most wallpapering issues come from a few common slip-ups. By knowing what they are ahead of time, you can easily steer clear of them and get a finish you can be proud of. Here are seven common mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Ignoring the Room's Function
The Mistake: Choosing a delicate, non-woven paper for a high-humidity area like a bathroom, or a light-colored, non-washable paper for a kid's playroom.
How to Avoid It: Think about how the room is used. Bathrooms and kitchens need vinyl or other moisture-resistant papers. The needs of a busy hallway are very different from those of a formal dining room wallpaper, which won't see as much wear. Match the material to the environment.
2. Skipping Wall Preparation
The Mistake: Applying wallpaper directly to a wall without cleaning it, smoothing it, or priming it first.
How to Avoid It: Proper prep is essential for a good finish. Clean the walls to remove any dust or grease. Fill any holes or cracks and sand them smooth. Most importantly, apply a wallpaper-specific primer. This seals the wall and gives the wallpaper adhesive a good surface to stick to.
3. Not Ordering Enough Paper
The Mistake: Carefully measuring and ordering the exact amount you think you need, with no extra.
How to Avoid It: Always order at least 10-15% more wallpaper than your measurements suggest. This covers you for any cutting errors and for matching up the pattern. Wallpaper is produced in dye lots, and the color can vary slightly from one batch to the next, so getting more later might not be an exact match.
4. Misjudging the Pattern’s Scale
The Mistake: Using a tiny, intricate pattern in a very large room where it becomes visually lost, or a huge, bold pattern in a tiny room where it feels overwhelming.
How to Avoid It: Consider the size of the room and the pattern. As a general rule, large-scale patterns work best in larger rooms, and smaller patterns are suited for smaller spaces. A large, playful pattern might be perfect for a children room wallpaper, but could feel too busy in a small powder room.
5. Not Testing a Sample First
The Mistake: Falling in love with a pattern online and ordering all the rolls without seeing it in your own home first.
How to Avoid It: Always get a sample. Tape it to the wall and look at it at different times of day. The color can look very different in your home’s specific lighting compared to how it looks on a computer screen. This is the best way to be sure you’ll be happy with your choice.
6. Forgetting the Pattern Repeat
The Mistake: Cutting all your wallpaper strips to the height of the wall without accounting for the pattern repeat, which leads to seams that don't line up.
How to Avoid It: Look for the "pattern repeat" measurement on the wallpaper roll. This tells you how often the pattern repeats vertically. You'll need to factor this in when cutting your strips to make sure you can slide each piece up or down to get a perfect match at the seams.
7. Competing with Existing Decor
The Mistake: Picking a wallpaper that clashes with the room’s existing furniture, flooring, or curtains.
How to Avoid It: Your wallpaper should work with what's already in the room. A good study room wallpaper should complement the existing desk and shelving, not fight with them for attention. Hold your sample up to your furniture and fabrics to make sure the colors and styles feel harmonious together.
