Buying wallpaper: the complete guide

Wallpaper is no longer just a practical wall finish. It sets the mood of a room, adds texture and gives an interior real character. Whether you go for a subtle linen weave, a bold botanical print or an exclusive mural: the right wallpaper is the difference between a beautiful interior and one that truly makes an impression.

Still, buying wallpaper often raises plenty of questions. Which material suits your home best? How many rolls do you need? Why do prices vary so much? And is it wise to order a sample first?

In this complete guide we take you step by step through everything you need to know before you buy wallpaper. That way you make a well-considered choice you will enjoy for years to come.

Why choose wallpaper?

Where walls used to be painted a standard white, more and more people today make a deliberate choice for wallpaper. Not only because it is beautiful, but because it instantly gives a room more warmth, depth and personality.

Paint provides colour, but wallpaper adds an extra dimension. Structures, reliefs, natural materials and refined patterns create an atmosphere that paint alone can barely achieve.

That is why more and more interior designers use wallpaper as the starting point for a complete interior. The colours of furniture, curtains and accessories are then matched to the chosen design.

The advantages of wallpaper

• Instantly adds atmosphere and character.
• Creates depth and texture.
• Gives a room a more luxurious feel.
• Endless styles and materials.
• More durable than many people think.
• Suitable for almost any room.

At premium brands such as Arte, Elitis, Casamance, Masureel and Vescom, wallpaper is also developed as a full-fledged interior material. Think of natural fibres, wood veneer, textile, cork and even acoustic wall coverings.

Selected Tip: Wallpaper as the foundation of your interior. From one strong design, the entire atmosphere of a room often takes shape.

How do you choose the right wallpaper?

With thousands of collections and countless colours, making the right choice can be difficult. That is why we advise you not to look at a pattern straight away, but to start with the room itself.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What atmosphere do I want to create?
• How much daylight comes in?
• Is the room large or rather compact?
• Should the wallpaper be an eye-catcher or a calm backdrop?
• Which pieces of furniture will stay in place?

By first determining the function of the room, choosing wallpaper becomes much easier.

Start with the atmosphere you want
Every living style calls for a different look.

- Japandi: Calm colours, natural textures and minimalist designs. Think of linen weaves, chalk effects and soft earth tones.

- Hotel Chic: Rich materials, subtle sheen and deep colours. For example textile wallpaper, metallic accents or refined geometric patterns.

- Scandinavian: Light, calm and natural. Plenty of white, sandy tones and soft organic designs.

- Modern: Minimalist with powerful materials. Plains, concrete looks, wood veneer or graphic patterns.

- Classic: Elegant ornaments, damask, luxurious textures and rich colours.

- Botanical: Large leaves, flowers, natural designs and organic shapes. Perfect for bringing the outdoors in.

Take the room into account

A dark wallpaper can actually make a large room feel intimate. A light linen weave makes smaller rooms appear larger. Vertical patterns visually create higher ceilings. Horizontal designs make a room look wider. Light also plays an important role. The same colour can look completely different during the day than in the evening under artificial light. That is why we always advise you to view a sample at home first.

Always view a sample at different times of the day. Morning light, midday sun and evening lighting change the appearance of a colour considerably.

Which wall should you wallpaper?

One of the biggest advantages of wallpaper is that you can use it to create atmosphere in a targeted way. But does that automatically mean you have to wallpaper every wall? Certainly not.

Which wall you choose depends on the layout of the room, the way light falls and, above all, the effect you want to achieve. With wallpaper you can make a room feel visually larger, higher or more intimate.

Our infographic above shows the spatial effect that different applications of wallpaper can create.

Choose a natural eye-catcher

In many interiors, wallpaper looks best on the wall that first draws your attention when you enter the room. By using one wall as an eye-catcher, you instantly create atmosphere without making the interior feel busy.

Think for example of:

- the wall behind the sofa;
- the wall behind the bed;
- the dining room wall;
- the wall behind a sideboard;
- a spacious hallway or entrance.

One wall or the whole room?

A panoramic mural or a bold design often looks stunning on a single accent wall.

Calm textures, linen looks and subtle plains, on the other hand, lend themselves perfectly to covering several walls or even an entire room. This creates a warm, calm and luxurious atmosphere that suits, for example, a bedroom, seating area or hotel-style interior.

Visualise the end result

Not sure which wall will give the best result? For many of our wallpaper collections you can use the Visualizer on the product page. This lets you easily place the wallpaper on a photo of your own room. That way you immediately get a realistic impression of the end result.

Are you opting for a custom mural or a panoramic wallpaper? Then, where possible, we create a personal visual based on your wall dimensions. This lets you assess in advance how the design will look on your wall, and together we work out the most beautiful layout of the design.

Don't forget the ceiling

Wallpaper is increasingly being applied to the ceiling. Especially in smaller rooms, toilets or bedrooms, this creates a surprising and luxurious effect.

By connecting the walls and ceiling, a sense of comfort is created and the room gains more character.

There are no fixed rules

Ultimately, the most beautiful choice is the one that suits your interior and your living wishes. Sometimes a room calls for a subtle base, while another room may stand out with a rich design, a natural texture or an impressive panoramic wall.

Not sure which application suits you best? With our Visualizer, custom visuals and personal interior advice, we are happy to help you make a well-considered choice in advance.

Selected Tip: Don't see wallpaper as a separate product, but as part of the overall interior. By visualising in advance, you get a much better idea of the final atmosphere and make the right choice with more confidence. To help you along, use the Visualizer in our webshop!

The different types of wallpaper explained

Not every wallpaper is the same. The material determines not only the look, but also the durability, the maintenance and the application within a room. Whether you choose a subtle linen weave, a luxurious textile wallpaper or a panoramic mural: every material has its own properties.

Below we explain the most common types of wallpaper.

Vinyl wallpaper

Vinyl wallpaper is one of the most versatile and popular choices within the premium segment. Thanks to its strong vinyl top layer, it is exceptionally hard-wearing, easy to maintain and suitable for heavily used rooms.

Moreover, modern vinyl qualities are available in countless luxurious finishes, such as linen weaves, concrete looks, natural textures and refined reliefs. This makes vinyl wallpaper combine an exclusive look with excellent practical properties.

Advantages:

• Highly hard-wearing
• Easy to clean
• Colourfast and durable
• Suitable for both residential and contract interiors
• Available in a wide range of textures and designs

Textile wallpaper

Textile wallpaper gives an interior a warm, refined and luxurious look. Materials such as linen, silk and woven fabrics provide a rich texture and a unique experience that paint or standard wallpaper cannot match.

In addition to its aesthetic value, textile also contributes to more pleasant acoustics in the room.

Advantages:

• Exclusive look
• Natural texture
• Warm atmosphere
• Slightly sound-absorbing

Non-woven wallpaper

Non-woven wallpaper is popular because of its easy application. The paste is applied directly to the wall, which makes hanging quick and efficient.

Many modern wallpaper collections now have a non-woven backing, which makes them easy to apply and, later on, easy to remove again if desired.

Advantages:

• Easy to apply
• Dimensionally stable and true to size
• Less chance of tearing during application
• Relatively easy to remove

Paper wallpaper

Paper wallpaper is the most traditional form of wallpaper and is often chosen for its refined print quality and authentic character. The material consists entirely of paper and is widely used for exclusive collections and craftsman-made designs.

Because paper wallpaper is more sensitive to moisture and damage, it requires careful application and is mainly suitable for dry rooms such as living rooms, bedrooms and studies.

Advantages:

• Very sharp print quality
• Authentic and natural look
• Ideal for exclusive designs
• Environmentally friendly material

Acoustic wall covering

Acoustic wall covering combines design with functionality. In addition to a high-quality look, this wall covering helps to reduce disturbing reverberation and echoes, making a room feel calmer and more comfortable.

It is increasingly used in open living spaces, offices, meeting rooms, hotels and restaurants, but also in private interiors where acoustic comfort plays an important role.

Thanks to the wide choice of colours, textures and designs, acoustic wall covering offers a stylish solution without compromising on the interior.

Advantages:

• Reduces reverberation and echo
• Improves acoustic comfort
• Ideal for both homes and contract interiors
• Design and functionality in a single product

Selected Tip: Not sure which material best suits your interior? Order several samples and compare them at home. That way you experience not only the colour, but also the texture, the material and the quality before you make a final choice.

Why a sample is indispensable

Choosing wallpaper from a screen may seem easy, but a photo never tells the whole story. Colours are displayed differently on every phone, tablet or monitor, and the way light falls in your home also has a major influence on how a wallpaper looks.

That is why we advise you to always request a sample first before placing your order. It is the best way to make the right choice with confidence.

Experience the colour in your own interior

A warm sand colour can look soft and natural during the day, while the same colour takes on a deeper or cooler appearance in the evening under artificial light.

With a sample you see how the wallpaper behaves in the room where it will actually hang. Place the sample against different walls and view it at various times of the day. That way you get a realistic impression of the end result.

Feel the texture and quality

The charm of exclusive wallpaper often lies in the details. A subtle linen weave, a woven textile, a refined relief or a natural wood or grass texture is hard to fully appreciate in a photo.

With a sample you experience not only the colour, but also the quality of the material. It is precisely this texture that largely determines the luxurious look of an interior.

Compare materials and designs

Torn between several collections or colours? Then it is wise to lay different samples side by side.

By combining them with your floor, curtains, furniture and paint colours, you immediately see which combination best suits your interior. That often makes choosing far easier than endlessly comparing photos on a screen.

Avoid surprises afterwards

A sample is a small investment that removes a lot of uncertainty. It prevents a colour from turning out different than expected or a texture from not matching the desired atmosphere.

Especially with exclusive wall coverings or larger projects, a sample gives you the certainty that you are making a choice you will enjoy for years to come.

Why is there such a big price difference in wallpaper?

Anyone looking for wallpaper soon discovers that prices vary considerably. Where one roll costs a few dozen euros, an exclusive wall covering can run into hundreds or even thousands of euros. This often raises the question: where exactly does that difference come from?

The answer lies not only in the brand, but above all in the material, the production technique and the finish. Just as there is a difference between a standard chair and a designer piece, there are also major quality differences within wallpaper.

The material makes the difference

One of the most important price factors is the material. A simple printed vinyl wallpaper requires a different production process than a hand-woven textile wallpaper or a wall covering made of real wood veneer.

Natural materials such as linen, silk, grasscloth, cork and wood each have their own texture and character. Many of these materials are largely processed by hand, which makes every roll unique.

In addition, high-quality materials often have better properties in terms of durability, colourfastness and wear resistance.

Craftsmanship and innovation

At premium brands it is not just about a beautiful design. Behind every collection lies an extensive design process.

Designers develop unique patterns, experiment with new materials and work with advanced printing techniques to create relief, depth and natural textures. Some collections are even finished by hand or produced in small editions.

It is precisely that craftsmanship that makes an exclusive wall covering so special.

More than just a beautiful print

High-quality wallpaper adds something that paint can barely achieve: texture.

A subtle linen weave, a metallic sheen, a woven fabric or a natural grasscloth ensures that a wall looks different throughout the day, depending on the light. This creates a rich, lively appearance that stays beautiful for years.

An investment in your interior

You usually don't buy wallpaper for just one or two years. A quality wall covering often lasts for many years and forms the foundation of the interior.

That is why we advise you not to look only at the price per roll, but above all at the appearance, durability and the overall picture. A carefully chosen wallpaper gives a room character and atmosphere for years to come.

Selected Tip: The value of wallpaper lies not only in the roll itself, but in the feeling it gives a room. An exclusive wall covering often forms the foundation of an interior for years to come.

How do you calculate how much wallpaper you need?

One of the most frequently asked questions when buying wallpaper is: how many rolls or metres of wallpaper do I need?

The answer depends on more than just the dimensions of the wall. The roll width, roll length, pattern repeat and the match of the design all play an important role in calculating the right amount of wallpaper.

Easily calculate the wallpaper you need

With every wallpaper in our webshop you will find a smart calculator. By simply entering the width and height of your wall, it automatically calculates how many rolls or panels you need.

Our calculator is tailored to the specifications of each individual wallpaper collection. As a result, it takes into account not only the dimensions of the roll, but also properties such as the pattern repeat and the required match. That way you receive a reliable calculation that suits the chosen wallpaper.

Measure the wall carefully

For an accurate calculation, it is important to measure the wall properly. Measure both the width and the height at several points, and always note the largest dimension. Especially in older homes, walls and ceilings can be slightly out of true.

Working with several walls or an entire room? Measure each wall separately for the most accurate result.

Take doors, windows and sloping walls into account

Even when a wall contains doors, windows or other interruptions, we advise you to simply include them in the calculation. With many designs the pattern has to continue, which means the material required does not decrease one to one.

* For rooms with sloping ceilings, stairwells, niches or other special situations, a standard calculation may be less suitable.

Personal advice for complex projects

For most rooms, our calculator provides a quick and reliable result. But do you have a panoramic mural, a custom project or a room with complex dimensions? Then our advisors are happy to think along with you.

We check the dimensions, advise on the most beautiful layout of the design and make sure you order exactly the right amount of wallpaper.

Selected Tip: Use the calculator on the product page for a quick and reliable calculation. Not sure about the result, or do you have a complex room? Feel free to get in touch. We are happy to think along with you and check the calculation where needed.

Combining wallpaper with paint and fabrics

A balanced interior is not created by one beautiful element, but by the coherence between colours, materials and textures. It is precisely the combination of wallpaper, paint, curtain fabrics, furniture and accessories that ultimately determines the atmosphere of a room.

Where paint often provides calm and connection, wallpaper brings depth, structure and character. Fabrics then add softness, warmth and comfort. When these elements are well matched, an interior emerges that feels effortless.

Start with the wallpaper

We often advise you to start with the wallpaper. A design, texture or mural usually incorporates several colour nuances that can serve as a starting point for the rest of the interior.

A botanical wallpaper, for example, often contains green tones, sandy colours, warm browns or subtle accents. A textile wallpaper gains depth through its fibre, sheen or weave. By echoing these colours in paint, fabrics or accessories, calm and coherence are created.

If you choose the paint first, it can be harder to find exactly the right wallpaper to go with it later. The other way around often works more easily: from one strong wallpaper, a complete colour palette naturally emerges.

Paint as a connecting factor

Paint is ideal for supporting the wallpaper. You can let a colour from the wallpaper reappear on adjacent walls, the ceiling, the skirting boards, doors or frames. This makes the wallpaper feel not like a separate element, but as part of the overall interior.

With a bold design, a calm paint nuance often works best. Think of a soft sand colour, warm greige, greyed green or a deep earth tone. With a subtle textile wallpaper, you can opt for a slightly stronger paint colour to create more contrast.

Our Selected Studio regularly combines wall coverings with the Little Greene paint collection. These paint colours pair beautifully with high-quality wallpaper collections and make it easier to create a harmonious colour scheme.

Work tone-on-tone for a calm effect

A tone-on-tone, or colour-on-colour, interior is created by combining colours that lie close together. Think of beige with sand, taupe with warm grey, olive green with sage or terracotta with soft rust tones. This way of combining creates calm, while preventing a room from feeling flat. It is precisely by using different materials within the same colour palette that depth is created.

A linen weave on the wall, a matte paint on the surrounding walls, a wool rug and curtains in a natural fabric can together form a rich and calm whole.

Combine different textures

An interior becomes interesting when materials reinforce one another. Wallpaper plays an important role in this, because it adds texture to a surface that otherwise often stays flat.

Combine, for example:
- textile wallpaper with linen curtains;
- vinyl wallpaper with a matte paint;
- a mural with calm plain fabrics;
- acoustic wall covering with soft furniture;
- a natural texture with wood, natural stone or ceramics.

By alternating hard and soft materials, balance is created. As a result, a room feels not only more beautiful, but also more comfortable.

Use fabrics to soften the colour palette

Curtains, cushions, upholstery and rugs are perfect for subtly echoing colours from the wallpaper. This does not have to be exactly the same shade. It is often more beautiful when colours are related, but not entirely identical.

A wallpaper with warm brown tones, for example, can be beautifully combined with sand-coloured curtains, a natural-toned sofa and accessories in bronze or dark wood. A wallpaper with blue accents comes into its own with greyed fabrics, light woods and soft whites.

View everything together in the room
Colours and materials change with the way light falls. That is why it is important to always assess wallpaper, paint and fabrics in the same room. Lay samples side by side and view them at different times of the day. What looks soft and light during the day can appear warmer, darker or cooler in the evening. By comparing carefully in advance, you avoid surprises afterwards.

10 common mistakes when buying wallpaper

1. Choosing wallpaper from a screen
A photo on a website gives a good first impression, but never fully shows what a wallpaper looks like in reality. Colour, texture, sheen and the feel of the material are hard to judge on a screen. That is why a sample is almost always the best first step. Especially with luxurious wall coverings, textile wallpaper, embossed vinyl or natural textures, feeling and viewing the material makes a big difference.

2. Not taking the way light falls into account
Daylight, artificial light and the orientation of a room have a big influence on the appearance of wallpaper. A colour can look very different in a bright living room than in a north-facing bedroom. So always view a sample in the spot where the wallpaper will ultimately go. Stick or hold the sample against the wall and assess it at different times of the day.

3. Looking only at colour and design
Colour and pattern are important, but the material matters at least as much. Vinyl wallpaper, textile wallpaper, non-woven wallpaper, paper wallpaper and acoustic wall covering all have different properties. A heavily used hallway calls for a different quality than a quiet bedroom. A hotel, restaurant or office makes different demands again in terms of wear resistance, maintenance and acoustics.

4. Choosing the wrong wall
Not every wall has the same effect. Wallpaper behind the sofa gives a different look than a room wallpapered all the way around. A mural often works beautifully as an accent wall, while a subtle texture can look lovely on several walls. So use the layout of the room as your starting point. Look at where the natural eye-catcher is and what effect you want to create: calm, depth, height, warmth or a real statement.

5. Ordering too little wallpaper
One of the most frustrating mistakes is running short of material while hanging wallpaper. This often happens because the pattern repeat, cutting waste or the match of the design has not been taken into account. So always use the calculator on the product page. It is tailored to the specific wallpaper you choose and takes the properties of that product into account.

* In complex situations, such as sloping walls, stairwells or custom murals, it is wise to have the calculation checked.

6. Fully deducting doors and windows
It seems logical to subtract doors and windows from the surface area, but with wallpaper it doesn't always work that way. Especially with patterns, the design has to continue, which means you still need enough material. By deducting openings too generously, you run the risk of ending up just one drop short later.

7. Looking only at the price per roll
The price per roll doesn't tell you everything. Roll width, roll length, pattern repeat and material type vary greatly from one wallpaper to another. In some cases a more expensive wallpaper can contain more square metres or produce less cutting waste than a cheaper alternative.
So always look at the total number of rolls, metres or panels needed and at the quality of the material.

8. Not taking batch or colour numbers into account
With many wallpaper collections, small colour differences can occur between different production batches. That is why it is important to order enough wallpaper for the entire project straight away. Order more later? Then there is a chance that the colour will be slightly off. This difference can be subtle, but on a large wall it may become visible.

9. Not preparing the surface properly
Even the most beautiful wallpaper looks less good on a poor surface. Unevenness, colour differences, damp patches or old paste residue can become visible or affect adhesion. A smooth, dry and even wall is essential for a beautiful end result. When in doubt, it is wise to call in a professional decorator. Always prime the wall before hanging the wallpaper.

10. Not asking for advice when in doubt
Wallpaper has a big influence on the atmosphere of a room. Not sure about colour, material, quantity or application? Then personal advice is often valuable. With samples, the Visualizer, custom visuals and our product knowledge, we help you get a good idea of the end result in advance. Our advice is available digitally and in our Studio: located in Montfoort, the Netherlands.

Selected Tip: The most beautiful interiors are not created through hasty choices, but by looking carefully at colour, material, light and space.

Frequently asked questions about wallpaper

How do I choose the right wallpaper? Start with the atmosphere you want to create. Do you want calm, warmth, luxury, depth or a real eye-catcher? Then look at the room, the way light falls, the furniture and the colours already present. Next, order samples to assess colour and texture in your own interior.

Should I always order a sample first? We almost always advise you to order a sample first. A screen never shows colour, sheen and texture entirely realistically. With a sample you experience the material in your own room and can combine it with paint, fabrics, floor and furniture.

How do I know how much wallpaper I need? On every product page you can enter the width and height of your wall in our calculator. It automatically calculates how many rolls or panels you need. The calculator is tailored to the individual wallpaper and takes into account, among other things, roll dimensions and pattern repeat.

Do you also calculate how much wallpaper I need? For most products you can easily calculate this yourself with our calculator on the product page. In complex situations, such as sloping walls, stairwells, custom murals or unusual wall layouts, we are happy to think along with you.

What is a pattern repeat? The pattern repeat is the distance after which a design repeats itself. With patterned wallpaper, the drops need to align properly. The larger the repeat, the more cutting waste there can be. That is why it is important that this is taken into account in the calculation.

Can I use wallpaper in any room?
Wallpaper can be used in almost any room, provided you choose the right quality. A bedroom calls for different properties than a hallway, kitchen, office or hospitality space. For heavily used rooms, vinyl wallpaper is often a practical and durable choice.

Can wallpaper be used in the bathroom?
Wallpaper can be used in some bathrooms, but this depends heavily on ventilation, moisture exposure and the type of wallpaper. Direct contact with water is usually not recommended, unless the product is specifically suitable for it. For bathrooms we always advise you to ask for advice in advance.

What is the difference between vinyl wallpaper and non-woven wallpaper? Vinyl wallpaper has a strong vinyl top layer, which makes it hard-wearing, durable and often easy to strip. Non-woven wallpaper refers mainly to the backing or carrier of the wallpaper and is known for its easy application. Many modern wallpapers combine a strong top layer with a non-woven backing.

What is textile wallpaper? Textile wallpaper is a wall covering with a woven or fabric finish, for example of linen, silk or other fibres. It gives a room a warm, luxurious look and adds plenty of texture. Textile wallpaper is often chosen for bedrooms, living rooms, hotels and stylish office interiors.

Why is luxury wallpaper more expensive? The price of wallpaper is determined by material, production technique, design, brand, finish and durability. Natural materials, textile, relief, hand finishing and exclusive designs call for a more intensive production process. As a result, the price is higher than for simple printed wallpaper.

Which wall is best to wallpaper? Often the most beautiful wall is the one that first stands out when you enter the room. Think of the wall behind the sofa, behind the bed, by the dining table or in a hallway. Calm textures can also look wonderful applied all the way around for a warm, enveloping atmosphere.

Can I combine wallpaper with paint? Yes, it is precisely the combination of wallpaper and paint that creates a strong interior. Choose a paint colour that reappears in the wallpaper or subtly matches it. This creates coherence between the wall covering and the rest of the room.

Can I visualise the wallpaper in advance? For many wallpapers you can use the Visualizer on our website. This gives you a better idea of the end result. For custom wallpaper or panoramic murals, we can, where possible, create a custom visual based on your wall dimensions.

What is a mural? A mural is a panoramic wallpaper where the design is spread across the wall as one large image. This type of wallpaper is often used as a statement wall and can in many cases be tailored to the dimensions of the wall.

Can I hang the wallpaper myself? That depends on the type of wallpaper and your experience. Non-woven wallpaper is often easier to apply, while textile wallpaper, luxury vinyl, murals and exclusive wall coverings require more precision. For costly materials or large walls, we advise you to call in an experienced decorator.

What should I look out for when ordering wallpaper? Pay attention to the material, the colour, the pattern repeat, the application, the quantity needed and any batch numbers. Always order enough material for the entire project and check in advance whether the wall is suitable for wallpapering.

Conclusion: buying wallpaper starts with the right preparation

Wallpaper is one of the most powerful ways to add atmosphere, warmth and personality to an interior. The right wallpaper changes not only a wall, but the entire experience of a room.

Whether you choose a subtle texture, luxurious vinyl wallpaper, refined textile wallpaper, acoustic wall covering or an impressive mural: a good choice always starts with inspiration, knowledge of materials and attention to the room.

By looking carefully in advance at the way light falls, the colour, the wall layout, the material and the quantity, you avoid doubts afterwards. A sample helps you assess colour and texture for real. The Visualizer gives you a better idea of the end result. And with our calculator you easily work out how much wallpaper you need.

At Selected Wallpapers we believe that buying wallpaper is more than selecting a product. It is the beginning of an interior that feels right in atmosphere, material and appearance.

Ready to choose the perfect wallpaper?

Discover our carefully curated collections, order your favourite samples and use the calculator on the product page to easily work out how much wallpaper you need. Not sure about colour, material or application? Then we are happy to think along with you.