Wallpaper is a traditional accessory to the rooms in your home, and its use dates back hundreds of years. While originally invented for reasons relating to practicality, over time wallpaper has become more aesthetical – of course, there are still many benefits to using it within a room, but what was once a simple addition to a room has become one of the most varied products in all of DIY.

This is why it can be easy to get lost in the world of wallpapers. Some possess different properties, and others have been made from a unique array of materials. Some can be applied to every wall in a room, while others have been designed to serve as ‘feature pieces’ on only one wall. And that’s not even going into all of the different styles to choose from. This guide has been designed to help make the process of buying new wallpaper easier and more straightforward. 

• What to Consider When Buying Wallpaper
• Types of Wallpaper
• Wallpaper Accessories
• Installing Wallpaper
• Wallpaper Brands
• Shop Wallpapers 
• What's Next?

There are many questions you need to ask when deciding on your wallpaper, and some are probably more obvious than others. However, each of these questions is important, and having a definitive answer for each will drastically improve your experience when selecting your ideal wallpaper.

Textured or non-textured?

Textured wallpaper – as the name suggests – is wallpaper that features a more textured surface. This can be anything from a simple canvas-like feel to raised patterns in the shapes of foliage, swirls and more. 

The texture of a wallpaper is not the same as the printing of it – a wallpaper can have plenty of imagery but still be completely flat and lacking a specific texture beyond that of the wallpaper itself.

Plain or printed?

While there are plenty of versions of printed wallpaper with all sorts of patterns and pictures, you can also opt for a simple colour or set of colours instead. Different looks will suit different tastes, but you’re sure to find a wallpaper that suits the aesthetics of your home with all the different choices on offer!

Also bear in mind that printed wallpaper is more likely to involve a more intricate installation process due to the ‘design match’ – in other words, the fact that you’ll have to line up the wallpaper more accurately along your wall in order for the printing to match up as precisely as possible.

Which Room?

You will definitely need to take the room you plan to apply the wallpaper to into consideration, as some patterns will be unlikely to fit the aesthetics found in certain rooms. For example, some of the more bespoke patterns won’t exactly look at home in a kitchen, and you’re unlikely to want to have glittered wallpaper in your bathroom!

Some wallpaper is designed for specific types of rooms. For example, there is an abundance of children’s wallpaper, displaying everything from animals to planets to well-known characters from TV, film, and comic books. Meanwhile, other wallpapers have been produced to replicate products such as white tiles, making them suited to kitchens and bathrooms while less ideal for lounges.

Preferred Application Method?

As you’ll find as you browse wallpapers, there are different application methods that will affect the way the wallpaper is installed onto your wall. You’ll need to look carefully at the listed application method for each wallpaper option.

There are two main ways to apply wallpaper – the ‘paste to the wall’ method and the ‘self-adhesive’ method. We’ll go more into the processes involved in these practices below, but for now, it’s worth noting that ‘paste to the wall’ is the more common option and requires considerably more tools to carry out (though, most would argue that this leads to superior results!)

How Much Wall Do You Need to Cover?

This is important to ask because it will determine how much wallpaper you will require. Most wallpaper roll dimensions are listed on the product page and/or description of a wallpaper, wherever it is you’re looking for it. You will need to measure out the total amount you’ll need by using these listed dimensions as well as the measurements taken from your own wall.

Wallpaper accessories will depend on the type of wallpaper you end up choosing – specifically, whether you have gone for paste-the-wall, paste-the-paper, self-adhesive or some other type of wallpaper. Most of these accessories won’t be required for self-adhesive wallpaper, for example, though you may still want to invest in them for future use.

Wall Feature Wallpapers

Wall feature pieces are technically wallpapers themselves, but they have been listed here under accessories due to the fact that they are usually utilised alongside other types of wallpaper, such as vinyl, textured or printed. They are large patterns, sometimes only depicting a single giant image rather than one that is repeated across the paper.

Wallpaper Paste

A very important accessory no matter which type of wallpaper you purchase – unless of course, you decide to buy self-adhesive wallpaper. Wallpaper paste is manufactured by a wide array of different brands – most are fairly consistent with one another unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer. However, for maximum peace of mind when it comes to the application process, you can simply purchase paste from the same manufacturer of your chosen wallpaper if possible.

Pasting Tables

Pasting tables are simple tables made from wood, plastic or metal that are used to lay the paper onto while you apply the paste. Pasting tables are only necessary for ‘paste the paper’ wallpapers (find out more about them in our installation section below), but as this is a very common method of installation, you may well find yourself requiring one. They are highly practical and can usually fold up, meaning they take up less space within your home when not in use.

Pasting Tools

There are a variety of pasting tools you’ll likely require whether your paper is ‘paste the wall’ or ‘paste the paper’. Examples include:

• Wallpaper Smoother – excellent for removing minor bumps, creases, and air pockets
• Chisel knife – useful when it comes to removing old wallpaper from your wall
• Scorer – create useful creases in your wallpaper for corners and similar areas of the room
• Roller tray – for adding your paste to
• Roller – for applying your paste to the wall or paper
• Blades/scissors – for cutting your wallpaper wherever required

Wallpaper Strippers

Wallpaper ownership isn’t just about installation – it’s also about uninstallation and eventual disposal! Wallpaper strippers are a great way to get rid of your wallpaper as effectively as possible. Be warned however that some wallpapers are more resistant to wallpaper strippers than others.

‘Paste the Paper’

One of the oldest and most familiar forms of wallpaper installation, the ‘paste the paper’ method is still widely used today. The installer simply applies paste to the back of the wallpaper and carefully applies it to their wall, ensuring it lines up with both the wall dimensions and the proceeding/succeeding strips of wallpaper.

However, the ‘paste the paper’ method has garnered a reputation for being fairly challenging, which is why it is important to gather all the products and accessories you’ll need before starting installation. You will also need to be very accurate when applying the paper and ensure the patterns line up properly – re-application can be a hassle.

‘Self-Adhesive’

Self-adhesive – as the name implies – is wallpaper with a backing that can be peeled off to reveal a highly adhesive surface that can then be applied straight to your wall. This is ideal for beginners when it comes to DIY. However, you will still need to be careful, as it can be very difficult to alter self-adhesive wallpaper once it has been applied to your wall!

There is also the matter that self-adhesive wallpaper simply doesn’t last as long as some of the other varieties. Not only can the adhesive wear away, loosening the paper, but the paper itself is generally less durable, and more susceptible to scratches, scuffs and more. You’re also unlikely to find self-adhesive wallpaper amongst more sophisticated patterns and designs.

There are many different brands that produce wallpaper, each offering a plethora of designs ranging from simplistic yet stylish to complex patterns and images that catch the eye and stand out from the rest of the room.

One such brand is Graham and Brown, a fantastic manufacturer that is well-known for their huge collection of wallpapers featuring just about every type of design you can think of. Some of their patterns are instantly recognisable, utilising world-famous images as well as intellectual properties such as Harry Potter and the Marvel Universe.

Other patterns are exclusive to Graham and Brown themselves, and consist of everything from simple colours, swirls, and shapes to commissioned pieces and featured artworks from some of the most accomplished designers working today, designed everything from beautiful floral aesthetics to wonderful sketches of birds and other wildlife.

Graham and Brown have an array of collections to suit every purpose, with some specifically designed for traditional living rooms and dining rooms, while others are more suited to apartment builds and urban projects. The manufacturer’s papers are installed in various ways depending on the particular product, with the three most common being ‘paste-the-wall’, ‘paste-the-paper’ and self-adhesive.

And there you have it – some of the key things to bear in mind when you’re looking buy wallpaper for your home. You will hopefully now have a clearer idea on what is most important to you when it comes to the facts and figures of wallpaper. Is there a specific texture or surface type you want, or is the aesthetic more important? There’s no wrong answer, so browse now to find the perfect fit for your home.

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