Wallpaper is a popular option for transforming some of the largest surfaces in your home to create beautiful visual effects. Figuring out how much wallpaper you’ll need isn’t difficult once you know how to take a few basic measurements. Using this wallpaper installation guide to begin your project helps you get the information you need to calculate how many rolls it will take to cover your walls in style.
Gather the Appropriate Tools
Measuring for a DIY wallpaper installation only requires a few tools that you may already own. You’ll need a tape measure that is long enough to reach across the walls. Have pad of paper and a pencil available to write down the measurements. Finally, use a step ladder for measuring the wall’s height.
Start by Measuring Height and Width
Take your measuring tape and begin to measure each wall. Measuring from left to right tends to be easiest. You might also find it easier to recruit someone to hold the measuring tape on one side of the wall.
Next measure the height of the wall. Start at the edge of the baseboard and measure all the way to the ceiling seam or where crown molding begins. For walls with varying heights, measure the highest point, such as the peak on a vaulted ceiling.
Know How to Handle Multiple Wall Calculations
Measuring for a single accent wall is fairly simple. But, you’ll need to know how to handle multiple wall calculations when you plan to wallpaper two or more areas. Once you have the width of the walls, you can add them all together to get the final calculation for this measurement.
Then, you can multiply the height by the total width. Keep in mind that you might need to plan for large cutouts during this step. Doors, windows, fireplaces and built-in cabinets are just a few features that might impact how much wallpaper you actually need.
You can measure the length and width of these cutouts to determine the area. As a general rule, you won’t need to subtract this measurement from the total if it is less than 20 feet. But, you might need to account for the cutouts when they are large enough to impact how much wallpaper you need to use.
Record the Dimensions
As you measure, make sure you are writing down dimensions. You might also need to create a list of the different dimensions of the walls in the area you plan to wallpaper when you are covering various areas in a house.
Once you have confirmed the dimensions, you can then enter them into a Wallpaper Roll Estimator. To do this, you’ll also need to know the width and length of the wallpaper rolls you plan to use. If the wallpaper has a repeating pattern, then include the inches for the repeat to get the most accurate calculation.
Avoid Common Measuring Mistakes
As you begin your measuring project, it is always best to measure an area twice to make sure the measurement is accurate. You would be surprised to find discrepancies once measurements are taken twice. If there is a varied discrepancy between the two reads, measure a third time. This is an old time measuring trick that is commonly used by remodeling professionals. Make sure to account for varying ceiling heights and cutouts also helps you to avoid common mistakes with the calculations.
As a final note, remember that it is always best to have slightly more wallpaper on hand than you likely need. By being careful with your measurements, you can order your wallpaper with confidence that your final calculation is accurate.