DIY Wallpaper Guide: How to Choose, Measure, and Prep Like a Pro
Thinking about adding wallpaper to your home? Whether you’re dreaming of bold florals in the powder room or a subtle linen texture in the bedroom, wallpaper can completely change the look and feel of a space. And yes—you can tackle it yourself if you’ve got the patience and the prep.
At Pro Image Painting LLC, we install wallpaper for homeowners throughout New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts—but we also love to empower DIYers with the know-how to do it right.
Here are our top tips for choosing the right wallpaper, measuring your space accurately, and understanding the basics of installation—before you cut your first roll.
🎨 Step 1: Choosing the Right Wallpaper
There’s a huge range of wallpaper types on the market, and each has its own pros and cons. A few things to consider:
1. Material Type
Vinyl – Durable, washable, and great for beginners.
Non-woven – Tear-resistant and breathable; usually paste-the-wall (easier to work with).
Grasscloth – Natural texture and high-end look, but harder to hang and not wipeable.
Peel-and-Stick – Good for renters or short-term changes, but limited in finish quality.
2. Pattern Repeat
Look at the pattern repeat on the label. Larger repeats = more waste = more rolls needed. Some patterns are straight match (easier), while others are drop match (more complex alignment).
3. Room Conditions
Bathrooms or kitchens? Choose moisture-resistant wallpaper.
High-traffic areas? Avoid delicate, easily torn papers.
Dark or bold patterns? Test a sample on the wall before committing.
Pro Tip: Order a sample first! Tape it up on your wall and live with it for a few days.
📐 Step 2: How to Measure Your Space
Before you buy wallpaper, you need to know how much to order. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Basic Measuring Steps:
Measure the total wall height and width (in inches or feet).
Subtract large windows or doors only if they take up significant space AND the paper you’ve purchased doesn’t have a repeat pattern. If it has a repeat, act like the windows and doors don’t exist, as your panels will layout requiring you to not use the paper that falls in those areas.
Add up the width of all the walls to get the total width you’ll need. Then divide that number by the width of the wallpaper roll you’re using. That will give you the amount of panels you will need to cut.
Then, take the number of panels you will need to cut, and multiply it by the height of the wall (to allow for trimming add 5-8 inches to the height). Take that amount and divide it by the length of each roll. That will tell you how many rolls you will need to order.
Pro Tip: Wallpaper is printed by batch. If you run out while you are hanging, and have to order more paper, there is a chance that the next batch you order from doesn’t match your current paper exactly. It’s always safer to order extra to ensure you don’t run out, or have to use a different batch.
Account for Pattern Repeats:
Always add 10%–20% extra for trimming, pattern alignment, and errors.
Know the Roll Size:
Most wallpaper rolls are:
20.5" or 27" wide
33 feet long (single roll) or sold as double rolls (~56 sq. ft. coverage)
Check the manufacturer’s label. If it says one roll covers 56 sq. ft. and your room is 180 sq. ft., you’ll need 4 rolls (plus 1 extra for safe measure). If you are hanging an accent wall that is 10’ wide by 8’ tall, and the paper is 20.5” in width and 33’ long, you will need 6 panels to be cut, and will get 4 panels from each roll, requiring 2 rolls to be ordered. If that same wallpaper has a full repeat (aka a pattern that takes 20.5” to match correctly), you’ll want to order 3 rolls, as you’ll only get 2 panel lengths from each roll.
Pro Tip: Use an online wallpaper calculator or ask the supplier directly—they often do this math for you.
🛠 Step 3: Understand the Basic Hanging Process
Even if you hire a pro, knowing the process helps you plan the project and timeline. If you’re doing it yourself, follow these general steps:
1. Prep the Walls
Fill nail holes and sand smooth.
Wash off grease, dirt, or old paste.
Prime the surface with wallpaper primer (especially important on drywall or painted walls).
Ensure the paper you’ve chosen doesn’t require lining paper (the specifications should tell you more about the prep required). If lining paper is required, you hang the lining paper the same way you would the wallpaper prior to hanging the wallpaper.
2. Cut the Wallpaper
Lay out your first few panels. Make sure to pay attention to the pattern of the paper and where you want it to fall on your wall prior to determining where your pattern top begins and bottom ends, as this will be what you match as you continue to cut the next patterns.
Match patterns and leave 2–3 inches at the top and bottom for trimming.
Number the back if you’re doing a mural or drop-match pattern.
Pro tip: Label the top and bottom on the back of the panel to ensure you match the pattern correctly.
3. Apply Paste (or Peel Back Liner)
Use the paste recommended by the wallpaper brand.
“Paste-the-wall” papers are easier—less mess and quicker setup.
4. Hang and Smooth
Start from a plumb line, not the edge of the wall.
Apply from top to bottom, smoothing bubbles out as you go.
Use a smoothing brush, not your hands.
5. Trim Edges
Use a sharp blade and straight edge to trim the top and bottom.
Change blades often to avoid tearing the paper.
Pro Tip: You need a sharp blade because if you tear the paper - particularly along the edge/seam line - you risk losing that whole panel. Blades are far more inexpensive than the paper, so when in doubt, switch your blade.
6. Clean Up
Wipe away excess paste gently with a damp sponge.
Pro Tip: Do a test run with a less visible wall—or even a large poster board—to get the hang of smoothing, cutting, and matching patterns.
🧰 What You’ll Need
Tape measure
Level or laser plumb line
Wallpaper smoothing brush
Utility knife + extra blades
Wallpaper paste (unless peel-and-stick)
Drop cloths + sponge
Step ladder
📞 When to Call a Pro Instead
Some wallpapers—especially grasscloth, metallics, high-end murals, or anything with complicated repeats—are tricky even for experienced DIYers.
Hire a pro if:
You’re investing in designer wallpaper
You want perfect seams and zero bubbles
Your walls are textured or curved
You’ve got multiple tricky cuts (windows, trim, outlets)
At Pro Image Painting, our full-time wallpaper team specializes in designer installations, accent walls, and custom projects that look flawless up close.
📍 Ready to Wallpaper Your Home?
We offer wallpaper estimates and installations throughout:
Londonderry
Bedford
Portsmouth
Hollis
Moultonborough
Alton
Wolfeboro
The Lakes
North Shore MA and Southern NH
📅 Schedule your wallpaper estimate here
📞 Or give us a call at 603-391-5214
Final Thoughts
Wallpaper is one of the fastest ways to elevate your space—but it’s also one of the easiest to get wrong. If you’re a confident DIYer, follow the tips above and start small. If you’re ready for a room that wows (and lasts), we’re here to help.
