Most wallpaper guides advise calculating the area of your walls in square feet. But Hogan says that can leave you short, as you’ll end up trimming off pieces to make the pattern line up.
Instead, he suggests measuring in linear feet. This takes into account the width of your walls as well as any doors or windows.
Measure the Walls
Take a tape measure and run it along each wall of your room, including doors and windows. Jot down the length of each wall in feet, making sure to include any non-usable areas, such as where a door frames into the room. Multiply this length by two to find the total height of your walls.
Once you have the total height of your walls, multiply that number by the width of one wallpaper roll (provided in product specifications). This number will tell you how many rows of floor-to-ceiling wallpaper you will need. Get more info on this wallpaper singapore website.
You will need to adjust this calculation if your pattern has a repeat, as some of the wallpaper will need to be cut off and used for other rooms or projects. This reduces the amount of usable wallpaper on each roll. However, Hogan cautions against subtracting areas for doors and windows because this can lead to an under-estimate that may result in a few extra rolls of wallpaper being needed.
Measure the Ceilings
Wallpaper can be tricky to hang because each strip of paper must be straight, level and flush with the ceiling. That’s why Hogan recommends not calculating square footage and instead measuring the length and width of each wall, deducting any areas covered by doors, windows or skirting boards (this is where many people go wrong).
Once you have the total surface area of the walls multiply that figure by the height of the room in metres. Then divide that number by the coverage per roll of wallpaper you’re considering (we have an online wallpaper calculator to help) and then by the length of your pattern repeat. This will tell you the number of single rolls of wallpaper your room needs. This will give you the best estimate of how much wallpaper you need to buy for your room. It will also help to prevent you from going overboard by ordering more than is required. Remember you can always return excess wallpaper for a refund.
Measure the Windows
When calculating how many rolls of wallpaper you need, it’s best to always round up. This will allow you to have extras to cut away around doors, windows and other obstacles. It’s also a good idea to subtract the areas of any doors or windows as they will reduce your total wall area.
If your chosen wallpaper has a long pattern repeat you will need more rolls than a standard sized wallpaper. An online wallpaper calculator will let you input your room size, the cost of a roll of wallpaper and the length of the pattern repeat to give you an estimate.
For a quick and accurate calculation, use the Graham & Brown calculator, which is available on each product page of each wallpaper. Just input the dimensions of your room and the amount of wallpaper you’ll need, and the calculator will instantly show the results! If you want to be really sure, bring your estimate into a retailer and have them double check it for you.
Measure the Doors
As you work your way around the room, use your tape measure to accurately note down both the width and height of each wall. Remember to also measure the height of each door and window, as these will play a crucial part in your final calculations.
The next step is to multiply the width and height of each wall to find the total surface area. Then, divide this number by the length of a standard wallpaper roll to find out how many strips one roll will cover.
Keep in mind that patterned wallpaper will require more rolls than non-fitting, single-colour options because of the extra paper needed to match the pattern. You should also add an extra roll of wallpaper to your initial calculations, just in case there are any unforeseen hiccups during installation or if you need to patch up any accidental damage.
