How to Use a Wallpaper Calculator

When ordering wallpaper, you want to purchase the appropriate amount. If you don’t have enough of the wall covering, you’ll have to go back to the store for another purchase. If you have too much, then you may feel like you’ve wasted money on additional paper. Determining how many rolls to buy might seem overwhelming, but there are tools to help you simplify this process.

Start with the Calculator

A wallpaper calculator allows you to take the size of your room and key information about the pattern to help you determine how many rolls are needed. You’ll need to know the square footage of your room walls to start. If you don’t know this information, you can determine by measuring the height of your walls and then multiplying it by the length of all the walls.

Next, you’ll have to enter the width of the rolls. Finally, you’ll need to add in the scrap paper that is produced when you have a repeating pattern. Lining up the pattern for a seamless finish looks great, but scrap becomes impossible to avoid. Measure how far down the roll your patter goes before it starts to repeat, and then enter this information into the repeat estimator on the calculator. The system will give you an approximate number of rolls to buy.

Trust the Professionals

While this can give you a ballpark figure for your budget, it’s still better to have the professionals do the measuring. Many homeowners will forget about the small wall sections over doorways and closets, or you may neglect to account for part of the pattern. The professionals know what mistakes to avoid and can provide you with more accurate purchase information. This will simplify the installation process and ensure that you have all the necessary materials.

Get Some Extra

Accidents can happen, but you can easily patch wallpaper if an area does become torn down the road. However, buying more rolls of a pattern after the fact can be almost impossible. It’s faster and easier to simply purchase a little extra today and then leave it stored in the top of a closet. You’ll have the paper on hand for your walls and for accenting other items.

Accent Ideas

You can put wallpaper on more than just walls. Adding wallpaper to other areas helps tie a room together and gives it a beautiful finished touch. Put coordinating paper on the recessed panels of an old dining room hutch. Use wallpaper on the end of your bathroom cabinet to make it look more like a built-in fixture. Use it on light switch covers, or use it as a border around attractive pictures that are on solid colored walls in the room.

Choosing the right pattern for your home is only the first part of the wallpaper process. Next, you’ll need to determine how much paper you need. Use our wallpaper calculator for budget purposes while you’re planning, but let the professionals take exact measurements before you place the final order.