Ordering a wallpaper sample before committing to a full order is one of the most important steps in any wallpaper project — and one of the most underused. A sample lets you see the true color, scale, and texture of a wallpaper in your actual room, under your actual lighting conditions. Colors that look perfect on a screen can look completely different on a wall. This guide explains exactly how to use wallpaper samples to make the right choice every time.
Why You Should Always Order a Sample
Screen colors are not reliable. Every monitor, phone, and tablet displays colors differently — and even a perfectly calibrated screen cannot replicate the way a color looks on a physical surface in a real room. The same wallpaper can look completely different in a north-facing room with cool natural light versus a south-facing room with warm afternoon sun. A sample eliminates this uncertainty: you see exactly what you're getting before you commit.
How Many Samples Should You Order?
Order between 2 and 5 samples per project. Narrowing down to a shortlist of 2–5 options and ordering samples of each is far more efficient than ordering one sample at a time. Most people find that seeing samples side by side in the room makes the right choice immediately obvious.
How to Assess a Wallpaper Sample
Step 1: Hold It Against the Wall
Hold the sample flat against the wall you plan to wallpaper — not on a table or floor. Colors look different on vertical surfaces than horizontal ones because of the way light falls.
Step 2: Assess in Different Lighting Conditions
Look at the sample at different times of day and in different lighting conditions:
- Morning light: Cool and blue-toned in most rooms.
- Afternoon light: Warm and golden in south and west-facing rooms.
- Evening with artificial light: The most important assessment for rooms used primarily in the evening (bedrooms, dining rooms).
- Overcast daylight: The most neutral and revealing light condition.
Step 3: Assess Against Your Existing Furniture and Flooring
Hold the sample next to your existing furniture, flooring, and soft furnishings. Does the color complement or clash? Does the pattern scale work with the scale of your furniture?
Step 4: Assess the Pattern Scale
A small sample can be misleading about pattern scale. Try to visualize how the pattern will look repeated across a full wall. Large-scale patterns that look bold on a small sample often look more balanced on a full wall; small-scale patterns that look subtle on a sample can look very busy on a full wall.
Step 5: Live With It for a Few Days
Pin or tape the sample to the wall and live with it for 2–3 days before making a decision. Your reaction to a color or pattern on day three is more reliable than your first impression.
Common Sample Assessment Mistakes
- Assessing on a table or floor: Always assess samples on the wall, not on a horizontal surface.
- Assessing only in one light condition: Always check samples in morning, afternoon, and evening light.
- Ordering only one sample: Order 2–5 samples and compare them side by side.
- Making a decision immediately: Live with the sample for a few days before committing.
- Ignoring the undertone: Pay attention to the undertone of the color — a sage green with blue undertones will look very different from a sage green with yellow undertones, especially in different light conditions.
Understanding Undertones
Every color has an undertone — a subtle secondary color that influences how it looks in different light conditions. Understanding undertones is the key to choosing a wallpaper color that looks right in your room:
- Warm undertones (yellow, orange, red): Look warmer and more inviting in cool light; can look very warm in warm light.
- Cool undertones (blue, green, purple): Look cooler and crisper in warm light; can look cold in cool light.
- Neutral undertones: The most versatile — look consistent across different light conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big are your wallpaper samples?
Our samples are A4 size (21cm × 29.7cm) — large enough to give a good impression of the pattern and color, but small enough to be practical for comparison.
Are samples the same material as the full rolls?
Yes — our samples are cut from the same rolls as the full product, so the color, texture, and finish are identical.
How long does it take to receive a sample?
Samples are dispatched within 1–2 business days and typically arrive within 3–5 business days.
Order Your Samples
Browse our full wallpaper collection and add samples to your cart. View all available samples. Once you've chosen your wallpaper, see our How to Calculate How Much Wallpaper You Need guide to place your full order.