Ordering wallpaper samples before committing to a full order is the single most important step in any wallpaper project. A sample on your actual wall — in your actual light, next to your actual furniture — tells you more than any screen image, room visualiser, or description can. This guide explains why samples matter, how to order them, and how to use them to make the right decision with confidence.
Why Samples Are Essential
Wallpaper looks different on screen than it does in real life — and it looks different in your room than it does in anyone else's. Here's what a sample reveals that a screen image cannot:
- True colour: Screen colours vary enormously between devices and are affected by screen brightness, colour calibration, and ambient light. The only way to know the true colour of a wallpaper is to see it in person.
- How it looks in your light: A wallpaper that looks warm and rich on a south-facing wall in afternoon sun may look cold and flat on a north-facing wall in winter. Your specific light conditions are unique to your room.
- True scale: Pattern scale is very difficult to judge from a screen image. A pattern that looks bold and large on screen may look small and delicate at full scale on a wall — and vice versa.
- Texture and finish: The texture and sheen of a wallpaper — matte, satin, embossed — can only be appreciated in person.
- How it works with your existing room: A sample next to your sofa, your curtains, and your floor tells you immediately whether the wallpaper works with your existing room.
How to Order Samples from Peel & Pattern
- Browse our full collection and shortlist your favourite patterns.
- Visit our Samples page and add your chosen samples to your cart.
- Complete your order. Samples are dispatched quickly — typically within 1–2 business days.
How Many Samples Should I Order?
Order as many as you need to feel confident — typically 3–5 samples for a single room project. It's far better to spend a small amount on samples than to commit to a full order and discover the colour isn't right in your light.
If you're choosing between two very similar patterns or colourways, order both — the difference will be immediately clear when you see them side by side on your wall.
How to Use Your Samples
Step 1: Apply the Sample to the Wall
Peel-and-stick wallpaper samples can be applied directly to the wall. Apply the sample to the most representative area of the wall — ideally the area that will be most visible in the finished room.
Step 2: Observe in Different Lights
Look at the sample at different times of day and in different lighting conditions:
- Morning light (cooler, bluer)
- Afternoon light (warmer, more golden)
- Evening with artificial lighting (warm lamp light vs. overhead light)
A wallpaper that looks perfect in afternoon sun may look very different by lamplight in the evening. Make sure you love it in all the conditions you'll actually live with it in.
Step 3: Check Against Your Existing Room
Hold the sample next to your sofa fabric, your curtains, your rug, and your floor. Does it work? Does it complement or clash? Does it feel like it belongs in the room?
Step 4: Live With It for a Few Days
Don't make your decision immediately. Leave the sample on the wall for 2–3 days and notice how you feel about it each time you walk into the room. The right wallpaper will make you smile every time you see it.
Step 5: Check the Scale
A single sample gives you a limited view of the pattern. Try to visualise how the pattern will look repeated across the full wall. For large-scale patterns, consider ordering two samples and placing them side by side to get a better sense of the repeat.
What If I'm Still Not Sure?
If you're torn between two options after seeing the samples, trust your gut — your first instinct is usually right. If you're genuinely undecided, consider which pattern you'd regret not choosing. The wallpaper that excites you slightly more is almost always the right choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are wallpaper samples the same material as the full rolls?
Yes — Peel & Pattern samples are cut from the same rolls as the full product. The colour, texture, and finish are identical.
Can I return samples?
See our returns policy for details on sample returns.
How long does sample delivery take?
Samples are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days. See our shipping information for delivery timeframes to your location.
Order Your Samples Today
Browse our full collection and order your samples. Use our Complete Buyer's Guide to help narrow down your shortlist before ordering.