Most wallpaper disappointments are entirely avoidable. After helping thousands of customers with their wallpaper projects, we've seen the same mistakes come up again and again. This guide covers the most common wallpaper buying and installation mistakes — and exactly how to avoid every one of them.
Mistake 1: Not Ordering Samples First
This is the single most common and most costly wallpaper mistake. Ordering a full set of rolls based on a screen image — without testing a sample on your actual wall in your actual light — is a gamble that frequently doesn't pay off. Colours look different on screen than in real life. Patterns look different at scale. Your specific light conditions are unique to your room.
The fix: Always order samples before committing to a full order. Apply them to the wall and live with them for 2–3 days. See our Samples guide.
Mistake 2: Ordering Too Little Wallpaper
Running short of wallpaper mid-project is one of the most frustrating experiences in decorating. If you need to reorder, there's a real risk that the new rolls will be from a different dye lot and won't match perfectly. You may end up with a visible colour difference between panels.
The fix: Always order at least one extra roll beyond your calculation. Use our Wallpaper Calculator and add one roll. See our How Much Wallpaper Do I Need guide.
Mistake 3: Not Accounting for Pattern Repeat
Pattern repeat is the most commonly overlooked factor in wallpaper calculations. Every patterned wallpaper has a repeat — the vertical distance before the pattern repeats itself. When hanging multiple panels, each panel must be cut to align the pattern, which creates waste. Ignoring the pattern repeat leads to running short.
The fix: Always check the pattern repeat of your chosen wallpaper and factor it into your calculation. Our Wallpaper Calculator does this automatically. See our Measuring guide.
Mistake 4: Applying Wallpaper to Freshly Painted Walls
Paint takes much longer to fully cure than it takes to dry to the touch. Applying peel-and-stick wallpaper to paint that hasn't fully cured (less than 30 days old) is the most common cause of paint damage on removal — the wallpaper adhesive bonds more strongly to the uncured paint than the paint bonds to the wall.
The fix: Always wait at least 30 days after painting before applying wallpaper. See our Wall Preparation guide.
Mistake 5: Skipping Wall Preparation
Applying wallpaper to a dusty, greasy, or damp wall is a recipe for poor adhesion, bubbles, and peeling edges. Wall preparation takes 30–60 minutes and makes an enormous difference to the quality and longevity of the result.
The fix: Clean the wall thoroughly with a damp cloth and allow to dry completely before applying wallpaper. See our Wall Preparation guide.
Mistake 6: Choosing a Pattern That's Too Safe
The most common wallpaper regret is choosing a pattern that's too safe — too small, too subtle, too similar to what was there before. The pattern that looks slightly too bold on screen almost always looks perfect on the wall. The pattern that looks safe on screen often looks underwhelming in the room.
The fix: Be bolder than feels comfortable. Order samples of the pattern that excites you, not just the one that feels safe. Trust your instincts.
Mistake 7: Not Using a Spirit Level for the First Panel
Walls are rarely perfectly straight, and room corners are rarely perfectly plumb. Starting the first panel against a wall corner without checking vertical alignment means every subsequent panel will be slightly off — and the cumulative error becomes visible by the time you reach the other side of the wall.
The fix: Always use a spirit level to mark a perfectly vertical line before hanging the first panel. See our Installation guide.
Mistake 8: Ordering Rolls from Different Batches
Wallpaper is printed in batches. Rolls from different batches may have subtle colour variations that are invisible when looking at a single roll but become visible when panels are hung side by side on a wall.
The fix: Order all the rolls you need in a single order. This guarantees all rolls are from the same batch and will match perfectly.
Mistake 9: Peeling Wallpaper Off at the Wrong Angle
When removing peel-and-stick wallpaper, pulling it away from the wall at a sharp angle (90 degrees or more) dramatically increases the risk of paint damage. This is the most common cause of wall damage on removal.
The fix: Always peel slowly at a low angle — as close to parallel with the wall as possible. See our Removal guide.
Mistake 10: Not Pressing Edges Firmly Enough
Edges and joins are the most vulnerable points of any wallpaper installation. Edges that aren't pressed firmly during installation are the most common starting point for peeling.
The fix: Use your smoothing tool to press all edges and joins firmly during installation. Check them again after 24 hours and press any that have started to lift. See our Fixing guide.
The Wallpaper Success Checklist
- ✅ Ordered samples and tested on the wall
- ✅ Calculated rolls correctly, including pattern repeat
- ✅ Ordered at least one extra roll
- ✅ Ordered all rolls in a single order
- ✅ Waited 30 days after painting
- ✅ Prepared the wall thoroughly
- ✅ Used a spirit level for the first panel
- ✅ Pressed all edges firmly during installation
- ✅ Checked edges after 24 hours
Shop Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper at Peel & Pattern
Browse our full collection, order samples, and use our Wallpaper Calculator. See our Complete Installation Guide for a flawless result.