Wallpaper FAQs
Wallpaper in a room or on an accent wall can add an interesting level of detail to the overall look of your room, but it can be a daunting task if you’ve not wallpapered before.
The following questions answer some of the basic issues that crop up during wallpapering and painting. Please see below for answers to frequently asked questions regarding: Quantity, Type, Samples, Wallpaper Paste, and more.
Wallpaper Quantity
How much wallpaper do I need?
Each of our wallpaper product pages includes a wallpaper calculator, to help you calculate the amount of wallpaper you need. We recommend allowing an additional 10% for trimming excess and pattern matching. The wallpaper calculator should be used as a guide only, if you would like any assistance please contact [email protected]
How big is a roll of wallpaper?
Most wallpaper rolls are a standard size: 21” or 52.5cm across by 11 yards or 10m long. The only exception to this is Sackville Street, printed in a wider format, 31.5” / 80cm.
Wallpaper Type
What is non woven wallpaper?
A non woven base paper is not actually a conventional paper. It does not expand when wet and is perhaps easier for the novice decorator to hang, as you can paste the wall rather than paste (and soak) the wallpaper.
Wallpaper Samples
Can I order free wallpaper samples?
A4 wallpaper samples are available on our website for all designs. You can order up to six different patterns free of charge.
Wallpaper Paste
What wallpaper paste should I use?
Little Greene Ready Mixed Wallpaper Paste must be used with Little Greene wallpapers to ensure the best results.
Is there a wallpaper paste data sheet?
Yes. The wallpaper paste datasheet is available here.
How much wallpaper paste do I need?
For up to 3 rolls of wallpaper, we would advise 2.5kg of paste. For larger projects of up to 6 rolls, 5kg of wallpaper paste.
Wallpaper Preparation
How do you prepare a wall for wallpapering?
This answer is best broken down into the following steps: Make it smooth – Fill any holes or bumps in the wall to ensure you have a smooth wallpapering surface. If your wall is in really bad shape, you may need to have it plastered before applying any wallpaper. Lining paper – Although not a necessity, lining paper will help cover a multitude of imperfections in a wall – a common issue in older properties. Lining paper should be cross-hung (applied horizontally) if you’re going to hang a wallpaper on it (this will prevent the glue from the top wallpaper lifting the joints of the lining paper), or hung vertically (with completely flush joints) if you’re going to paint it. Apply the wallpaper!
Can you paint directly over wallpaper?
In a word, yes. It is generally best to strip the wall if you are planning on painting it, but you are able to paint directly onto it with most wallpaper. You need to make sure you have an even surface, so this means pasting down any loose bits of wallpaper, and filling any holes that may be in the wall. If the wallpaper is shiny you may want to test a small area first to see how the paint reacts to the surface and use a primer if necessary.
Wallpaper Removal
What is the best method to remove wallpaper?
There are a lot of different ways to successfully remove wallpaper from a wall, but some of them can be very tedious. Heat can often be the best free solution to remove wallpaper. Covering an area of the wallpaper with very hot water and leaving it to soak in for couples of minutes, then scraping it off becomes much easier. For quicker results, you may find that a wallpaper steamer helps dampen the wallpaper a lot easier, but this obviously comes at an extra cost.
Wallpaper Returns
What is Little Greene's return policy for wallpaper?
Returns will be accepted within three months of purchase as long as unopened, in resaleable condition, design is still current and subject to proof of purchase. We recommend returning your unused wallpaper using a tracked or recorded delivery service.