A question we hear
What do I need to know before choosing or ordering a wallcovering?
Material, roll or panel format, width, repeat, match type and hanging method affect preparation, quantity and installation. Texture, metallic effects and natural materials also need to be seen physically.
Plain-language definitions
Terms used in this guide
- Pattern repeat
- The vertical distance before a wallpaper design repeats.
- Match type
- How adjacent drops must be positioned so the design joins correctly.
Read the full specification
Check whether it is sold by roll, metre, panel or set. Record usable width, repeat and match together before estimating quantities.
Match preparation to the paper
Walls should be sound, clean and appropriately sealed. Follow the current supplier instruction for paste-the-wall, paste-the-paper or specialist adhesive requirements.
Check appearance and batch
View a current sample for scale, texture and reflectivity. Order the calculated quantity together where batch consistency matters.
Evidence and method
How this guidance is supported
Showroom test
A practical way to check it
Open the largest available sample and inspect it both at room distance and close up. Confirm width, repeat, match, format and hanging method before estimating.
What we observed
From the showroom counter
The pattern image answers only part of the question. Wallpaper books and samples make scale, relief, sheen and construction much easier to judge before ordering.
Technical data
What can be verified
Dimensions, repeat, match type, backing, adhesive and hanging method belong to the individual wallcovering specification and can change between collections.
Our recommendation
How to use the guidance
Material, roll or panel format, width, repeat, match type and hanging method affect preparation, quantity and installation. Texture, metallic effects and natural materials also need to be seen physically.
Limitations
Where the advice stops
Supplier instructions, current samples and installer assessment take precedence over general guidance.
Manufacturer source
Manufacturer and authoritative guidance
- Arte instruction videos and technical installation guidance
- Arte explanation of wallpaper match types
External sources support specific factual checks. Designer Colours’ recommendations and showroom observations remain clearly labelled separately.