Wallpaper sample size

freezspirit

I know it sounds really daft to ask but it been years, well over 10 years from the last time I did some wallpapering.

So when I go into the diy store to look at the wallpapers, what a good size to take as a sample. Would a length of 10inches pieces give me a good idea for when I place them on the wall in the chosen room?

gabyjane

I think so long as you don't take the mickey that's a fine amount. It was about what i took when we were going to do our bedroom..never did do it so have £20 worth of paper under the bed still! Makes me cringe actually as last time i went in i ripped a piece off and paper cut my finger..it bled so much the lady in B&Q went to get me a plaster..hasen to say she let me keep the bloodied bit so thats another option if you need more!!

muckybutt

Id normally take a couple of foot as sometimes the pattern is drawn out over a few foot / feet

mikey72

I take between 4 to 9 feet, then I can put the length up on the wall.

loracan1

When I last decorated the hallway, I just couldn't decide whether I liked the paper or not. I kept going in for samples (the same paper) and ended up with about 4 of them sellotaped to the wall.

freezspirit

Mikey72 you sound like that bloke I once saw on a tv programme, He got banned from one chain as he managed to do several of his rooms in his house by taking "samples".

I'm looking for something in beige/cream/mocha/brown colour range. But can't decide on the pattern. I'm thinking of doing one feature wall in the guest bedroom.

dander

I'd take more if it was a large pattern, but I don't think I'd ever take less than about 10", you need to have enough to really get a feel for the colour even with a plain.

loracan1

If you're having trouble deciding on one particular pattern I'd try two pieces next to one another, it gives a much better impression of the effect. (in fact B&Q have a facility on their website to see the effect in a room, it put me off one particular paper because of the repeat)

downshifted

I've just used the internet to send for samples from Dulux (you have to pay) Sanderson and John Lewis (free) - but I don't recommend it as they send A4 pieces which are a waste of time on todays modern large patterns

freezspirit

Thanks for everyones advice.

Yep my 10inch of wall paper sample only works on plain wallpaper. I took a couple of sample from focus as they looked fine in the shop but as soon as I placed them on the chosen wall they looked horrible.

I have discovered that the couple of samples I got from Homebase which ranged from 18in to 3 ft gave me a better idea of what it looks like on the wall as they had the complete pattern.

Still not found one I'm completely happy with. I either like the design pattern but not the colour or like the background colour but not the pattern. To be honest I don't want to do an impulse buy on this so I can wait until I'm 100% happy.

boots_babe

I have never even considered taking a piece with me from the shop, I didn't know it was allowed!!

So thank you for this thread as next time we need wallpaper (soon actually) I will make sure to take some samples home with me first before choosing.