Graham & Brown | Wallpaper, Paint & Home Interior (2024)

How-To

The exclusive Graham & Brown guide on measuring wallpaper

So, you’ve decided you want to wallpaper your walls – great choice! But now you’re faced with the ultimate question of ‘how many rolls do I need?’

We like to make things easy for you, so we’ve created an online calculator to do the work. All you need to do is enter the height and width of your walls (in metres) and you’re ready to go! The online calculator can be found on each product page on our website.

You can also use the below chart to look up your measurements and estimate how many standard rolls of wallpaper you’ll need to complete your job.

Once you have decided which wallpaper you like, measure the height and width of the desired wall or walls to decorate. See the next page of this document for tips on measuring your walls.

Below you will find tips for measuring your walls and other useful information on match types and what the various symbols mean.

TOP TIP

You can also quickly and easily estimate how many rolls you need with the Graham & Brown calculator, available on the product page of each wallpaper pattern.

HOW TO MEASURE IN 3 EASY STEPS:

Just as every wallpaper design is different, so is every room. There is no hard and fast rule to figure out the number of rolls you need to finish your project. But you can get an idea by measuring the length and width of the walls, which helps to minimize waste and cost.

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1.) Use a tape measure to measure the length and width of each wall to the nearest centimeter.

2.) Logic may suggest taking door and window measurements along with the walls. But there's a good reason to ignore them: You’ll end up ordering slightly more wallpaper than you need. Excluding the doors and windows from your measurement should give you just the right amount of excess. Why go for extra? In case of mistakes. You always want to measure for an extra 10% of waste.

3.) Grab the height and width you measured, plug them into the Graham & Brown chart, and find out how many rolls you need to finish the job.

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Our easy to use Graham & Brown wallpaper calculator will quickly and easily calculate how many rolls you require.

This is available on the product page of each wallpaper pattern.

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TOP TIP
If you have a large room such as a kitchen to cover, consider measuring one wall at a time and adding up the total at the end.

IMPORTANT!
Every wallpaper design is different. The right amount for your project depends on the match type and the size of the repeat of the pattern.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT MATCH TYPES?

Your perfect wallpaper arrives in one of three different match types: free, straight, or offset.

FREE MATCH

The easiest wallpaper to hang—free match means no visible joins or seams, no matter how you hang the strips. With hardly any chance of hanging it wrong, you can expect to spend a lot less time and finish with a lot less waste.

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STRAIGHT MATCH

Straight match means the left and right edge of one strip match—in a straight horizontal line—with the left and right edge of next strip. Want to check if the match is straight? Just layout two strips next to each other.

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OFFSET MATCH

Offset match means the right edge of first strip only matches the edge of the next strip at a specified distance. A 64/32cm offset match, for example, means the design repeats every 64cm and the point at which they match, from left to right, is every 32cm.

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WHAT DO THE SYMBOLS ON THE LABEL MEAN?

Other Symbols on the label will relate to the following:

  • How easy the products are to clean
  • The method of application
  • Hanging direction (for example 'reverse hang alternate lengths' is occasionally used to create a seamless effect on certain designs)

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SHOP STYLISH WALLPAPER TODAY

Discover amazing designs when you shop our exciting range ofGraham & Brown wallpaper collections.

Graham & Brown | Wallpaper, Paint & Home Interior (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of wallpaper on walls? ›

Harder to clean: Wallpaper is generally harder to clean than painted walls, and can be easily damaged if you're not careful. Time-consuming to remove: Removing wallpaper can be a challenging and time-consuming process, especially if the wallpaper has been in place for many years.

Is it cheaper to paint or wallpaper a room? ›

Lower cost: Paint is cheaper to buy and put up than wallpaper. If you're doing the job yourself, you can save even more. Easy to change: If you decide you don't like a color or want to stay current with paint color trends, it's easy to change. Just paint over with a primer and a couple coats.

Is graham and brown wallpaper sustainable? ›

Our digital factory uses 100% renewable energy. Close to half of our Graham & Brown branded range is made in our Digital Eco factory. We've invested in three international sustainability projects. This century, we'll be responsible for planting 16.8 million trees.

Where are Graham and Brown based? ›

Graham & Brown | Blackburn.

Why is wallpaper no longer used? ›

One of the reasons why people stopped using wallpapers is that they used to be very difficult to install and remove. At present, thanks to modern technology, it is easier to install wallpaper than you can even do it on your own. It is even easier to replace than with a different design.

Does wallpaper devalue a home? ›

Before you invest in a swimming pool or new addition, you should consider whether the project will pay itself off by getting prospective buyers in the door when it's time to sell. Here are some common home improvement projects that could decrease the value of your home: Too much wallpaper. Built-in electronics.

Is Graham and Brown factory closing down? ›

About 100 jobs are at risk in Blackburn after wallpaper company Graham & Brown announced plans to close its manufacturing site on Harwood Street. It is part of a proposal by the firm to increase investment in digital production at a new state-of-the-art, low carbon production site in Padiham.

Can you paint over brown wallpaper? ›

With the proper prep, you can paint over almost any kind of wallpaper. The only thing to consider is the condition of the wallpaper. If there are any chips, holes or noticeable scratches in the wallpaper, it's better to strip the wall instead of painting over the wallpaper.

Is Graham and Brown Blackburn closing down? ›

Wallpaper giant Graham & Brown (G&B) has revealed it will close its Blackburn production site and switch to digital-only production, shopping its longer-run work out to European partners.

What is the history of Graham and Brown? ›

The company was started in 1946 by Mr Harold Graham and Mr Henry Brown – both of whom had worked in the industry before the war. Their first machines they purchased were for surface printing – a technique a little link lino printing, but on a roller. They struggled to find paper to print on due to post war rationing.

How do I contact Graham and Brown? ›

If you do have any questions you can contact us either by emailing us or call 0808 168 3795 (Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm), if you could include your order number on any communication that would be very much appreciated.

How much wallpaper do I need? ›

Multiply each wall length together by the height of the room to get the area of each wall. Then divide that number by the size of the wallpaper roll to get the number of rolls you will need for your project.

Is wallpaper damaging to walls? ›

Traditional wallpapers require wet paste for application and normally tear your wall apart when removed while peel and stick wallpapers will typically come off without leaving much of a mark.

What is better than wallpaper? ›

Wallpaper and paint are both great options to refresh a room. Paint is best for areas prone to moisture, like kitchens and bathrooms. Paint is DIY-friendly, while wallpaper generally needs professional installation. Wallpaper can last 10 to 15 years, while paint needs touch-ups every three to five years.

What are the side effects of wallpaper? ›

Condensation and mold are likely to occur

In some cases, the back side was full of mold when the vinyl cloth was peeled off. Mold not only has a negative effect on buildings, but also it has a negative effect on the human body. Inhaling too much mold spores can lead to allergies and infections.

Is it good to put wallpaper on wall? ›

Wallpapers can last up to 15 years and have high sustainability and reliability. Whereas, wall paints have a tendency to get damaged easily. Paints can last on a well-prepared surface for 5-6 years, still needs to touch up every year or two.

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