Wallpaper samples – how to find the right wallpaper for your home
A wallpaper can look perfect in a styled photograph and surprisingly different against your own furniture. The light, wall colour and surrounding materials all play a part. That is why ordering wallpaper samples is such a useful first step. A few small pieces can help you work out which design feels at home in your space.
What can a wallpaper sample show you?
A sample reveals details that are easy to miss on a screen: the undertone of a colour, the finish of the surface and the scale of smaller motifs. You can see whether a pale green feels fresh or greyed-down, and whether a textured plain wallpaper adds enough interest without a bold print.
Explore wallpapers and order samples.
A practical way to test wallpaper samples at home
Step 1: Build a focused shortlist
Choose three or four designs you genuinely like. Include different colourways if you are drawn to one particular pattern. Think about what you want the wallpaper to do: create a quiet background, connect the room's colours or draw attention to one wall.
Step 2: View the samples upright
Hold a sample against the actual wall you are considering. Colours often look different lying flat on a table. If you want to leave it up, use a temporary fixing method suited to the wall finish, and avoid adhesive that could damage paint or plaster.
Step 3: Check daylight and evening light
Look at the samples during the morning, in indirect daylight and after switching on your lamps. Try them beside skirting boards, flooring and larger pieces of furniture. An apparently neutral wallpaper may have pink, yellow or green undertones that become noticeable in the room.
Step 4: Give yourself time to decide
Leave your favourites within view for a day or two. A wallpaper you enjoy at different times of day is often a stronger choice than one you loved for just a moment on a product page.
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A wallpaper sample makes it easier to assess color, pattern and surface. Images: Aveo
Ideas for different rooms
For a bedroom, consider a softly coloured botanical print or a subtle textured wallpaper. A small-scale pattern with gentle contrast can add detail while keeping the overall look restful.
In a living room, a larger motif may be just right for a feature wall. Pair the physical sample with a full-room product photograph so you understand how the repeat behaves across a much larger surface.
In a hallway or home office, geometric patterns, stripes and rich textures can bring character. Even a small room can work with an expressive design; the key is how it relates to everything around it.
 Sandberg, Linnea |
 Rebel Walls, Peony Bloom |
 Boråstapeter, Eleonora |
What a small sample cannot tell you
Aveo's wallpaper samples are commonly around A4 size, though some manufacturers provide A5 pieces or narrow strips. Mural wallpaper samples may be supplied in another format or show a scaled-down version of the overall artwork.
A small sample is ideal for assessing colour and texture, but it may not show a complete large pattern repeat. Nor can you determine installation instructions or washability by touch alone. Check the product specifications for material, pattern matching and care requirements. With non-woven wallpaper, paste is generally applied to the wall; traditional paper wallpaper may require a different method.
Ordering samples and preparing for the next step
Browse Aveo's wallpaper collection, open the product page and choose Order a wallpaper sample. The price is displayed with the product information. Availability and delivery time may vary, particularly if a sample must be sourced from the manufacturer.
Once you have chosen your wallpaper, measure the width and height of the walls. The number of rolls depends on roll dimensions and pattern repeat, not simply the area in square metres. Aveo can help you calculate how much to order.
A small sample is a practical beginning to a room that feels like yours.
Frequently asked questions
How many wallpaper samples should I order?
Three or four carefully chosen options are usually enough for an initial comparison. You may need fewer if you are simply choosing between two colourways.
Will a sample show the full wallpaper pattern?
Not necessarily. For large-scale designs and murals, use the sample to evaluate colour and finish, then check full-wall images and the manufacturer's pattern-repeat information.
Can I tell whether wallpaper is non-woven from a sample?
The sample alone may not reliably identify the backing or installation method. Read the material description and hanging instructions on the product page.
Are regular wallpapers suitable for bathrooms?
Standard wallpapers are generally intended for dry rooms. A wallpaper should not be considered suitable for a wet area unless its specifications explicitly support that use.
How do I calculate the number of wallpaper rolls?
Measure wall height and width, then check roll size and pattern repeat. Ask Aveo for help if you are unsure about allowance for matching and cutting.