How To Measure For Peel & Stick Wallpaper, In Pictures

We know measuring for wallpaper can be the kink in the works for some people. To make the process as easy as possible, we're showing you exactly how to do it...in pictures! Yay for helpful visuals. :) 

Remember, unlike many other wallpaper brands, our wallpaper at MUSE Wall Studio doesn't require you to buy an extra 30% to ensure proper seam matching. Simply follow the steps here and you'll have just the right amount for your project.

Basic Info

First things first: let's get on the same page with how our peel & stick wallpaper works. You'll be ordering individual panels to match the height of your wall. Each panel is 25 inches wide. You'll need multiple panels to cover your wall. Here's the visual...

You'll place the panels side by side with no overlap for one seamless design across the wall. The pink boxes are for illustrative purposes only. ;) 

Now, let's get to measuring. We'll show how to measure three different types of walls.

How to measure rectangular walls

Simply measure the width and height of the wall. It's nice to have a partner hold the measuring tape at one end while you pull it across the wall. If you don't have a partner, use that handy dandy wallpaper sample (or some masking tape) to help secure the end of the tape to the wall for you.  Next steps: use our handy chart to select the appropriate panel size and quantity. To find the standard size panel that will work for your wall (32, 64, 96, or 120 inches high), just choose the size that matches your wall height or is a little taller than your wall. We can also make custom panel heights — just ask! To figure out how many of those panels you need, reference the chart, or divide the total width in inches by 25 (because each panel is 25 inches wide). Round up to the nearest whole number and you have your answer!

How to measure angled walls

This is a two-stepper, but still totally do-able.

Step 1: Measure the maximum width and height of the wall. 

With us so far? Next...

Step 2: Measure the wall height every 25 inches (from left to right).

Why do this? We're trying to find out which panels can be shorter, to save you some hard-earned moo-lah. This information will tell us how tall each 25 inch wide panel needs to be to cover the space.

There's a trick...if your wall is level at the bottom (vs. the top) as shown in this picture, then we'll need to do some further checking on our end to make sure the panels will seam match at various heights. Please send us the measurements you've taken, along with a photo or diagram, and we'll do the rest. :) 

How to measure around doorways

Wide doorways sometimes mean an opportunity to save money because you MAY be able to get away with one or two shorter panels. Let's take a look...

Step 1: Just like above, you'll measure the maximum width and height of the wall (top image).

Step 2: You'll then measure the height of the wall every 25 inches (bottom image). Just as we explained in the angled wall example, if any 25 inch wide sections are shorter, you can get shorter wallpaper panels. 

Let's have a visual showing how this works...

In the picture above each pink rectangle represents a single wallpaper panel. The far left panel just covers the full width of the tall section of wall, which means the next panel to the right (and the next one!) can be shorter.

Just be sure to measure every 25 inches so you know if you really can go shorter on any single panel. Wouldn't it be a major bummer if the far left panel was an inch too narrow to cover all the way down the wall, and you unexpectedly had a section of wall showing through? :( Measure as we've shown and that won't happen to you.

How to measure around a window

For almost every size window you'll use the same approach as the first example, a rectangular wall. Since you'll need wallpaper to cover underneath the window (and seam match the adjacent panels) simply ignore the window for the purposes of measuring. You'll have a little extra material from cutting around the window, but keep in mind 1) you don't have to order 30% extra on top of this for seam matching, and 2) there are so many fun and useful ways to reuse the leftover wallpaper around your house. 

However if your window takes up the majority of the wall, please send a diagram and we'll offer advice. 

If you need help, you can always reach out to one of our Design Consultants to get sizing recommendations. Photos and diagrams are always helpful! Just email us at [email protected] and we'll gladly assist.