Putting wallpaper on the walls is one of the easiest and fastest ways to completely change the mood and appearance of a room. Wallpaper comes in a wide variety of styles, textures, colors, and patterns. Here are some things you need to know to select and buy the right wallpaper for the job.

First of all, you need to estimate the amount of wallpaper that will be needed for the project in question. So here is a general formula to help you figure it out. First measure the height and width you need to cover. Then be sure to add an additional 10-15% to cover the waste. Once you have this number, you can divide it by the square footage of the paper you choose. That should give you the figure for how many rolls of wallpaper you will need.

It’s not actually a bad idea to add a few extra rolls too, especially if you have a complex pattern that requires it. And furthermore, you may need to make repairs in the future anyway, so having an extra roll or two available can go a long way later.

One caveat to keep in mind regarding wallpaper is that due to the production process, rolls that might look similar in the store won’t always look like this when you hang them on the wall. That is why wallpaper rolls come in what are called dye batches that identify the rolls that actually match. So be sure to review and select your wallpaper, to look for rolls that come from the same batch of dye.

Most modern vinyl wallpapers already have paste on the back, so it’s just a matter of soaking them in water and hanging them on the wall. However, there are different types of papers available. Solid vinyl papers are the most common of all these days, as they are very durable, washable and easy to hang. There are also other papers that are simply vinyl coated and therefore somewhat less durable but still good for most uses.

More expensive papers include embossed paper that has an embossed pattern and is also easy to hang. Some papers are made from grass cloth and are especially useful for covering walls that are blemished or damaged.

Aluminum foil is very expensive, although it can quickly brighten and change a small room if used correctly. Some also like to use fabric wallpaper, but just keep in mind that it doesn’t clean very well or easily, and can be extremely difficult to hang.

Generally speaking, most wallpaper hangers find that working clockwise around the room is best for right-handed people, and working counter-clockwise works best for left-handed people. Wherever you start in the room is largely up to you, but try to select a major focal point to begin with.

Selecting and hanging wallpaper is within the reach of most homeowners. So it is one of those home improvement projects that almost anyone can do with a little determination and practice. So why not try it at home?