Avoiding Common Wallpaper Ordering Mistakes: A Guide From Our Design Team

At Koko Art Shop, we love helping you bring beautiful designs into your home. However, after working with thousands of clients, we’ve noticed a few common mistakes that can lead to unnecessary stress, delays, or unexpected results. This guide is here to help you avoid them and make the ordering process smooth, accurate, and enjoyable.

1. Expecting a Perfect Paint-Color Match

One of the biggest misunderstandings is the expectation that wallpaper can match a paint color exactly. While we can create an approximate match, we can never guarantee an identical result.

Why?
Paint and printed inks behave differently:

• Paint absorbs into the wall, deepening as it dries.
• Printed colors sit on the surface of the paper, reflecting light differently.
• Even professional paint-matching machines allow a tolerance range because true matches are nearly impossible.

Important tip:
When paint is applied on a wall, the color often darkens. If you want a soft or very light wallpaper shade, always request a lighter tone than your paint sample. This gives you the best chance of achieving the look you have in mind.

2. Sampling One Paper Type and Ordering Another

This is a small detail that leads to big surprises.

Different wallpaper materials: Removable Peel and Stick, Canvas Peel and Stick, Long Term Peel and Stick, Traditional Pre-Pasted will all print the same color differently because:

• Each material absorbs ink differently
• Texture changes how color appears
• Matte, eggshell, or ultra-matte finishes affect brightness

If you sample a color on one material but order your project on a different material, the color will not match your sample.

Always sample in the same material you plan to order.

3. Underestimating How Much Wallpaper You Need

Mistakes happen when people:

• Order the bare minimum
• Start installation
• Then discover they need more panels

If the re-order happens weeks or months later, the new print run may have slight color variation compared to the original. This is normal in all printing industries.

To avoid mismatched panels:

Order all the panels you will need at once.

We can guide you on measurements anytime, just reach out.

4. Focusing Only on Aesthetics, Not on Technical Suitability

We all love beautiful designs, but the technical side is just as important.

Before ordering, always consider:

• Is your wall textured?
• Do you need removable or long-term adhesive?
• Is the room humid (bathroom, kitchen)?
• Do you need traditional wallpaper instead of peel and stick?

Choosing a material purely based on preference, without considering wall conditions, can cause installation failure. A gorgeous mural won’t matter if it doesn’t adhere correctly.

5. Expecting Ultra-Precise Corrections on Custom Murals

Sometimes customers request adjustments like:
“Move the tree one inch to the left” or
“Raise the mountain by exactly half an inch.”

But walls are rarely perfectly square. When we design custom murals, we build range and wiggle room into the artwork so it looks balanced once installed.

Precision down to the exact inch isn’t always possible, or even practical, because:

• Walls tilt
• Floors slope
• Corners vary
• Window and door framing is never perfectly symmetrical

Trust that our designers will place elements in ways that ensure the best final look once installed.

6. Not Consulting Your Installer Before Ordering

Every installer has their own preferences and limitations. Some do not work with peel and stick at all, or only with traditional papers.

Always speak with your installer before placing an order to avoid problems later.

You’ll want to confirm:

• Do they install peel and stick?
• Do they double-cut?
• Do they require overlaps?
• Are they comfortable with textured walls?
• Do they need extra material?

Skipping this step leads to the most preventable installation issues we see.

7. Wallpaper Is a Luxury Item, Budget Wisely

Good wallpaper and good installers both come at a cost. If you’re working within a tight budget, planning is key:

• Order the right amount the first time
• Choose a material suitable for your walls
• Avoid reprints caused by late changes
• Factor in installer fees
• Sample in the correct material
• Make sure the space is ready for installation

A little planning upfront saves money later.

Final Thoughts

Our goal is always to help you create a space you love, while avoiding the stress that comes from preventable issues. If you ever feel unsure about measurements, materials, color matching, or installation, please reach out. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.

A beautiful result starts with the right information, and we’re always happy to provide it.