Wallpaper & Wall Coverings Glossary Terms

What Does Pattern Repeat and Match Type Mean for Wallpaper?

Pattern repeat is the vertical distance before a wallpaper design starts again, and match type describes how adjoining rolls line up: a straight match aligns the pattern at the same height on every length, while an offset (or drop) match requires alternate lengths to be shifted up or down to line up correctly. Larger repeats and offset matches generally need more rolls and produce more waste than a small, straight-match pattern.

'Paste the Wall' or 'Paste the Paper' — What's the Difference?

Paste-the-wall wallpaper has adhesive applied directly to the wall, with the dry paper then hung straight on top — quicker, less messy, and reduces the risk of the paper stretching or tearing while wet. Paste-the-paper is the traditional method, pasting the wallpaper itself and letting it 'soak' before hanging, which some patterned or textured papers still require — always check the roll's instructions rather than assuming.