The wall planning series / 03

How to test a wallpaper sample

Use a physical wallpaper sample to compare color, pattern scale and material in your actual room. Treat adhesion and removal as a separate assessment: first check the wall, then follow the exact sample manufacturer’s instructions and record what happens. One small sample cannot establish a whole wall’s long-term performance.

By WallJoy · Reviewed September 13, 2026

1. Know what your sample represents.

Keep the label and packaging. Record the design name or code, material, date received and any batch information. Ask whether the sample uses the same material and print scale as the full product you are considering.

Use the sample to note the color, material and printed detail you can see. Record what it does not show too: a small piece may contain only part of a larger design.

If a full-size order can be scaled or customized, ask how that changes the motif and repeat. The sample in your hand and a room photograph answer different questions. Keep both available, with the sample’s scale clearly labeled.

Order a sample.

Choose any WallJoy design for $15 per sample. Shipping is free in the US.

Ordering your wall after the sample? Use code SAMPLE15 for $15 off orders of $300 or more (one use per customer).

Start with a nursery trio

Three kids’ samples that sit well together, added in one tap. Or pick any single design below.

Calm nursery

Three soft, sleepy repeats to compare side by side in the nursery's own light.

Bunny nursery
Stars
Moon and bunny nursery

3 × $15 = $45 · free US shipping

Playful safari

Animals, letters and dinosaurs: three designs with something to point at and name.

Multicolor safari animals
Animal alphabet
Pastel seamless dinosaur

3 × $15 = $45 · free US shipping

Soft floral

Three gentle florals, from pink boho to Scandi stems, to hold up beside the crib.

Pink boho
Scandinavian floral nursery
Minimalist floral

3 × $15 = $45 · free US shipping

Beige brush stroke lines

$15

Free US shipping

Japandi Grid — Sample

Photography coming soon

Japandi Grid

$15

Free US shipping

Neutral geometric

$15

Free US shipping

Sage green leaf

$15

Free US shipping

Contour Lines

$15

Free US shipping

Bunny nursery

Free US shipping

Pink boho

$15

Free US shipping

Multicolor safari animals

$15

Free US shipping

Scandinavian floral nursery

$15

Free US shipping

Alphabet

$15

Free US shipping

Clouds

$15

Free US shipping

Stars

Free US shipping

Moon and bunny nursery

$15

Free US shipping

Toy car

Free US shipping

2. Compare the sample in your room.

Start with an appearance check that does not require exposing the adhesive. Hold the sample near the intended wall, following any handling instructions, and view it beside the room’s fixed finishes: flooring, trim, cabinets and large furniture.

Daylight: record when and where you looked. Describe the color in your own words rather than relying on a phone photograph.
Evening light: look again with the lamps or ceiling lights you normally use. Note any change in your preference.
Close view: examine the printed detail and the surface. Note which part of the design is actually present on the sample.
Usual viewing distance: step back to where you sit or enter the room. Consider whether you want the pattern to be quieter or more prominent at that distance.

Use the same locations and lighting when comparing several samples. Label each photograph with the sample code and lighting condition. Photographs make a helpful record, but use the physical sample for the final color comparison.

3. Plan the wall test separately.

Looking at a sample is not an adhesion test. Before applying it, complete the wall assessment: identify the texture, paint history, repairs and visible condition. Resolve any preparation questions with the manufacturer.

How long should you leave a sample on the wall?

Ask the manufacturer for the observation period for its exact material and sample. Also ask for the application and removal procedure. This guide does not set a universal duration or substitute a household tape test for the manufacturer’s instructions.

Record the chosen location, preparation and start time. Keep the instruction version or link with your notes. Follow the stated steps, and document changes such as edge movement or lifting when you observe them. If something unexpected happens, photograph it and ask the manufacturer how to proceed before continuing.

At the instructed removal stage, record the procedure and what the wall and sample look like afterward. Keep the observations literal: a dated photograph and a description are more useful than a broad promise about future removal.

4. Keep an observation log.

Copy these fields for each sample. Blank fields are not passing results.
Record	What to include
Identity	Design code, material, batch if provided, date received and confirmed print scale.
Appearance	Room, lighting, viewing distance, preference and labeled photographs.
Wall context	Exact location, paint and preparation details, known repairs and unresolved questions.
Test instructions	Manufacturer’s source, application method, observation period and removal procedure.
Observations	Start time, each observation time, changes seen and original photographs.
After removal	Time and method used, visible wall and sample condition, and questions to resolve.

For comparison, keep the original files as well as your notes. Avoid changing several conditions at once without recording them; otherwise you may not know which difference explains an observation.

5. Separate preference from performance.

Finish with two statements: “I prefer this pattern in this room because…” and “I observed the following on this wall under these conditions…”. They describe different findings. A color preference does not establish adhesion, and one observation does not establish performance over a longer period.

If a result is unclear, keep the question open and discuss it with the manufacturer. If you change the wallpaper material, repaint, repair the surface or choose another wall, revisit the assessment rather than assuming the previous record still applies.

Once you have a preferred sample and a resolved wall assessment, check the measurements and the selected product’s ordering rules before planning a full installation.