Think about the effect you want your wallpaper to achieve before you head over to the home store. You don’t necessarily have to paper the entire room with one pattern—think about using two coordinating papers, papering one accent wall, or adding a chair rail or ceiling border to your design.

Once you’ve decided how you’re going to use wallpaper, there are a few helpful things to take with you to the store. If you can, bring samples of carpeting and upholstery. A photo of the room and a scale drawing can also help you imagine how a color, pattern, or texture will look. After you’ve made a decision, take a sample home and tack it up on a wall so you can see how it looks in different light during the day and evening.