Wallpaper FAQs
Everything you need to know about House of Hackney wallpaper
Everything you need to know about House of Hackney wallpaper
Regardless of whether you know your way around a roll of wallpaper or are familiar only with a scroll through Pinterest, you will likely still have questions about the decorating and installation process. Fortunately for you, we have the answers. Here’s everything you always wanted to know about our wallpaper (but were afraid to ask)...
Where is House of Hackney wallpaper made?
Our wallpaper is printed at a pioneering factory in the heart of the Swedish countryside. Borås Tapetfabrik recognise that whether wallpaper is printed using techniques from the 1920s or 2020s, it still leaves an imprint on the world around us. Their consideration for Nature cuts right through every production process.
What is House of Hackney wallpaper made from?
Our wallpaper is made using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, purposely grown materials, printed with water-based, environmentally safe inks, is PVC-free and made specially to order.
Borås Tapetfabrik source paper that is crafted using wood fibre from young trees, not Ancient ones, grown purposefully in a forest managed to the Forest Stewardship Council’s standards in Northern Europe.
Their creations are PVC-free and printed in small, made to order batches to avoid unnecessary waste using water based inks.
Borås Tapetfabrik have spent more than a century learning, growing and becoming a forerunner in innovation and craftsmanship.
When will my wallpaper arrive?
Our printed-to-order wallpaper is bespoke, with a lead time of 7-10 working days.
Deliveries are usually made between 9am. and 6pm, excluding public holidays, though some couriers may deliver slightly outside this time frame.
Once your order is on its way, you'll receive an email from the courier with tracking details.
If you haven’t yet received your tracking number, please contact our Customer Care team to request it.
Can I return your wallpaper?
As our wallpaper is printed to order, it can not be returned. We recommend ordering a sample and then using our online wallpaper calculator (found on each product page) to ensure you are happy with it.
How do I measure my wallpaper?
Our online wallpaper calculator makes it easy to work out how many rolls to order – simply enter the height and width for each of the walls you would like to decorate, then we’ll do the maths. Alternatively, our Design Consultants are on the other end of the line, happy to advise.
Include all doors and windows in your measurements to ensure that the mural appears seamless.
For the average room we recommend that you purchase one additional roll to account for any further fiddly bits, such as reveals, overhangs, boxing around pipework etc.
Our digitally printed wallpapers come in two drops, a 3m height and a 2m height. And each roll is made up of either 4 x 3m panels, or 4 x 2m panels, each 45cm wide.
It’s important to note that our wallpaper is printed to order, so slight variations in colour can occur between batches. Therefore, we recommend ordering all the rolls you’ll need in one go.
How do I calculate for bespoke measurements?
We can cater to bespoke orders that will be custom printed to your specifications. We will add 20cm to the height and width of the walls to ensure there is enough paper to trim back for a high-quality finish. Contact us here.
How do I calculate for stairways?
When it comes to stairways, take note of the greatest wall height and width, then order bespoke wallpaper based on those measurements – you can then team this with our regular-height wallpaper to cover adjoining hallways or landings.
How do I calculate for above dado rails and tiles?
Our 2m length is designed specifically for creating half-walls of print against dado rails, panelling or tiles, with the added bonus of less wastage.
Can I order bespoke wallpaper?
Yes! We can re-print our archive designs, recolour and rescale any of our prints, or create custom drops to fit your requirements. Please contact us to find out more.
Which wallpaper paste should I use?
We offer a few types of wallpaper, each requiring a different installation method.
You’ll find the hanging method and recommended paste type listed on each product page, as well as outlined below:
Digitally Printed 'Mural Panel System' Wallpaper:
The majority of our wallpapers are digitally printed onto a woven substrate. For these, we recommend using a water-based, pre-mixed adhesive suitable for paste-the-wall installation, such as:
- Beeline Yellow Top Wallcovering Adhesive
- Solvite ‘Paste the Wall’ Adhesive
These can be found at most DIY stores or ordered online.
Traditional Wallpaper:
Our traditional wallpaper is made from a high-quality non-woven substrate. For this type, we recommend using a paste-the-paper adhesive.
Cork Wallpaper:
Cork wallpaper can be applied using both paste-the-paper and paste-the-wall methods.
How do pattern repeats work?
Our wallpaper works a little differently. There are 4 panels to every roll, (the sheets are numbered 1 to 4, so you’ll know which is which). Each panel measures 45 cm in width and either 200 or 300 cm in length. The pattern will automatically align across the panels so that you do not need to try and align the print or account for the repeat during installation.
Can I order another wallpaper roll from my previous batch so that it matches?
We print our digital wallpapers to order and, as such, do not hold stock from previous batch numbers. Therefore, any new order will be produced as part of a new batch. We recommend ordering as much as you'll need in one go.
While we calibrate our printers daily to minimise variation, we cannot guarantee an exact match to a previous batch. Differences are typically minimal, though they may be more noticeable on darker designs.
Additional digital rolls can be ordered directly via our website and are non-returnable due to their made-to-order nature.
Our traditional wallpapers are produced in batches. Additional rolls can be purchased via our website, or you can contact our team to check availability and batch details.
Can I use your wallpaper in kitchens and bathrooms?
Yes, our wallpaper is printed on a high-quality substrate which is very hard-wearing and makes it suitable for humid areas such as a bathroom – however we do advise that it is kept as dry as possible.
One important thing to consider is the wallpaper paste, which can cause issues if it gets wet.
We recommend water based pre-mixed paste that is suitable for paste-the-wall installation. We also recommend using a good quality decorator’s varnish, such as Polyvine Dead Flat Varnish. This should be applied after the wallpaper has been hung and is suitably dry.
Be sure to pay particular attention to the seams and edges to help prevent any moisture from creeping behind the wallpaper and affecting the glue.
We recommend sealing the wallpaper using a clear decorator’s varnish (our favourite is by Polyvine in ‘Dead Flat’), applied over the top of the wallpaper (once dry) using a short-flock roller. While enhancing the wallpaper’s longevity, this will also help to protect against splashes and stains.
How do I clean my wallpaper?
If you ever need to clean your wallpaper, lightly dust with a microfibre cloth or wipe it gently with a damp (not soaking) cloth.
How do I remove your wallpaper?
Our wallpaper is designed with durability in mind, but we know that not all of us own our personal sanctuaries - or perhaps you just fancy giving a different House of Hackney print a go. To remove our wallpaper we recommend using a steam stripper.
Is House of Hackney wallpaper sustainable?
Yes - our supplier, Borås Tapetfabrik, sources paper made from wood fibre from young trees, not ancient ones, grown purposefully in a forest managed to the Forest Stewardship Council’s standards in Northern Europe.
This means that it preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability.
All of our wallcoverings are PVC-free and digitally printed with environmentally safe inks in small, made-to-order batches to avoid unnecessary waste.
Last year, we used a total of 115 trees to create all of our wallpaper, and protected over 320 acres of Ancient and Endangered Forests through our partnership with the World Land Trust. It’s important for us to preserve and restore more forest land than we use.
We have also introduced an innovative cork wallpaper to our range. With high visual impact and a natural aesthetic, the cork in our wallpapers is crafted from trees that don’t need to be felled, supporting our network of farmers in Portugal and the local ecology. In our best-selling prints and bespoke designs, they look beautiful, enhance insulation and celebrate the wonder of the natural world.
We’re also working to introduce regenerative forestry practices into our wallpaper supply chain. Our big vision is to source all of our wallpaper from regeratively managed forests.
Can you recommend a decorator?
In the UK, we recommend using PAINT THE TOWN GREEN. They can be contacted on phil@paintthetowngreen.co.uk.
Please contact our team for help finding decorators for other regions.
