Your questions, our answers
Questions before you commit to a wall? Here are the ones we hear most, about the wallpapers, ordering, and hanging them. If yours isn't here, the chat bubble at the bottom of the screen will reach us.
About the wallpapers
What does "non-woven" mean?
Non-woven is a blend of paper and textile fibres. It is dimensionally stable, easy to hang, and easy to remove later. You paste the wall rather than the paper, and the lengths meet edge to edge with a near-invisible seam.
How are the wallpapers printed?
Each pattern is surface-printed at Ulricehamns Tapetfabrik in southern Sweden, using a method roughly two centuries old. The colour sits on the paper with a faint relief and small irregularities, the kind of depth a digital press cannot reproduce. More on how it's made on the making.
Where does the Josef Frank connection come from?
Our wallpapers are printed at Ulricehamns Tapetfabrik, the same workshop, technique and machine that print Josef Frank's wallpapers for Svenskt Tenn. Neighbours in the same craft, and proud of the company.
Do you use AI to create your wallpapers?
No. Every pattern is drawn by hand at the studio in Stockholm, then surface-printed at Ulricehamns Tapetfabrik. The design, the colourways, the way a motif repeats across a wall, all of it is the work of human hands.
For the images we show on our website, it's a mix. The close-ups are real, photographed from our printed rolls and faithful to the pattern, structure and colour. The room scenes are illustrations, composed with AI. Our traditional printing technique means small differences belong to the craft, and no screen shows colour quite as it is. To see a colourway as it really is, order an A4 sample.
Why doesn't the wallpaper look like the photos?
Screens, lighting, and the room itself all shift how a colour reads. Our photographs are as true as we can make them, but they are still photographs.
To see a pattern in your own space, order a sample and tape it to the wall. The colour changes with the light through the day.
Are the wallpapers safe to live with?
Yes. They contain no PVC, solvents, or heavy metals, and they carry two certifications:
- OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 – every component is tested for harmful substances and cleared as safe for human health.
- Fire class C-s1, d0 (EN 13501) – limited contribution to fire, little smoke, and no flaming droplets.
Where is the wallpaper made?
Designed in Stockholm and printed in Sweden, at Ulricehamns Tapetfabrik. The non-woven base comes from Germany and the water-based paint from the Netherlands, mixed by hand at the factory.
What's the environmental footprint?
Buying anything new has a footprint. Here is what we do to reduce ours:
- The non-woven base is FSC-certified, blending recycled fibres (PET bottles among them) with responsibly sourced paper.
- The paint is water-based, free of PVC, solvents, and heavy metals, and excess paint is recycled in production.
- The factory runs on solar panels, backed by green LPG and its own production waste, with the remaining energy CO₂-compensated.
- Packaging, including the film, is organic or locally sourced.
- Transport within Sweden carries the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
What is an FSC certificate?
It certifies that the paper comes from responsibly managed forests, balanced for environmental, social, and economic good.
What is the colour code?
There isn't one. Our colours are mixed by hand, batch by batch, which is part of why they have depth, and why no two runs are mechanically identical.
If you need a matching paint, take a sample to your local paint shop and have them read it.
Can I clean my wallpaper?
Gently, yes. Follow our installation and care guide for what to use and what to avoid.
Order and delivery
How many rolls do I need?
Each roll is 53 cm wide and 10 m long. The calculator on every product page gives a quick estimate, but it can't see your doors, windows, or wastage, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee.
If a wall is tricky, ask a decorator before you order.
Can I order samples?
Yes. A sample is a piece of the real wallpaper, roughly A4, cut from the same roll and printed on the same paper. It reaches your mailbox in a few days, and the cost comes off your first roll: once your samples ship, we email you a code to use on your roll order. For a fuller view, Karolina also puts together sample sets.
What if I order too few rolls?
Contact us before buying more, so we can match the batch number. Colour can shift slightly between batches, and the same batch keeps a wall consistent.
How long does delivery take?
It depends on the destination and whether the pattern is in stock:
- In stock: dispatched within 2 working days, then 2–5 working days in transit.
- Made to order: up to 2 weeks before dispatch.
Can I track my order?
Yes. A tracking link reaches you by email once the order ships.
Can I change or return an order?
You can change an order any time before it ships, and return items within 60 days of receipt. The details are in our Exchange and Return policy.
What does shipping cost?
Shipping is calculated at checkout from your destination and chosen carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, and others), so you see the real figure before you pay.
Where can I find Norrviva in a shop?
Our wallpapers are sold online and through selected retailers across Europe and the US. Find your nearest on the stockists map.
Installation
Which adhesive should I use?
A good-quality adhesive made for heavy non-woven wallpaper. In Sweden we recommend Bostik Non-Woven, approved by the Swedish Wallpaper Council (STB).
Can I hang it in a bathroom?
In low-humidity spots, such as a guest toilet or by a small basin, yes. Keep it away from direct water and steam, like a shower wall. For damper spots, a protective coating helps.
Can I hang it over existing wallpaper?
You can, if the old paper is smooth, sound, and well stuck down. Clean the surface first, and prime it if the old paper is dark or strongly patterned.
Can I coat the wallpaper?
Yes, with advice from your local paint shop. Note that a coating can change how the wallpaper looks, and we can't be responsible for the result.
Do you sell self-adhesive ("peel and stick") wallpaper?
No. We've chosen durable, traditionally hung paper over self-adhesive, which is harder to hang well and doesn't last as long.
Trade and retail
Do you work with interior designers and retailers?
Yes. We work with three kinds of partner: interior designers and online shops, retail shops, and a small number of top partners, each on its own terms. Our wallpapers are already stocked in selected shops across Europe and the US.
To talk to us, start on the Trade Partners page.
How do I open a trade account?
Tell us about your studio or shop through the Trade Partners page, and we'll find the right fit and set up your terms.
Can I get samples or a catalogue for my clients?
Yes. Trade partners can request our trade catalogue, a sample box, the collection book, and bobbins, longer lengths of the real wallpaper for showing colourways in a showroom. Ask us through Trade Partners.
Still have a question?
Write to us
