Buy now & pay later available
An essential part of the floor-buying process, the best flooring companies out there will always offer their customers a free sample service, so that you can contrast and compare the different flooring materials you’re interested in before committing to your purchase.
Providing a more hands-on experience, picking up free samples like these allows you to test the ins and outs of a flooring material in your home, rather than simply looking it up online. However, unless you’re replacing your floors regularly, you might not be sure how to get the most out of using your samples.
From how to nail the interior design aesthetic to how best to put your sample pieces through their paces, we’ve shared our top tips on how to get the most out of your trial pieces below, so that you’re not putting good materials to waste or settling on the wrong sample when you’re finished!
How to choose the perfect flooring samples
With such a wide variety of flooring materials available, it can be challenging to know where to begin when selecting samples for your home. Fortunately, there are a few different approaches you can try taking when finding the perfect flooring sample, including all of the following:
Test a range of materials
If you’re undecided on what materials you’d like to use in your design, a free sample service is the perfect way to get up close and personal with your options, rather than relying on online descriptions.
For example, the underfoot feel of engineered wood flooring is very different to that of LVT flooring, and you may find that you prefer one to the other.
So, to start with, try narrowing down your choice of materials, then order a sample of each product to test its feel, stability, texture, and look. This can help you learn more about your flooring preferences first-hand, so you know exactly what to look for when undertaking a larger design task.
Vary your colours
Sample services are also ideal for getting an in-person look at the palette of your flooring. One shade might look great online, but feel completely different when you match it to the rest of your room. If you’re confident about buying a specific material but unsure how to style it, try choosing a variety of colours with your samples.
For example, let’s say you’ve decided to use laminate in a design. To find the best laminate flooring to suit your space, try choosing samples in a variety of colours so that you can compare their features side by side.
Different shades of flooring can also impact the general atmosphere of your room, so you can use your samples to test how different colours look when compared to your décor.
Put the durability of your samples to the test
A good flooring material should be able to handle whatever you throw at it, which is why many products feature protective wear layers and durable cores to withstand heavy foot traffic. If you’re concerned about how long your flooring will last, or how damage can impact its appearance, try using your samples to test the limits of different materials.
Vinyl flooring, for example, is known for its durability. If you’re looking to add sheet vinyl to a kitchen or bathroom, try testing how water-resistant your samples are to get an idea of their moisture tolerance before you make a purchase.
Tips for how to use your sample pieces
Now that you know how best to choose your samples, let’s look at how you can get the most use possible out of them. Here are our top tips for making sure you use your trial pieces to their full potential:
Test your samples under different lighting
We’ve all been there before: you buy a product online, and then it looks completely different in person! So, to avoid disappointment like this, make sure you try matching your sample with a range of lighting to see what suits it best.
The light in your living room might not complement your LVT, for example, but your dining room’s décor could be the perfect match. Ensure you test your samples throughout your room to assess their appearance across the entire floor, rather than just one section.
Try pairing your samples with other materials
If you’re using two flooring materials in one room or looking for a smooth transition between two separate spaces, consider testing your samples next to any existing flooring in your home. This allows you to choose a product that matches your corridor and hallway flooring perfectly, meaning you won’t have to worry about a clash of styles.
Make sure you do your research
It’s important to know how to get the best use out of your flooring materials, whether that’s choosing the correct installation method or cleaning your surfaces properly.
Before choosing your samples, ensure you understand all the features and properties of your chosen material, allowing you to choose the best one for your specific needs. There are plenty of online resources to help inform your decision, such as our laminate buying guide.
What can you do with leftover flooring samples?
Looking to get some use out of your flooring samples after you’ve tested them? Here are some of our favourite ways to reuse your materials:
- Keep them for repairs – If your flooring becomes damaged, you may need to replace a section of your floor with a fresh piece. Storing your samples for future use can help you save on the cost of a new floor if you run into any issues.
- Get creative – If you’re looking to make some new, unique décor, try styling your flooring samples into something new! You could turn vinyl flooring into coasters and placemats, or transform a laminate board into a kitchen backsplash. Try experimenting with different ideas to reuse your samples after testing.
- Use them as furniture protectors – Worried about heavy furniture leaving scuffs on your flooring? Try cutting pieces of your samples out and placing them under the legs of your tables, chairs, or sofas. This will prevent your floors from being damaged while maintaining a seamless look throughout your room.
Find your perfect materials with Flooring King’s sample service
Hopefully, you now have a much better idea of what to look for when selecting and using your flooring samples, which means all that’s left to do is order them – and you can do that right here at Flooring King!
With our free sample service, you’ll be able to test sections of up to three different products before you make your purchase, and our friendly staff are on hand to help with anything you need – whether that’s questions about your samples or expert advice on your design ideas, get in touch today to see how we can help bring your flooring dreams to life!
