Carpet samples are a great way to help you decide which carpet to buy. You can, of course, take a risk and decide on a carpet from a brochure, catalog or website but there are limitations in color printing (and in the display of carpet colors online) which mean that you will not get an exact likeness. And in any case it is difficult to see the color from a small square. To get the right color for your room color scheme, ask for free carpet samples.
If you are shopping in a store you will normally decide on a short list of carpets you are interested in. Ask for a carpet sample of each to take home. There may be a deposit to pay to ensure you return the samples to the store but other than that they are normally free.
If you are unsure of colors, take home a range with various hues. Although you may think carpets are very similar, you will see that when you take your berber carpet samples home, for example, that one has a touch more yellow, another a touch more gray and you will be amazed at how one looks so much better than another. And I have to say that when I have taken those free sample carpet squares home it has never been the carpet that I thought I would have chosen that I have actually chosen.
Part of this is because of the lighting in the carpet store which is usually very different from the lighting at home. First of all the store lighting is usually fluorescent and very few of us use this in our living rooms and bedrooms and secondly you will rarely get natural day light in a large carpet warehouse.
Carpet Samples (Click Image for More Details)
When you are looking at the samples don’t just use them to verify the carpet colors, it is also essential that you use them to assess the quality of the carpet. If it is a synthetic carpet, does it look like a synthetic carpet or does it have the quality look of a natural carpet? Is the pile thin and likely to wear? How does it feel underfoot, soft or scratchy? All these things can help you decide on the right carpet.
Even a small area of carpet makes a difference, but if you are buying a large amount for a company make sure you ask for commercial carpet samples. (These should be offered by the carpet sales people in any case).
If you are buying online ask for carpet samples to be sent to you. Unless you truly don’t care what you get this is an important step when you buy carpet so don’t miss it out. It can feel like unnecessary delay in the process but you will be much happier with the carpet you end up with.
