Free Flooring Samples

How to compare flooring samples at home

Lay each sample on the floor of the room where it will go, not on a table or against a wall. Floors are seen from above and at an angle, and the colour can look quite different that way. Put samples next to your skirting, doors, kitchen units or sofa, and look at them in the morning, in the afternoon and under your evening lights; daylight from a north-facing window is cooler than from a south-facing one, and warm bulbs bring out yellow and red tones.

Compare samples side by side rather than one at a time. The difference between a natural and a light oak, or between a matt and a satin lacquer, is much easier to see next to each other. Narrow your shortlist down to two, then live with them for a day or two before you decide.

What a sample tells you

• Colour and grade: wood is natural, so every board is slightly different. A sample shows the typical colour and the amount of knots and grain to expect; the finished floor will have more variation across many boards.
• Finish and sheen: how matt or glossy the surface is, and whether it is lacquered, oiled, brushed or hand-scraped.
• Texture and feel: run your hand and bare feet over it. Brushed and embossed surfaces feel more natural and less slippery.
• Construction: on wood samples you can see the wear layer and the core, so you know how thick the real wood is.

Which samples to order

Start with the material that suits the room. For living rooms and bedrooms, compare engineered wood and solid wood; for kitchens, bathrooms and busy hallways, compare luxury vinyl with water-resistant laminate. If you love a pattern, add a herringbone or chevron sample to see the block size. Then order a light, a medium and a darker option of the same type to find your shade.

Planning skirting, beading or door bars? Keep your samples, because they make it easy to match flooring accessories to the floor you choose.

Before you order samples

A few details help you sample only the floors that will work. Check whether the room has underfloor heating, whether the subfloor is concrete or timber, and how much moisture the room sees: a bathroom or utility room rules out most wood floors, while a kitchen suits engineered wood, vinyl or water-resistant laminate. Note the height of your doors and adjoining floors too, as it can decide how thick the new floor can be.

Samples for a whole-house project

If one floor will run through several rooms, look at the samples in each of them, as light changes from room to room. Open-plan spaces usually look best with one floor throughout; if you want different floors in different rooms, compare the samples side by side where the floors will meet, and choose a door bar that suits both.

After you have chosen

When you have found your floor, measure each room with our measuring guide and add a cutting allowance, then order the full packs. Our installation guides explain how each type of floor is fitted, and our team can check your quantities or suggest an underlay before you order.