As you decorate or redecorate your home, take advantage of the opportunity to create a home sample kit. During this time, it’s easy to grab samples of your new surfaces – flooring, tile, countertops and paint, if you get them during installation. When you’re grabbing samples, bigger is not always better. You need just enough to give you the color or pattern.
For flooring, look for swatches left AFTER the installers have cut carpet, wood and tile to fit your space. For paint, get a small pack of index cards and paint one in each room’s color or colors, labeling them with the room and name and type of paint on the back. An index card is large enough for a custom paint mixer to recreate your color later if you need it.
Fabric samples are important too. If you’ve ordered drapes or furniture, ask for a few scraps of your fabric to add to your sample collection.
Another tip: Save invoices, specification sheets and other helpful papers with valuable information that can help you in the future. If you’re more tech savvy, scan and save this info into a digital file that you can access from your smartphone anywhere – anytime!
Take a few photos of each room from several angles to complete your sample collection. Some samples live in photo boxes, others in large envelopes. Determine the right containers for you, label each with the room name, and then put the containers away. When it’s time for additional elements for a room, bring your samples with you in a sturdy to-go bag. Update each as needed, and you will find them useful for years!
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