Interior material samples: ordering swatches and borrowing large samples

A physical sample is the most reliable way to judge colour, sheen, texture and handle under the project's real conditions. Screen images depend on the device, white balance and the light at the time of the photo.

The same fabric can also look different in daylight, under 2,700 K bedroom lighting and under 4,000 K office lighting. Two materials that match under one light can also diverge under another (metamerism), which only shows up when samples are viewed under the intended light source.

• Check colour and sheen under project lighting.
• Check texture, thickness, drape and stiffness.
• Place samples next to the project's flooring, timber, stone and paint to judge the whole scheme.
• Keep the sample as the approved reference for acceptance.

Samples fall into two groups: ordered samples (swatches, not returned) and loaned samples (returned). Both are tied to a Project, so the team can see where each material code is used.

Samples are delivered to the project address (free shipping within Ho Chi Minh City; elsewhere, including overseas projects, shipping is arranged separately for each project) or collected at the Bonario showroom, which serves as the Material & Spec Center for reviewing physical materials. No delivery time is promised for samples.

The sizes below are common industry practice; each manufacturer sets its own. Fabric swatches are typically around A6, small wallpaper samples around A4, and a large sample should cover at least one full pattern repeat.

A large sample is needed when the pattern repeat is bigger than the swatch, when the material has natural variation, and when assessing rugs. An A6 swatch cannot show how a pattern reads on a 3 m curtain or a 5 m wall.

• Large-scale wallpaper: any repeat above about 30 cm no longer fits on an A4 sample; for repeats of 64 cm or more, review a large sample or a catalogue.
• Natural fibres and grasscloth: irregularity is part of the material and should be accepted at the start.

Fabric data printed on samples, such as fibre content and abrasion rating, is explained in choosing interior fabric by Martindale rating. To match wallcovering types to areas, see types of wallcoverings.

Swatches are ordered inside a Project, because the Project holds the samples, products and quantities for one job. A guest can start a sample order and is prompted to register.

1. Register or sign in. Registered accounts see lead time and stock; verified trade accounts also see prices.
2. Create a Project and name it after the job.
3. Add the material codes that need swatches, keeping to two or three options per location so decisions stay manageable.
4. Pay the deposit as instructed when submitting the sample order.
5. Receive the samples by delivery or at the Bonario showroom.
6. Confirm the order once the selection is made; the swatch deposit is refunded when the order is confirmed.

Swatches are not returned. Submitting the whole Project creates the quote request for the items in it; for quantities, see calculating curtain quantities.

Catalogues, sample books and large samples are loaned, not given. The borrower pays a deposit, keeps the sample for the agreed period and returns it after the review.

• Deposit: applies to every loaned sample; the amount and loan period depend on the sample type and are confirmed when ordering.
• Delivery and collection: the Account Owner delivers the sample and collects it afterwards.
• Shipping: free within Ho Chi Minh City; elsewhere shipping is arranged with SEAMATER.
• Showroom pickup: samples can be collected at the Bonario showroom (Material & Spec Center).
• Lost samples: the deposit is forfeited if the item is lost or not returned.

Record who holds each loaned sample and the return date so nothing goes missing.

Both groups have specific limits, because the finished product only exists once an order is placed.

• Custom rugs (size, colour, design): there is no strike-off or woven trial. A mock-up is made only once the project is under way; before that, designers use the pom-pom box and corner samples to choose yarn colours.
• Decorative lighting: there are no lamp or shade samples. Only lighting material samples are available, such as crystal, glass, metal and ceramics.

Hotel projects with many repeated rooms often build their own mock-up room, organised by the owner and operator for overall approval. A mock-up exposes what loose samples cannot, such as light gaps around blackout curtains or wallpaper seams under grazing light.

A sample approval holds value only when it is repeatable and recorded. This checklist applies to swatches and loaned samples alike.

• Code and colour name on the label match the specification.
• View under indirect daylight and under lamps at the project's colour temperature.
• Orient the sample as it will be used: roll direction, face side, pile direction.
• Compare side by side with the project's other materials, never with a photo.
• Record the approval with code, colour name, date and approver.
• Store samples sealed, away from sun and humidity, so their colour does not drift.

Build the lead time that follows sample approval into the programme; see procurement lead times for interior finishes. For an overview of all categories and guides, see the Advice section on interior materials.