Interior design samples are essential for visualising how different materials, colours, and textures will look in a space before making final design decisions. Whether it’s tiles, fabrics, wood finishes, or paint colours, having physical samples of the material you’re working with makes it easier to compare options and create the best design solution for your project.

Interior design samples provide inspiration, but more importantly, they allow us to accurately understand what the finished result will look like when there is no other physical representation of it (when it’s still just an idea in our minds). It’s nearly impossible to work on a project without a visual representation of the materials being used, so samples are our tools to put a scheme together in a physical and visual, yet tangible way.

These days, I tend to work more with digital samples than physical ones, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t need physical samples when working on my projects. Samples are still an essential part of the design process especially when I’m working with textures, materials, and finishes.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about sourcing, storing, and managing samples without creating clutter, wasting money, or adding unnecessary waste to landfill. So here’s what I’ve found works best and I wanted to share this with you too.

The easiest way to get samples is by going straight to the supplier. If you need tiles, ask a tile supplier. If you’re choosing kitchen cabinets, visit a kitchen showroom. Many suppliers offer free samples to professional designers, especially if you have a trade account.

These days, I use Material Bank and Swatchbox more so than sourcing individual samples online because they allow me to order multiple samples at once. Swatchbox also lets you return the samples once you’re done, so they can be reused or recycled.

You’ll see materials in real life, build relationships with suppliers, and often get samples that aren’t available online (this is also the best way to build your sample library too). Many interior designers who are starting out don’t realise that most samples are free for trade professionals, but some suppliers charge for larger or bespoke samples. Personally, I’ve only ever paid for larger format samples when a client needed to see an entire slab or panel before committing. Otherwise, smaller samples are usually complimentary, especially when sourced at trade events.

One of the biggest challenges with samples is keeping them organised. When I worked at architects offices, we had samples everywhere, in drawers, on shelves, and in random boxes, which made it impossible to find what I needed and got very frustrating (especially when my bosses would “borrow” the sample and not return it to me!)

When I started working for myself, I created a system. While working on a project, I organise samples by room or area using trays. For long-term storage, I prefer reusing sturdy boxes from past projects. One of my best storage hacks was upcycling boxes from a building site! I’ve had them for years, and they still look perfect. I keep them in my sample drawers and they act as dividers.

For ongoing projects, I store my samples in a variety of ways. For example, I use trays or folders to keep samples together by project or room as well as labelled storage boxes to track my supplier details and product names (which can easily get lost and then the sample becomes useless without knowing where it’s from!)

If you want to keep samples for future projects, setting up a sample library is a great idea. I group mine by type. For example, wood, tiles, fabrics etc. so they’re easy to find. Small binders work well for fabric swatches and paint cards, while larger samples go into labelled boxes. Instead of buying fancy storage containers, consider reusing sturdy boxes from previous projects. It’s more sustainable, and it saves space.

This is the bit no one talks about! What happens to all those leftover samples after a project is finished? Throwing them away is a waste, not just of materials but of money too. In many cases, interior design samples are considered commercial waste, which means disposal can be expensive and bad for the environment and not to mention the companies that you’ve taken all of these samples from have had to pay for them.

If returning isn’t an option, donating samples is a great alternative. I’ve given entire sample libraries to new designers starting out, which is a great way to clear space while helping someone else in the industry. Schools, artists, and crafters also love receiving fabric and material samples for creative projects.

Tiles and harder finishes, like veneers, are trickier to repurpose, but I know of a mosaic artist who welcomes tile samples, so it’s always worth asking around. As mentioned Swatchbox and in some cases Material Bank accept returns and help designers reduce waste, so always ask when taking the sample whether you can return it – as this might help you decide whether you want to source from that company anyway!

Years ago, having a massive sample library was a must. Now? Not so much. Keeping huge collections of materials isn’t just impractical and it’s also unsustainable. I focus on sourcing only the samples I actually need. With today’s high-resolution photography and digital material scans, I can narrow down my choices before ordering physical samples. This way, I’m only getting what I truly need, instead of hoarding options "just in case."

I also limit my sample orders to a small selection, two or three options instead of ten. This has helped me reduce waste, cut down on clutter, and make faster decisions. If I don’t plan to keep a sample for future projects, I return it as soon as possible while it’s still relevant and usable. The key is not to sit on the sample for a long time because the longer you keep it the less likely it can be re-used by the supplier.

Something no-one really speaks about in the industry is that we need to manage our samples and this is part of our job. Managing samples properly makes the design process easier and staying organised, returning what you don’t need, and being mindful of what you order saves time, space, money and is better for the environment.

I’d love to hear from you. How do you manage your samples? Do you prefer digital or physical samples? Let me know in the comments!