Why screens lie
Every screen shows colour differently, and catalogue photos are edited. Wood, fabric and stone also change with light: a walnut that looks warm in a showroom can look grey under cool LED light.
The finish board
Collect physical samples of every finish in the project, wood, fabric, metal, stone, and mount them on a board with codes. Once approved and signed, that board is the reference for every factory and for inspection.
- Wood: species, colour and gloss level.
- Fabric: colour, texture, rub resistance.
- Metal: finish, colour and coating.
- Stone and tiles: colour range and surface.
Test the real conditions
Look at samples in the actual room, at different times of day. Rub the fabric, scratch the coating on an offcut, and ask how each material is cleaned. Hotel and rental properties need finishes that survive years of use.
Lock it before production
Natural materials vary from batch to batch. Ask factories to produce from the same batch for the whole project where possible, and keep approved samples to compare at inspection.
Mock-up rooms
For larger projects, a mock-up room is the best final check: one complete room built with the real furniture, lighting and finishes. It shows how everything works together, reveals small problems before they are repeated many times, and gives everyone a shared reference.
Keeping a finish library
Keep approved samples labelled with the project name, date and supplier reference, and send a matching set to the factory. When the project is extended or a piece needs replacing years later, you have the reference to match.
