how to work with samples when buying tiles online

How To Work With Tile Samples When Buying Tiles Online

Australians have embraced e-commerce as their primary way of shopping. It’s convenient and opens up a wide range of choices that you might not have seen in-store. 

But not everything is easy to buy online, and in many cases, such as buying tiles online, you might find big discrepancies between what you saw on your computer screen to what you’re finally holding in your hand.

When selecting tiles for your home or office space, it is essential to get samples first to ensure the final product is suitable for the area. It’s not just colour choices you have to consider, but texture, weight and patterns. You need to see the sample in your space before finally making the decision.

But what do you do when you’re buying tiles online and the samples on screen don’t match the ones in real life? This is a common issue, but one that can be fixed with these simple tricks.

How to Successfully Buy Samples When Buying Tiles Online

The Colour Checker

First and foremost, you want to get the colour correct. The problem these days is that every computer or phone screen has different colour settings, and the smallest difference can alter the true colour of the tile in question. So how can you ensure that what you order is what you want? 

You’ll have a general idea of the colour you’re most drawn to, so when buying tiles online make sure to get a few more colour samples, all with slightly different hues and tones. That way you’ll have a good selection to look at when you finally have them in hand. 

And make sure to look at the tile at various parts of the day to see how it changes with both natural and unnatural light settings.

The Texture Test

Sure, you found a colour you like, what does the tile feel like? When buying tiles online you’ll have to become a bit of a tile sleuth. Looking at the picture might help, but reading the description and the reviews will often give a lot more away.

Get the real deal

Some places offer printed materials showing the different tiles on offer, and while that’s great from a marketing standpoint, it’s not good from a purchasing point of view. When you’re buying tiles online, make sure to get samples of the physical product so that you can not only see colour, texture, and patterns but also get an idea of its weight.

Samples are an important part of the design process. At Tile Wizards they do everything in their power to make sure their samples are as true to life as possible, but what happens on your screen is out of their hands. They recommend ordering a few samples to make sure you’ve got some variety, and to give them a call if you need help with anything.  Need some more tile inspiration? Check out their 9 Steps for Choosing the Right Tile.

Talk Tiles With The Professionals  

While your options for tiles, timber and carpet are almost limitless, selecting the right type for your home certainly isn’t an easy feat. With each space, comes a different preference or priority: are you chasing style, functionality, or simply want to stay within the budget?

In operation for over 25 years, at Tile Wizards we pride ourselves on getting you more – for less. We pioneered the warehouse format, and our stores are purposefully designed to make your selection easier, and ultimately offer our customers quality, price and the right advice. 

While we specialise in options for tiles, carpets, timber and a wide variety of hybrid flooring materials, our services have just expanded even more. For customers who reside locally on the Sunshine Coast, In Coffs Harbour, Brisbane, and Adelaide, we also stock a range of vanities and tapware products in store, making it easier than ever to start conquering DIY projects at home. 

Even if you are just after some honest and friendly advice – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Tile Wizards today for a free quote. We’re able to work with you in order to bring your dream flooring solution to life.