As I mentioned in my previous blog post on paint colour tester pots, as interior designers much of our research, sourcing and ordering is done online. When researching furniture, soft furnishing and curtains ideas online, key to our process is ordering fabric samples.

Anyone who has been to my workshops or design studio will have seen the amount of fabric samples I have! As I am generally working on projects and carrying out design consultations regularly, I hold quite a lot of samples of all the key elements required when decorating/renovating and furnishing a room - flooring, wallpaper, paint samples, fabrics, wood finishes, laminates, metal finishes, stone, glass…the list goes on! I can use these as quick starting points with clients, and once things are narrowed down, the sample sourcing process is refined and often more options are ordered before final decisions are made.

Here I’m focussing on fabrics. I think it’s important to see fabrics for real when you can. That is why so many furnishing suppliers offer free samples online. It’s a great help to be able to see not just the colour for real, but also to be able to touch the fabric and see if you like how it feels. For example, some fabrics will be coarser than others. If its a sofa, you may like the idea of something that feels cosy to the touch. If it’s for a pair of curtains, the feel of the fabric may be less important, but how it looks in situ under the lighting you have on in the evenings may influence your decision.

So….where to get your fabric samples online?

Fabric samples for custom made furnishings

Well, if you are having something made-to-measure (or making it yourself) , like a pair of curtains, a Roman blind or are re-upholstering an armchair for example, you could look at fabric companies who offer a sampling service. Here are some of my favourites:

Romo - an extensive range of patterned and plain fabrics. Prices are listed on website and you can order samples for 75p each, which will be posted to you. Villa Nova and Kirkby Design are just a few of the other brands that form part of the Romo Group - they all share the same sampling method and great fabric quality too.

Style Library - Style Library covers brands such as Sanderson, Harlequin and Scion, giving a great range of styles and prices in one place. Sample delivery is charged at £3.00 up to and including the first 4 samples per order. For additional samples, delivery is charged at £0.75 each.

Korla - Now part of Rosebank Fabrics, Korla fabrics have been a longtime favourite of mine, I love so many of these patterns. Up to six fabric samples will be sent out free of charge.

Fabric samples from Furniture Retailers

If you are looking for furniture online, here some examples of companies who offer to send out samples before you commit. There are many many more, so perhaps while shopping online, when you come across a supplier, do check if there is a sampling service first, if you feel this is important to you.

Habitat - you can order up to 5 fabric swatches free of charge for many of the soft furnishing items available

Sofa.com - you can choose up to 6 free fabric samples

Sueno Beds - you can order up to 8 fabric samples free of charge

Other useful resources

If you find a fabric you like, it’s worth checking if the Haines Collection has any of it for sale - especially if you only need a small amount. The Haines Collection sells left-over designer fabric, saving it from ending up in landfill.

Further help

You are very welcome to pop a question over to us on our Q&A page regarding any fabric sourcing dilemmas you may be having!

For interior design inspiration why not tune into our podcast The DnA of Home Interiors, here, in particular Season 1 Episode 2 which covers colour and pattern decisions!

We’ve also got a blog post on Mixing Patterns within your Interior which might be helpful.