Finding the right finishes to complete your restyle, renovation, or new build, takes dedicated time often with trips back and forth from suppliers to home and back to suppliers again to secure exactly what you want.  Sometimes the only way to be absolutely certain is to see an item in situ (or see it in the situation) which is your home.

Clearly you won’t need to do this for every item, but when there is a question mark in your mind over colour, size, or co-ordinating other items together at home, for instance, it is an important step that will help you create not only the home you’ll love, but you will love everything in it too!

Items may look fabulous together in the showroom or on the internet, yet when they arrive on site, in situ, the light may make the colour selections too dark, too light, or just plain wrong with the other items you want in the same space. Colours must complement each other in a space. And while samples are an invaluable go to tool first and foremost, they can be too small in spaces to help you make a confident decision.

After seeing an item in situ and you do decide to change it out, it may be as simple as swapping the paint percentage, to use half or quarter strength of the original colour. Other times you may just need to see two items together to decide and find you prefer your second choice in situ over your first choice.

Some items take months to arrive, such as furniture because of manufacturing and shipping therefore you will need the largest sample to view in situ. And while I know you always have your measurements with you at showrooms (right!) viewing the size of an area rug in situ can be a game changer when you see how it fits in the space and around furniture etc. You may find it better to purchase a different size rug for your space.

Depending on the item, and understandably, not all companies will ‘loan’ you their products so you may have no choice other than to purchase the item to return home with it. Always check what the refund or return policy is with the store first. Additionally, some companies may require a deposit to ‘loan’ an item to you, which is often a same day return or twenty-four hours return, and you must ensure you return an item in pristine condition or you will be liable to pay for it. So be aware, be upfront with shops and ask what all their stipulations are.