Why Material Libraries Matter More Than You Think

With the number of materials available today, and the quality of those materials varying vastly, having a materials library, even a small one, is key for any interior design firm specifying custom furniture, lighting, window treatments, millwork and finishes.

A good materials library gives designers the opportunity to see, touch, compare and understand the materials they are specifying before they make their way into a client's space.

Understand how materials react in different lighting situations

Materials can look completely different depending on the lighting conditions. A fabric can appear cooler in one room and warmer in another simply because of the way natural and artificial light interact with it. This is also why it's important to test paint swatches onsite and view them throughout the day before committing to a colour.

A great example of this is the pile direction of an area rug. Some rugs can appear significantly lighter or darker depending on the direction of the pile and where you're viewing the rug from. If a newly installed rug suddenly looks darker than expected, sometimes it simply needs to be turned 180 degrees. This directional shading is especially noticeable in rugs made with lustrous fibres such as silk, viscose, bamboo silk and Tencel/lyocell.

Understanding these characteristics before specifying a material can prevent surprises once everything is installed.

Performance matters just as much as how they look

Understanding how materials will perform is especially important when designing custom pieces such as sofas, banquettes, tables and millwork.

What does a pure aniline leather actually look and feel like in person? How will it age? Would the end user appreciate the natural variation and patina, or would a more protected semi-aniline leather better suit their lifestyle?

Technology also continues to change the way materials perform. Fabric protection treatments, such as FabriGuard, can be applied to certain textiles to help protect against spills and stains. Knowing these options allows you to consider performance without immediately eliminating a fabric you love.

LVT technology has also improved significantly over the years, with some product lines looking and feeling increasingly similar to natural wood. Having samples available allows you to ask the important questions: What are the benefits of using LVT instead of natural hardwood for this particular project? Does the texture translate well? Does the grain look realistic? How does it feel underfoot?

A rendering or product image can only tell you so much.

Makes material matching easier

Materials are often discontinued or out of stock right when you need them. Having access to alternatives can help keep a project moving without unnecessary delays.

It also makes colour and finish matching much easier. If you need to match the undertone of a stone, coordinate a fabric with a wood finish or find an alternative to a discontinued material, having physical samples available gives you somewhere to start.

Communicate better with clients

Giving clients the opportunity to see and touch materials in person can make it much easier to communicate your design intent.

They can feel the difference between polished and honed marble and better understand why you may recommend one finish over another for a particular application.

They can see and feel the way a sheer drapery fabric falls compared to a heavier cotton or linen, while also seeing how much light passes through it. The amount and quality of light coming through a window treatment may be an important part of your design intent, and something your client has their own preferences about.

Being able to physically demonstrate these differences can make a recommendation much easier for a client to understand than simply explaining it.

Compare it against other options

Having options available makes it easier to narrow down the best material for a project.

One taupe linen drapery fabric from JF Fabrics will be completely different from a taupe linen from Maxwell Fabrics. The difference could be the temperature of the colour, the texture and weave of the linen, how it drapes or even the available width of the fabric.

Once you pull the available options and place them alongside the other materials being considered for the space, one may clearly work better than the others.

This is where a materials library becomes especially valuable. You're seeing how they communicate with one another as part of the complete design.

Final thoughts…

A good library can save designers time, but more does not mean better. Do you need to stock your library with every colourway and texture available for each supplier? Of course not. The options available are endless but there is no need to clutter and overstock your materials library. Carry your favourite materials used often, materials that inspire you and you want to use, and the popular choices that tend to be picked by clients.

Everything else can be requested from suppliers on a project by project bases. Great reps will be more than happy to send over anything you need.

Cheers,
Lo