Ask Ken: I like the color of my flooring sample but not the product photos. What should I do?
Ken's Quick Answer:
"Don't trust online or printed photos for product color accuracy. Take out a real-life sample and trust your own eyes! The main thing that photos are good for is showing you how patterns will lay out in a room."
Ken's In-Depth Answer:
A funny thing happened to me the other day. I had a customer who took home a very beautiful 12" x 24" porcelain tile that she wanted to use on her shower wall. She really liked it! Then, after seeing a certain photo of the tile on the internet, she felt that it looked too blue.
This is all too common. People make the mistake of looking at photos online and in magazines and assuming that it's the correct representation of color.
Photography doesn't work that way. I wish it did!
"When it comes to color, there's no substitute for the product itself. View the sample in your own house to determine if it's the right color for you."
See More Flooring FAQs
Photos are great for showing how carpet patterns lay out in a room. They can also show you the character of hardwood (or wood-look products like laminate and luxury vinyl plank.) The same goes for patterned tile. They can show you what products will actually look like in a room.
But, make sure you remember: When it comes to color, there's no substitute for the product itself. View the sample in your own house. If it's gonna go on the floor, put it on the floor. If it's going to go on the wall, hold it up on the wall. In either case, look at the product during the day and in the evening. The color you see on that sample is the color that you should trust.
Don't trust the photo, trust your own eyes.
If you have any questions about choosing the right product color for your home, please give us a call at 401-214-0285 or visit our showroom.
About Ken: Ken Fain is the co-owner of Island Carpet in Middletown, RI and a floorcovering veteran of more than 40 years. His popular 'Ask Ken' video series answers common flooring questions on a variety of topics. It has reached thousands of viewers on both YouTube and Facebook.