Rug Samples for Interior Designers

A natural fiber rug is hard to judge from a screen. The color of fique shifts with the light, a basketweave and a herringbone photograph almost the same, and nobody can feel the difference between wool and baby alpaca through a monitor. That is why our samples program exists. If you are an interior designer, architect, stager or retailer, you can request a sample set from Terra 203 as part of the trade program, review it with your client, and go from swatch to a rug woven to the exact size of the room.

What a sample set includes

We do not ship a binder of everything. Each set is put together for the project you describe, drawing from four groups of material:

• Fiber swatches. Fique, the Colombian sisal, in its natural tones and in dyed colors from the current palette. Wool, used alone or blended with fique for a softer footfall. Baby alpaca for low-traffic rooms where sheen and softness matter. Bouclé for a looped, textured surface.
• Metal-accent samples. Short cuttings showing how copper or stainless-steel threads sit inside the fiber. The shimmer reads differently through the day and is almost impossible to judge from a photo, so we always include one when a scheme leans that way.
• Weave samples. Small pieces of flatweave, basketweave, herringbone and twill in the same fiber, so you can show a client how construction changes the texture and the way a rug sits on the floor.
• Edge and finish references. On request, a note or sample showing bound, serged or mitered edges so the spec is complete.

Swatches are large enough to hold up against paint chips, fabric memos and flooring samples, and small enough to carry to a site meeting.

How to request samples

Three ways, all of them quick:

1. Contact form. Use the contact page and mention that you would like samples.
2. Call or text. (561) 222-1548. A text with a photo of your mood board is a perfectly good start.
3. WhatsApp. The same number works on WhatsApp, which many of the designers we work with across South Florida and Latin America prefer.

The program is trade only. We will ask for your firm name and a website or Instagram so we know who we are sending to, and for retailers a resale certificate. There is no minimum order attached to a sample request.

What to tell us

The more we know, the more useful the set. A short note covering these points is enough:

• The project. Residential or commercial, new build or refresh, and where it is.
• The room. Living room, dining room, bedroom, hallway, office, covered patio. Each one points to a different weave and fiber.
• The palette. Paint names, a fabric photo, or simply "warm neutrals with a blue accent". We match the swatches to the direction.
• The size. Even a rough dimension tells us whether you are looking at a standard format or a custom size, and it lets us talk about proportions early.
• The household. Pets, children, sand from the beach, a rolling office chair. These decide durability more than anything else.

Presenting swatches to clients

A few habits make a sample presentation land better:

• Show them in the actual light. Fique warms up under incandescent light and cools under strong South Florida daylight. Put the swatch on the floor of the room at the time of day the family uses it most.
• Put them on the flooring. The same tan reads differently on white porcelain tile, grey oak and travertine. Lay the swatch directly on the surface it will live on. Our journal piece on pairing rugs with wood, stone and tile floors goes deeper.
• Bring up pets before the client does. Hand the client a tight flatweave and a bouclé side by side and let them feel why one suits a dog household and the other suits a quiet bedroom.
• Show the weave at scale. A small herringbone cutting undersells a large herringbone rug. Pair the swatch with a photo of the full weave so the client understands the pattern repeat.
• Keep the care conversation simple. Natural fiber wants to stay dry and vacuumed. Our care guide has a printable care card you can leave with the client.

From sample to order

Once the client has chosen a fiber, weave and color direction, send us the dimensions and we return a quote for the custom size and palette. Every Terra 203 rug is woven to order in Colombia, so the size on your drawing is the size you receive, whether that is a standard 9 x 12, a long runner or an oversized living room piece. Lead times vary with the season and the construction, so ask for current lead times when you request the quote rather than relying on a number from a previous project. If you would like to see full-size rugs before committing, our showroom in Wellington, Florida is open by appointment and we regularly bring samples to studios in Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boca Raton and Miami.

Keeping the samples

In most cases the swatches are yours to keep for your studio library, which makes the next project faster. A few larger or specially woven pieces may go out on loan. We will confirm the sample terms when you request a set, so you know up front which pieces to hold on to and which to send back.

Why designers sample fique

Most US designers arrive searching for sisal. Fique is the Colombian cousin of sisal: the same clean, natural look with a softer hand and a slightly warmer tone, handwoven rather than machine-made. A swatch is the quickest way to feel that difference. Read more on our sisal rugs page, then request a set and compare for yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Who can request rug samples from Terra 203?

Interior designers, architects, decorators, home stagers and retailers with a resale certificate. Samples are part of our trade program, so we ask for a business name and a website or Instagram when you write. Homeowners are welcome to see swatches through their designer.

What is in a typical sample set?

Fiber swatches in fique, the Colombian sisal, plus wool, baby alpaca and bouclé; small weave cuttings showing flatweave, basketweave, herringbone and twill; and metal-accent samples with copper or stainless threads. We tailor the set to the palette and room you describe.

Do I have to return the samples?

Keep them for your library in most cases. Some larger or specially woven pieces may be sent on loan. We will confirm the sample terms when you request a set, so there are no surprises later.

How long does it take to receive samples?

Sets that come from our Wellington, Florida stock go out quickly; anything woven specially takes longer. Please ask for current timing when you request, and tell us if you have a presentation date so we can plan around it.

Can a sample be woven in my exact custom color?

Often, yes. If your scheme calls for a dyed shade or a specific stripe or diamond layout, we can arrange a strike-off sample before the full rug is woven. Ask us when you send the palette and we will tell you what is possible and the timing.