How to Install Tile Samples for Color Testing
By Heath Ceramics | Curated Home Goods | Sustainably Handcrafted | Published: 2026-10-21
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to install tile samples for accurate color testing. Get step-by-step advice on placement, lighting, and viewing angles to choose the right glaze.
Quick answer
To test tile colors accurately, install your samples in the actual space, at eye level, and in the lighting conditions where the tile will be used.
Why installation matters for color testing
Tile samples look different in the showroom than in your home. Lighting, wall color, and surrounding materials all affect how a glaze appears. Installing samples in the actual space gives you a true sense of the color.
Different glazes have different finishes—matte, gloss, or textured—which interact with light in unique ways. A sample held in your hand won't show how the glaze reflects light from a window or a lamp.
Trade-offs: temporary vs. permanent installation
Temporary installation, like leaning samples against the wall, lets you move them around easily but may not show how the tile looks in a full layout. Permanent installation, such as adhering a few tiles to the wall, gives a more realistic view but requires more effort and leaves marks.
For most color testing, a temporary setup is sufficient. You can reposition samples as the light changes throughout the day. If you're deciding between two glazes, permanent installation in a small area can help you live with the color for a few days.
Steps to install tile samples for color testing
- Gather your samples and tools: Collect the tile samples you want to test, along with painter's tape, a level, and a measuring tape. If you plan to adhere samples, use a removable adhesive or putty. Check that you have enough samples to test all your color options side by side.
- Choose the right location: Select the wall or surface where the tile will actually be installed. Avoid testing on a different wall, as the surrounding color and texture will change your perception. Test at eye level to match how you'll see the tile in daily use.
- Arrange samples in a grid: Place the samples in a grid with small gaps between them, mimicking a real tile installation. Use a level to ensure they are straight. This helps you visualize the overall pattern and grout lines. Leave at least a 1/8-inch gap between samples to simulate grout lines.
- View in different lighting conditions: Check the samples at different times of day—morning, midday, and evening. Also test with artificial light on and off. Move the samples to different walls if needed to see how light changes the color. Take photos at each time of day to compare later.
- Live with the samples for a few days: Leave the samples in place for at least 48 hours. This gives you time to see them in various lighting and to notice how they feel in the room. Avoid making a final decision based on first impression. Ask family members for their opinion after a few days.
Tile samples to test
- M157 Sample in Lemon Rind: M157 Sample in Lemon Rind is a soft, subtly warm yellow with a matte finish. Sold individually, and up to 6 tile samples may be ordered online. This sample lets you see how a warm matte yellow interacts with your lighting and cabinetry before committing to a full order.
M157 Sample in Lemon Rind - M120 Sample in Patina Manganese: M120 Sample in Patina Manganese is a classic, warm-toned, matte green glaze with brown and green speckling that gives the effect of patina on bronze. Sold individually, and up to 6 tile samples may be ordered online. The speckled texture affects how the color reads from a distance, so installing this sample in your space helps you judge its visual depth.
M120 Sample in Patina Manganese
