Feeling productive while shopping for your remodel or renovation is all about narrowing things down as much as possible so that you don’t need to look through every. single. option. 

Make an Appointment Ahead of Time
Great showrooms are usually busy, so it’s best to give them a heads up and let them know you’re stopping by. If you call ahead, they should have a salesperson available for you when you walk in. Also, if you know what you want ahead of time, a great salesperson will often have options pulled before you get there. I know all my favorite reps do!

Have a Clear Idea of the Look You Want
The reason I’m usually in and out of showrooms in 30 minutes is because I usually know what I’m looking for when I walk in so I spend less time wandering aimlessly. It’s kind of like when you’re shopping for shoes—if you know you need a pair of black Chelsea boots you can kind of ignore everything else in the store that doesn’t meet that criteria. 

Take some inspiration photos with you if you’re not 100% sure what you want. Remember, salespeople can be super helpful, but they can’t read your minds. They can only help you as much as you help them. 

Take Relevant Samples You Already Have
If you’re looking for a backsplash tile, try to take samples of the finishes that will be adjacent to it, like the countertop and cabinet. This isn’t always feasible, but sometimes vendors will let you borrow their samples. 

Know When You’ll Need the Product
When you are in the middle of a project that’s already under construction the time to make choices is limited. Talk to your contractor about decision deadlines so you’re not the cause of a construction delay (yikes). 

A tight deadline means that you should only look at things that are in stock or that can get to the job site pretty quickly. If the timeline isn’t an issue you can open up your options a bit and look at items that are non-stock or made-to-order. Just know that it’s going to take longer to get these products.

If You Have a Budget Constraint, Be Honest About It
You might not know what you’re willing to spend on something until you see it, but everyone has a threshold. If you have no intention of spending $60/sq. ft. on a backsplash, no matter how beautiful it is, let your salesperson know up front. Again, it’s all about narrowing things down. 

The more you can figure out before you even get to the showroom, the easier your life will be and the quicker you’ll be in and out of the showroom feeling confident that you made some great decisions. If you’re still looking for some showroom guidance, I’ve worked showroom visits into Boutique Consultations before with great results!