IDEAFUSION helps interior designers turn a rendering into materials they can review, sample and purchase. Its sourcing workflow follows four stages: rendering search, a similar-material list, sample confirmation, then procurement and delivery. Designers can begin with the visual information already available in a project and develop a selection with support from the IDEAFUSION team.

IDEAFUSION is the sole supplier for the agreed material package. Image search, online sample requests and smart material showrooms help designers move through selection efficiently, while Mood Boards and downloadable material books support client presentations and project communication.

Find Materials From a Rendering

IDEAFUSION brings together 700,000+ material resources supported by a network of 2,700+ global suppliers, covering categories such as wallcoverings, decorative panels, stone, glass, furniture and hardware. This gives designers a broad starting point for finding materials that suit a project's visual direction and budget.

To begin, upload a rendering or reference image to search for visually similar materials. A cropped detail can focus the search on a particular surface or product. For a reception area, for example, the designer can use the wall finish as one search reference and the stone counter as another. Each search helps match a specific part of the design with a suitable material.

This is useful when the team knows the desired appearance but does not know a product name. IDEAFUSION helps turn that visual reference into material candidates more quickly, reducing time spent guessing search terms or browsing unrelated categories. The results provide options to explore; the next stage brings those options closer to the project's requirements.

Turn Similar Results Into a Project Shortlist

The similar-material list gives the designer a starting set of products to compare. Review the available images and product information alongside the rendering, then identify the materials worth taking forward. The IDEAFUSION team can help confirm specifications and availability for the options under consideration.

A designer looking for a warm, textured wall finish may find several visually suitable candidates. The useful comparison is then between the available finishes, dimensions, intended application and budget requirements. Sharing the relevant drawing or a brief description of the application gives IDEAFUSION more context when reviewing those options.

This makes the search results useful for an active project rather than leaving them as a collection of reference images. The team can focus on a manageable selection for sampling, with outstanding product questions raised before the designer commits to a finish. If a preferred option needs an alternative, the original rendering remains a clear reference for discussing what the replacement should achieve.

Confirm the Selection With Samples

Designers can request selected material samples online and have them mailed directly to a studio, project team or another agreed address. Include the item reference, required finish, delivery details and project timing so IDEAFUSION can confirm availability and arrange the appropriate samples. Sample availability and any applicable charges or mailing arrangements should be confirmed for the request.

Receiving samples in the studio allows the team to compare shortlisted materials together before confirming a selection. A wallcovering sample, decorative panel and stone finish can be reviewed against the same rendering, helping the designer explain how the proposed combination will work. The physical comparison supports decisions about color and texture that a screen image alone may leave unresolved.

As part of its global operations network, IDEAFUSION has smart material showrooms in Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Designers can discover materials and request samples online, while also having the option to visit these spaces to touch, view and compare materials in person. Designers wishing to visit can contact the IDEAFUSION team to confirm the specific location and visiting arrangements. These online and in-person options help designers move from an initial material shortlist to a final selection reviewed and confirmed with their clients.

Procurement and Delivery Through IDEAFUSION

After sample confirmation, the selected materials can move into procurement and delivery through IDEAFUSION. Share the agreed items, finishes, specifications and quantities, together with the destination and required dates. IDEAFUSION reviews product availability and prepares the commercial offer for the defined material package.

The designer can use the confirmed selection as the reference when discussing the quotation and delivery requirements with the team. Where a dimension, quantity or application detail is still open, identifying it early helps IDEAFUSION assess the requirement before the order is placed. The quotation establishes the materials and services included, expected lead times and applicable delivery terms.

IDEAFUSION then arranges procurement and delivery within the agreed scope. The same supply contact carries the selection forward from samples to the order, reducing repeated explanations of the design intent. Designers gain a practical route toward implementation while keeping their attention on the finishes and products the project needs. For a room with several approved finishes, the team can discuss those items as a defined material package and confirm the supply requirements together.

Mood Boards and Downloadable Material Books

Alongside the four sourcing stages, IDEAFUSION provides tools for presenting and discussing material selections. In the Project workspace, designers can assemble selected materials into a Mood Board (Material Board). The board shows how finishes and products relate to one another within a proposed scheme.

For a client review, the designer can bring together the materials proposed for a room and explain the overall combination. This makes it easier to discuss a change in one finish while keeping the wider design visible. The board supports communication around the selection; the physical samples still provide the basis for reviewing the materials themselves.

Designers can also download a material book containing the available details for the project selection. It gives clients and project colleagues a document to consult after the presentation and reduces repeated work gathering individual product images and information. For a designer preparing several room schemes, this helps make the material discussion more specific because the proposed products can be reviewed alongside the overall palette.

Use Project References to Refine the Direction

IDEAFUSION's Inspiration section features a curated collection of projects from around the world, providing references to help designers develop a material direction. The CCD Xi'an Chang'an Yuhua project, for example, presents reception, VIP and dining spaces with related material references, allowing designers to consider materials within a complete interior setting rather than viewing individual products in isolation. Designers can also open the corresponding material pages with a single click, moving from project inspiration to material options they can explore for their own projects.

Review the linked product information against the current project's requirements, including the intended finish, dimensions and application. Contact IDEAFUSION to clarify any outstanding specifications and arrange samples for the materials you would like to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does image search identify the exact product in a rendering?

Image search returns visually similar material candidates. It helps designers find relevant options quickly, while product information and physical samples support the final choice. Confirm any essential specification with IDEAFUSION before approving an item for supply.

How can a designer receive material samples?

On the page for your chosen sample, click “More Information” to contact an IDEAFUSION material consultant and confirm your sample request and delivery details. Samples can be mailed to the agreed address. You can also visit a smart material showroom to view and compare materials in person. Please confirm sample availability and visiting arrangements with the team.

Who supplies the approved materials?

IDEAFUSION is the sole supplier for the agreed material package. Its team provides the commercial offer and arranges procurement and delivery according to the confirmed scope, so the designer has a clear supply contact as the selection moves toward implementation.

Start With One Live Design Project

Start with one room, one material category or a project already in progress. Send IDEAFUSION a rendering or reference image to begin. If available, include the materials you need, your budget range, delivery destination and target dates, along with known specifications and quantities. Highlight any finish that needs to closely match the original design. The IDEAFUSION team can help clarify the remaining requirements, identify suitable material options and confirm sample arrangements, then work with you to define the procurement and delivery scope.