A screen swatch can't show you texture, can't reproduce how a color reads under your lighting, and can't tell you how a finish feels underfoot or against furniture. A physical sample can do all of that. Here's what to actually look at when you have one in hand, so you choose with your eyes open.
Color in Your Lighting
Take the sample to the space where the floor will go and look at it under that lighting, against those walls, at the time of day you use the room. A color that reads warm in a sample book can read cool under your garage LEDs. This is the single biggest reason a finished floor surprises people — the sample was never viewed in the real environment.
Texture and Feel
Run your hand over the sample. A flake finish has a subtle texture from the chips; a quartz finish has a granular grip; a solid or metallic finish is smoother. If the floor is for a wet area or barefoot use, the texture matters for safety and comfort. A screen can't communicate any of this.
Chip Size and Density
For flake and quartz samples, look at the size of the individual chips or grains and how densely they're packed. The same color family looks completely different with large, sparse flakes versus small, full-refusal flakes. Compare two samples side by side to see how much the chip size changes the look.
Finish and Sheen
Samples show the sheen — matte, satin, gloss — that the finished floor will have. A high-gloss finish reflects light and shows dust; a satin finish is more forgiving. The sheen also affects how the color reads, so judge color and sheen together, not separately. Ask to see a physical sample before choosing, and confirm your selection with it rather than a screen.