The sourcing process is one of the most time-consuming parts of interior design practice. Finding the right pieces, confirming lead times, managing supplier relationships, coordinating deliveries and handling client expectations across multiple products and categories demands an enormous amount of organisational effort — effort that takes a designer away from the creative and client-facing work that defines their practice.
At ARACO Interiors, we work closely with interior designers across the UK on residential, hospitality and development projects. We understand what makes a supplier relationship productive rather than draining, and we have built our trade service around the specific needs of design professionals. This guide covers the practical steps to sourcing luxury furniture and lighting more efficiently — and how ARACO Interiors can support your practice at every stage.
1. Define Your Specification Before You Source
The most common cause of sourcing inefficiency is beginning the search for products before the specification is fully defined. A brief that says 'a statement pendant for the dining room' is harder to source than 'a pendant approximately 600–800mm diameter, in a warm metal finish, suitable for a 2.8m ceiling height, with a DALI dimming option and a lead time of under 10 weeks'.
Before contacting any supplier, work through the following for each product you need:
- Dimensions — what are the maximum width, height and drop length the space will accommodate?
- Material and finish — what palette is the room working in? Which finishes need to correspond with fixtures already specified?
- Technical requirements — does the space require DALI dimming, IP-rated fittings, a specific voltage, a particular bulb type?
- Lead time — what is the project completion date and what lead time can the specification accommodate?
- Budget — what is the client-approved budget per item, including delivery?
A supplier like ARACO Interiors can work much more effectively with a defined brief — responding quickly with specific recommendations rather than broad suggestions that require multiple follow-up conversations.
2. Work With Suppliers Who Offer Full Collections
One of the most significant efficiencies available to an interior designer is consolidating purchasing across fewer suppliers. Ordering from ten different suppliers creates ten sets of communications, ten order confirmations, ten sets of delivery coordination and ten payment processes. Ordering from two or three suppliers who each carry broad, well-curated collections reduces that overhead dramatically.
At ARACO Interiors, we carry the full range of several key luxury brands:
- CTO Lighting — over 300 products including all pendant, wall light, ceiling light, floor lamp and chandelier designs
- Lladró — the full UK-available Lladró lighting and sculpture collection
- Tommy Franks — the complete Tommy Franks furniture and lighting range
- ARACO Atelier — our own luxury sofa, armchair, bench and bed collection in ten bouclé colourways
- ARACO Lumière — our curated decorative lighting range including alabaster, selenite, crystal and glass designs
For a project that requires sofas, armchairs, pendant lights, wall lights and table lamps, ARACO Interiors can supply all categories from a single account — reducing your administrative overhead while maintaining the quality your clients expect.
3. Understand Lead Times Before Presenting Options to Clients
Few things damage client relationships more effectively than presenting a piece of furniture or lighting only to discover, once it is approved and ordered, that the lead time makes it impossible for the project timeline. Lead time management is therefore a sourcing skill as much as an aesthetic one.
At ARACO Interiors, our lead times vary by brand and product type:
- ARACO Lumière — most pieces available within 5–10 working days
- ARACO Atelier — upholstered furniture typically 8–12 weeks from order confirmation
- CTO Lighting — made to order, typically 8–12 weeks
- Tommy Franks — varies by product; please contact our team for current availability
- Lladró — varies by product; please contact our team for current stock
For projects with tight timelines, our team can confirm current stock positions and advise on which products or colourways are available for faster delivery. We can also advise on alternative specifications when a preferred product's lead time does not fit the project schedule.
4. Take Advantage of Sample Services
Ordering samples before committing to specification is one of the most effective ways to avoid costly errors. For ARACO Atelier upholstered furniture, we can arrange fabric samples in all available bouclé colourways — Wicker, Pebbles, Cinder, Ashlar, Speckle, Vanilla, Spindle, Porcini, Mistral and Laurel — to allow you to assess the tone and texture against your client's scheme before placing an order.
For lighting, we can advise on product dimensions, finish samples and technical specifications. Contact our team to arrange samples for your project.
5. Apply for a Trade Account
Interior designers, architects and other verified design professionals can apply for a trade account with ARACO Interiors. A trade account provides:
- Trade pricing across all collections
- Access to exclusive trade offers
- Priority communication with our sourcing team
- Project management support for larger commissions
- White-glove delivery coordination for hospitality and development projects
To apply for a trade account, visit our Trade & Projects page. We respond to all trade applications within 1 working day.
6. Use Project Sourcing Support for Complex Briefs
For briefs that go beyond our standard range — specific dimensions, unusual finishes, large-volume orders or pieces from brands not currently in our standard catalogue — our project sourcing team can help. We regularly assist designers with:
- Custom upholstery specifications for ARACO Atelier furniture in client-supplied fabrics
- Sourcing specific CTO Lighting configurations not shown on the standard website
- Coordinating large-volume hotel or development orders across multiple product categories
- Identifying alternative products when a preferred specification is unavailable within the required lead time
Our project sourcing service is available to all verified trade clients. Contact our team with your brief and we will respond with options within 1 working day.
7. Plan Deliveries Around the Project Schedule
Delivery coordination is one of the most practically demanding aspects of any interior project. For projects where deliveries need to happen in a specific order — furniture before accessories, lighting before furniture, for example — working with a supplier who can coordinate phased delivery is essential.
ARACO Interiors offers white-glove delivery for hospitality, development and high-end residential projects. This includes:
- Delivery to room of placement, not kerbside
- Careful unpacking and packaging removal
- Basic positioning and placement
- Coordination with site managers and contractors
White-glove delivery is available by quotation. Contact our trade team when placing your order to arrange white-glove service.
Our Collections for Interior Design Projects
- ARACO Atelier Furniture — Sofas, armchairs, benches and beds
- CTO Lighting — Full collection
- ARACO Lumière Lighting
- Lladró
- Tommy Franks
- Trade Programme for Interior Designers
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a trade account at ARACO Interiors?
Visit our Trade & Projects page and complete the trade account application. We respond to all applications within 1 working day and aim to provide trade pricing confirmation within 2 working days of receiving your application.
What information do I need to include in a sourcing brief?
The more detail you can provide, the better. Dimensions, finish preferences, technical requirements (IP rating, DALI dimming, voltage), lead time requirements and budget will all help us respond with accurate and appropriate recommendations. If you have a mood board or scheme reference, please share it.
Can ARACO Interiors supply for hotel and hospitality projects?
Yes. We work regularly with hospitality designers and developers on hotel, restaurant and boutique accommodation projects. Visit our Hotels & Hospitality page for more information.
Does ARACO Interiors offer white-glove delivery?
Yes. White-glove delivery — including room placement, unpacking and packaging removal — is available by quotation for hospitality, development and high-end residential projects. Contact our team when placing your order to arrange this service.
Can I get fabric samples for ARACO Atelier furniture?
Yes. Bouclé fabric samples in all available ARACO Atelier colourways are available on request. Please contact our team with your project details.