How to Choose a Material Token for Your Lighting Project
By Ravenhill Studio | Published: 2026-10-24
Category: Buying Guides
Learn how to select the right material token for your lighting project. Compare wood, metal, ceramic, and finish kits to make confident decisions.
Quick answer
Start with the finish that matters most to your design. If you need to match an existing metal, order the Luxe Metals Kit. If wood tones are your focus, the All Woods Kit gives you four options in one. For a single accent, the Black Ceramic token is a low-cost way to test a specific look.
Why order a material token instead of guessing?
Lighting finishes look different in your space than on a screen. A material token lets you see the actual color, texture, and sheen under your own lighting. It also helps you compare options side by side before committing to a full fixture.
The trade-off between single tokens and kits
Single tokens like the Black Ceramic are inexpensive and ship quickly, but they only cover one finish. Kits like the All Woods or Luxe Metals give you multiple samples in one order, which is more efficient if you are deciding between several looks. The All Finishes Kit is the broadest option, but it does not include ceramic or frosted borosilicate, so check what is included before ordering.
How to decide which material token to order
- You are focused on a single finish: Order the individual Black Ceramic token. It is the lowest-cost way to confirm that matte black porcelain works in your room.
- You are choosing between metal finishes: Order the Luxe Metals Kit. It includes four distinct metal samples so you can see how each one reflects light and pairs with your hardware. Note: Luxe Metals ship on Wednesdays for orders paid by Tuesday midnight PST.
- Wood tones are your priority: Order the All Woods Kit. It includes White Oak/Oil, White Oak/Poly, White Oak Plywood/Poly, and Walnut/Oil. This lets you compare oil vs. poly finishes and different wood species.
- You want to see every available finish at once: Order the All Finishes Kit. It includes all Standard Metals, Luxe Metals, Woods, and Translucents. Note that ceramic and frosted borosilicate are not included, and $50 of the kit price is refundable when you purchase any fixture. The $50 refund makes this kit more cost-effective if you plan to buy a fixture afterward.
Product facts
- Black Ceramic: Slip cast porcelain with a matte black glaze. Seen in our Cord family of fixtures. If you are considering a Cord pendant or sconce in black, this token shows the exact matte finish before you buy.
- Luxe Metals: Our Luxe Metals Kit includes samples of Burnished Brass, Waxed Brass, Corten Steel, and Matte Nickel. Order this kit when you need to compare warm and cool metal tones side by side without ordering four separate tokens.
Which token is right for you?
Best for
- Designers who need to match a specific metal or wood tone before ordering a fixture
- Homeowners comparing multiple finishes in the same room
- Anyone who wants to avoid the cost and hassle of returning a fixture that does not match
Not for
- Projects where you already own a finish sample from another brand and only need to confirm compatibility
- Customers who need to see frosted borosilicate or ceramic alongside other finishes (those are not included in the All Finishes Kit)
