The complete guide to use textures in interior design

Textures

Jul 07, 2022

Textures for your home interior design - Beautiful Homes

Want to take your home's interior design up a notch? Do it with this special ingredient- texture

A poorly designed space is just as impactful as a well-designed one; whether you can make it out or not, something just always feels off. In contrast, home design, when done right, is the balance of visuals, ambience and practicality. To get this balance right, interior designers strategically employ seven elements- light, space, line, form, colour, pattern and texture. This last aspect, texture, has become quite the buzzword. But what exactly is it?

The texture is the quality of a surface or its finish— how it looks and feels. How does it play out in interior design, you may wonder? Every material you use: furniture, textiles, flooring, paint, etc., is all distinct, visually and physically. The use of these in interiors creates intrigue and depth. The lack of texture or variation leads to the common criticism- 'the space looks/feels flat'.

Here's a lowdown of why it is essential and how you can use it to amp up your house design.

Importance of Texture in Interior Design

1. As we've already mentioned, the use of texture in interior design adds depth to the space. A textural aspect is visually heavy, meaning it draws attention to itself. When combined with other interior design elements such as light and colour or even individually, you can use texture design to make a room appear spacious or snug.

2. A crucial part of interior design is contrast, as it creates visual intrigue. Texture design helps with just that. The juxtaposition of various materials and finishes makes a space look interesting. This is especially true for rooms with monochromatic or analogous colour schemes.

Classic brick wall design for your home interiors - Beautiful Homes

3. With the use of texture in interior design, you can create balanced interiors. Any room would look flat and lifeless without variations vis-a-vis textures and finishes. After all, variety is the spice of life. For every smooth surface in a room, you need a little coarse and some plush elements to keep it interesting.

4. Interior design is just as much about how a room feels as it is about how it looks. And texture interior design allows you to fashion the ambience of your choosing. You'd opt for a combination of soft and coarse materials for a cosy vibe. In a full glam room, the obvious choice is plush textiles. And so on.

Different Types of Textures:

Wall texture design for your interior design - Beautiful Homes

1. Tactile Texture

Tactile texture is the kind where the surface of the material has actual physical variations. So not only do you see the differences on the surface, but you can also feel them. Each material has a distinct feel— the grain of the wood, the jute's coarseness, the fur's softness, and so on.

2. Visual Texture

A surface may imitate a texture without actually having any three-dimensional properties of physical texture. For example, laminates are smooth surfaces that realistically render wood texture. It also includes various surface finishes such as matte, eggshell, shiny, etc.

3. Abstract Texture

You can use a textured material to create a pattern or a design that itself generates a new texture both physically and visually. A few examples are Riverstone-fireplaces, brick walls, 3-D wall panels, and wooden blocks arranged at various depths to create an undulating surface.

4. Invented Texture

Invented textures can be categorised as a type of visual texture. It would differ from the above-mentioned examples in that, as the name suggests, invented textures are created and not simulated. These patterns play with lines, colour and light to produce an entirely new texture. Optical illusions are an example. Invented textures generally are smooth surfaces.

How to Use Texture in Interior Design?

How texture interior design is utilised depends on the overall design of the room and the various décor elements. But multiple aspects can affect how and which textures you use.

1. Use Texture with Light

Heavily textured materials such as jute, wool, bricks, etc., absorb more light than they reflect. This makes them visually heavy, meaning they work well as focal points and anchors. Such coarse textures are helpful if you want to add rustic elements and a cosy vibe. You can achieve similar results with matte finishes.

Smooth and shiny finishes reflect the most light and are excellent options for rooms with sleek designs. They help open up the space and have a cooling effect. They are extensively used in modern, glam, contemporary and minimalist designs.

Textures for your home with light ideas for our home - Beautiful Homes

2. Use Texture with Scale

Texture and scale are distinct elements you can use to add contrast to interior design. You can also combine them, especially when you're layering textures. For example, you can opt for velvet upholstery, silk pillows and long-pile faux fur. All of these plush materials can work together because of varying visual scales.

Texture for your home with various colors for your home interiors - Beautiful Homes

3. Use Texture with Colour

Colour and finishes can drastically impact how we perceive texture and the overall design. Irrespective of the texture, lighter colours make the room appear bright and airy. Darker hues add depth and are more moody and sensual.

Scandinavian style is a great example of how to combine colours and textures. It is minimal and airy, so it focuses on neutral hues but uses natural materials such as wood, wicker, linen, jute, etc., to make the space cosy and comfortable.

6 Ways to Add Texture to Every Room in Your House

1. Go Organic

Natural, organic materials such as wood, textiles, stones, etc., allow you a wide range of textural possibilities. In rugged forms, you can use them to add a rustic charm to your interiors. Polish it up, and it's ready for more sleek designs. Organic materials work well in a tonal room, like an all-white living room, where the focus is on texture. Even the pops of colour are generally in earth tones that fit right into the design. Plants are excellent choices for tactile décor.

2. Try Sculptural Wall Décor

Wall texture design is an excellent option to infuse some personality into a room. There are a host of texture designs for wall painting to choose from. In a monochromatic or analogous themed room, consider the popcorn texture. Though it is a popular exterior wall texture design, you can use it in interiors for statement walls.

Consider comb or spray sand textures for industrial-style living room modern texture paint designs. A Venetian plaster finish would be gorgeous for the kitchen backsplash. You can even consider trimmings and crown mouldings for a royal-esque design.

If you prefer simple coloured walls over wall texture designs, turn them into gallery/ display walls. It will allow you to introduce various materials and textures to your interiors. Vinyl records, metal plates, tapestries, and macrame wall hangings are only some options to try.

3. Use Layering Pillows and Throws

Generally, the priority is to maximise comfort in living rooms and bedrooms. A bunch of pillows and a few throw pillows is just the way to do it. Combine colour and patterns with your use of texture in interior design for a welcoming, relaxing and warm room.

To amp up the cosiness, complement the throws with other textiles around the room, such as rugs, bedding, curtains and such. You can add floor texture with plush carpets and rugs. Tie the entire look together by maintaining a colour scheme and repeating materials and patterns.

Give these various textiles a boost with a wall texture design for the bedroom. Softer textures such as Spanish lace, slap brush and sand swirl would work well.

Adding layering pillow & throw pillows for textures in your home - Beautiful Homes

4. Focus on Architectural Elements

Enhance architectural elements such as wall panelling, trimming and mouldings in your home with texture. The classic wainscoting or tongue and groove can be combined with wallpaper, modern texture paint designs, etc., for a subtle charm. This would work exceptionally well in kitchens, studies and bedrooms. For a more dramatic look, consider an abstract texture wall or even 3D panelling. Be strategic with light and colour to enhance its effects.

5. Employ Upholstery Techniques

While textiles are great ways to add textural elements, various upholstery methods can enhance their effects. Tiny details such as the type of stitches and seams used can alter the design. A velvet tufted headboard with nailhead trims would make for an elegant bedroom texture element. Pintuck ottomans, mesh pillows, brocade armchairs, and sofa backs with diamond stitch are some of the ways you can experiment with upholstery techniques.

Natural materials to add textures to your home interiors - Beautiful Homes

6. Use Tile and Masonry

Tiling and masonry can add a personality to your room like no other. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

An exposed brick for industrial space,
Moroccan zellige for the bathroom,
Wood veneers for a rustic bedroom texture,
Stone floors for a rustic kitchen.

Natural/ original material for all of these options can be pricey. A quick tip, try cheaper but just as effective alternatives such as wallpapers, laminates and veneers.

How can Beautiful Homes Help you with Adding Textures to your Home Design?

With Beautiful Homes' interior design services, you get design and décor solutions best suited to your style and need. Our experts are well versed in the various design styles. They are adept at multiple areas of interior design- furnishing, décor, lighting, and of course, the use of texture in interior design.

Visit our website to browse through various product ranges, services we offer and to check out projects we have executed so far. Book your 3D consultation call to understand the A-Z of the home design process. For an in-person experience, walk into any of our stores across India. You'll find our home décor stores across Amritsar, Tumakuru, Raipur, Jaipur, New Delhi, Kochi, Karur, Coimbatore, Bengaluru and Nashik; and soon in various cities across the country.

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The complete guide to use textures in interior design

Importance of Texture in Interior Design