A Guide to Layering Texture in a Room
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PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST
Color, light, and space are critical design elements that can transform your home, but they aren’t the only important factors. Texture is often overlooked, but it is equally as important to creating depth and a sense of comfort and warmth. Too many of the same materials can result in interiors that feel sterile or overwhelming. There is an art to adding visual interest, which is best achieved by layering different textures throughout your space.
PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST
Here’s how our Chicago interior designers balance out textures from the floors to the ceilings.
Floors
The floor sets the tone for the room, so it’s important to decide early on how you want it to come across. Do you prefer sleek hardwood floors, plush carpeting, or a mixture of hard and soft elements with layered rugs? There are many types of textural rugs to choose from, including ones made of natural fibers like jute and sisal, which give off an organic feel. Or, you could choose a plush hand-knotted rug that has been intricately woven to create a work of art on the floor. Everyone will notice your floors as soon as they step inside, so make sure they are in keeping with your design aesthetic.
Walls
PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST
When it comes to the walls, you have infinite choices to create textural magic. While painted walls are a popular choice, they don’t do much more than add color. Instead, try adding texture with special effect wallpaper that feels like velvet or cork, or one with raised prints. Unique wallcoverings can give a space a sumptuous feel, but be careful because your guests won’t be able to resist touching the walls! If you have the luxury of a brick or stone fireplace, you can design the room around this statement element. You can also add texture with artwork – from an oil painting to a beaded wall hanging. Instead of choosing 2D prints, opt for something with a bit more dynamism and you’ll be amazed how it brings your walls to life.
PHOTO CREDIT: PINTEREST
Soft Furnishings
The easiest way to layer texture in a room that has already been designed is to switch out some of the soft furnishings like pillows, throws, and bedding. While all of these provide an element of texture, there are certain fabrics that will make more of an impact than others. For example, boucle, chenille, and tweed all have a chunky weave that creates a thick, textured effect. Or, a faux-fur rug or throw adds instant charm and coziness for the fall and winter.
Upholstery
You can also use upholstery to add texture to furniture. For a recent project in Chicago, we pulled together furniture with contrasting textures to match the modern, artistic design of the breakfast room we were designing. On the floor, we laid a fuzzy, colorful rug, which supported a sleek white tulip table. We added a sofa upholstered in a soft woven material as well as two chairs covered in black faux alligator skin as the seating around the table. While these items share very few similarities, they work together to create a maximalist space that you won’t find elsewhere.
Home Accents
Finally, add some hard and soft textured home accents to create a collected-over-time feeling in your space. Mirrors with ornate frames, plants, books, and baskets are all examples of textural accents that can add excitement at home. In the kitchen, you might try woven placements with tasseled napkins and wooden bowls – complementary textures create an inviting table. You can even add texture with a statement light fixture, like this one, which hangs above a dining table.
How you layer texture in a room will ultimately depend on what look you are trying to achieve. Many Chicago interior design firms specialize in modern design styles where they layer hard textures like matte metals with stone countertops to make spaces feel edgy and sleek. However, if you want your textured room to feel rustic and cozy, you would need to layer natural fibers like wool and leather with more rustic metals like copper to bring out the warmth in the room. The key is to consider how these materials will look together and strike the right balance between variety and cohesion.
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Talk to you soon,
Paula