By: Nicole Harris
You hear designers talk about it all the time. "Add this for texture," "this has too much texture," "texture creates interest." But what exactly does 'texture' mean?
Read below to find out!
Texture, according to our designer Emily, is simply something physical features that give it a visual appearance. Good examples of texture in interior design are things like chunky knot blankets, wicker baskets, leather side chairs, and plants. These items help to break up the repetition of flat hard surfaces like walls floors and ceilings which add depth and dimensions to a space. Texture is usually what creates the 'homey or cozy feeling' that you experience when you walk into a space.
Texture is both a tactile and visual, and in home design, both are important. You want your home to have enough texture to please the eye, but also have the right tactile feel for comfortable living. Balanced spaces should have visual texture that exists both in-person and in photographs.
Texture is naturally a part of everything within a space, from a cane-backing on a chair, to a wood grain on a coffee table, to the cream of a single-toned end table. While we tend to think of texture primarily as tactile, a big contributing factor to the overall texture of a space is lighting, which is neither physically nor visually textured itself, but instead can enhance or dull the texture of the objects it hits. Think about a harsh bright light and the intense shadows it creates versus the feel of a softer, warmer lighting created by a dimmer, glowing lighting.
Texture is often used to affect the 'visual weight' of different objects, meaning how much attention an object draws to itself. Materials like stone and terracotta will have heavier visual weights while a white upholstered couch might have a lighter visual weight. It is not only lighter in color, but has less movement and tactile texture within itself to draw the eye to.
Play With Lighting
Your lighting can greatly affect the overall feel of a space. Lighting can create shadows that enhance or soften textures of other items in your space. Play with different lamps, maybe even try a lower wattage bulb to create more ambient light.
Mix Different Fabrics and Materials
Mixing harder elements such as stone, terracotta, metals, ceramics with softer materials like fabric, wicker, florals, knits can help you break up a space without it feeling overwhelming to the eye. Too much texture can overstimulate, making a space feel uncomfortable. Mixing your materials can help keep a space from feeling flat.
While there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to mixing hard textures with soft, the more you include hard lines, the more modern your space will feel. Softer textures can make a space feel cozier and more lived in.
Layer Your Textures
Adding pillows made from different materials, like a leather pillow on a group of soft fabric pillows with a chunky throw can be a great way to create interest and break up your couch.
Add Textured Elements that are Functional
Add things that you can actually use such as, blankets and pillows. You can also use wicker baskets that you can hide things you want to remain unseen. This adds to your space while still being of use to you.
When it comes to playing with texture, it is best to try new layers and techniques before deciding what looks the best. See what feels overwhelming or dull to you and adjust accordingly. But most of all, have fun!
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