The Importance of Including Texture; featuring Hand and Home
Why can having a successful space sometimes feel so unattainable? You can see all the beautiful pictures on Pinterest or in magazines and aren’t sure what the qualities are that we aren’t achieving in your own home. Those things you can’t quite put your finger on are Elements and Principles of Design. I have talked before about the basics of these Elements and Principles but let’s take a closer look at Texture.
Texture defines the surfaces of shapes and forms. Texture that you feel with your hand is tactile while texture that an artist recreates on a flat surface is visual. Tactile texture is three-dimensional since it has height, width, and depth. Visual texture is two-dimensional because it does not have physical depth. When thinking of texture through the lens of interior design, it is important to combine both tactile and visual texture, when planning out the space. The room becomes a big picture, and when stepped away from looking in acts as a painting. Then when you walk up to it you can feel the textures seen, it’s a 3D space to move in with depth.
Objects all around you provide examples of tactile texture. For instance, couches and coffee tables have unique textures that you can both see and feel by touching them. The closer you are to the object the more pronounced the textures become. If you are far away from an object, you may not be able to see its texture at all; this is important to think through when choosing the fabrics, what effects will this texture have up-close versus further away?
Texture is found in every aspect of our homes. From the base layer to the finishing touches everything is a choice of what texture you are bringing into your home. Think of paint; what kind of sheen do you want? shiny or matte? Both of those are different textures. Then thinking through the flooring, carpet? wood? tile? All these decisions bring a different texture to your home. What about furniture… Leather? Boucle? Cotton? And finally, decor- painting, plants, dried florals, macrame. This is so important to think through because the textures you choose for your home decide where the visual interest will be and set the mood of the room. Things like steel beams and leather chairs will give more of an industrial feel even if you are aiming for a boho room, so be sure to think through your architectural texture when decorating your space. The steel beams won’t be able to go anywhere, so lean into what is already found to have a more cohesive room, instead of textures that fight each other.
“Soft and cozy” seems to be a design style that has become popular over the last few years. The best way to achieve this feeling is with natural textures. Minimalist, Boho, and Scandinavian styles have natural textures at the core of the design. Hygge, the Danish ideology, encompasses the soft and cozy vibe. If you want more information on Hygge checks out this link. “Cozy” has become an idea to achieve in your home and the practical application comes with what textures you choose. Covid continued the idea since we were in our homes so much more, and we want to be comfortable in our space. Choosing more natural woods in your furniture gives the feeling of the outdoors coming inside. Things like sheep skin and fluffy blankets scream “rest” to the audience looking at your room. Having wall art that uses natural fibers adds to the continued narrative of “cozy”. Check out the photo below of the beautiful fiber art made by Hand and Home that brings this feeling through decor. Bringing comfort into your home is more than just the furniture. Make sure to think through what you are adding to your walls as well.
Another reason texture can be so important is when you choose a neutral color pallet for your home. When not having a lot of color in your space, you must think creatively of other ways to bring visual interest. Texture becomes a priority in these rooms since it gives flavor to your room when there isn’t color dictating the mood. It can give a sleek modern feel with leather and smooth surfaces, or a Scandinavian feel with cozy blankets and pillows. You can see the fiber art from Hand and Home creates the visual interest on the wall even though all the colors are neutral. The textured represented in the wall art brings the viewer’s eye in and makes the otherwise “boring” space very interesting.
Layering different textures, like in the fiber art, can be a tool when you aren’t sure where to start. Having a shag rug, with a leather couch brings a juxtaposition that keeps the viewer’s eyes engaged, or a minimal rug with a boucle chair…the options are endless. Layering textures like this is key when trying to create a space that is rich and full of depth. Contrasting fabrics create a similar effect while also providing balance. Remember to use this idea beyond the areas that seem obvious like furniture. Also think about the curtains, blinds, and lampshades in your living room.
Texture is an area that is so vast it is hard to hone it into a simple blog post. It really is found in all aspects of your home and is such a significant element of design. Texture defines the mood of your space and highlights the visual interest where otherwise your space may be lacking. It can visually lighten the room, uniform the space, and even tell the narrative to the viewer of what style you are achieving. It can be one of the most key elements when bringing a space together. Understanding the basics of texture will help you know how to tell the story of your room, have an impressive and interesting room, and bring the perfect juxtaposition in. These things will allow you to attain a room like the beautiful photos seen on the internet and in magazines. It will give that extra flair of beauty to your home that will become the envy of all who visit ;)
A Special thank you to Hand and Home for contributing her pieces to be featured in this blog post. If you haven’t already, go check out her website!
