How using texture can level up your home design
1 January 2025
Today, I’m talking about texture and the variety of ways you can use it to make your house feel more at home.
I’m relieved we’re starting to trend away from whitewashing our homes. The revival of colour and texture is exciting and allows us to express our style in our homes.
Texture is an important design tool that can stimulate emotions when walking into a room. If it’s applied correctly, the emotional response is welcoming and comfortable. If you get it wrong or don’t use it, an environment can feel stark, cold and uninviting. Texture can be applied for visual appeal, drawing the eye to features or creating depth between objects of similar colours. Texture stimulates touch, too. A chunky soft knit throw rug on an otherwise simple fabric sofa feels opulent. In contrast, sandy micro cement hallway walls can allude to the essence of Tuscany.
There are many ways to add texture to your space to stimulate your senses. Here are a few ideas.
PAINT
Paint is a simple method for adding texture to your home that goes beyond colour. The right paint can completely transform your space. For instance, textured paints like suede or sandstone can create stunning accent walls that draw the eye and create luxury. A velvet-like finish adds elegance to a dining or living room. Experimenting with cement-look paints can add an intriguing, natural, earthy vibe to modern kitchens and bathrooms.
Explore various application methods to enhance your space. Sponging can offer a delicate, layered look that resembles natural materials like stone or fabric. Additionally, using textured paint with stencils can transform any wall into a striking piece of art. Try a rough stucco paint on an exterior wall or in a cozy corner for a bolder finish.
With the variety of paints available today, there are endless design possibilities to lift the aesthetic of your home with texture.
TILING
Creating texture with tiles can be achieved in many ways. I spoke with Ben from Tile City Stafford about the latest tiling design trends.
“The best method is to utilise textured tiles,” he said.
“This style of tile is created with a texture or undulation to the surface. New digital decorative glazing (DDG) prints texture onto the tile following design patterns. This renders a highly realistic feel to stone or timber-look tiles. Older technology relied on physically pressing the undulations into the material of the tile. Both methods create a wonderful texture and give life and realism to the finish.”
Ben suggests that texture can be achieved by applying different tiles to the floor and wall and mixing gloss and matte finishes. Handmade and subway-look tiles give texture through various surfaces and the pattern in which they are laid. While a herringbone or offset diagonal pattern might increase your budget, the textured feature is visually striking. You can keep costs low by using these features minimally as splashbacks, in niches or a small section of the room. Team it with softer and simpler companion tiles to naturally attract the eye.
Colour can also add character. Smaller tiles can be enhanced using grouts in contrasting colours.
Ben says if you want to work with timber or stone-look tiles, pair them with a rustic handmade tile. This will make the most of the textural differences between natural-looking and manufactured.
In an outdoor setting, tiles are already textured to provide a non-slip surface.
“The texture is inherent to the design of the area. Outdoor spaces can be a great place to embrace bold or heavy patterns that would be difficult to use in the enclosed space of an internal area.”
It might sound like a lot to think about, so if you are unsure how to pull it together, I strongly urge my clients to visit a showroom. Talking to someone like Ben can help you collate your ideas and help visualise the potential in your space.
PANELLING
Wall panelling is a versatile way to introduce texture and add depth and character to any room. With many styles and products available, you can liven up your home easily using panelling. Wooden slat panels can create a sleek, contemporary look, while VJ shiplap or tongue-and-groove panels give rustic charm. It’s worth exploring painted or stained finishes that complement your home’s colour palette to add warmth and richness.
What if your budget can’t accommodate full or half-wall panels? Beading or sconcing is a simple and inexpensive way to lift a plain wall.
Additionally, think beyond the walls. Ceiling panelling or beading is an accentuated design element throughout a home. Decorative beading with crown moulding exudes sophistication in heritage homes, making a room feel finished and inviting. Extending wooden slats up a wall and across the ceiling is an appealing feature of modern housing. It can also provide sound buffering.
Before running to the timber shop, consider the age and style of your home and align your panelling choices similarly. Lines must be straight, shapes must be square, and symmetry must be even for successful panel installation.
FURNISHINGS
Yes, it’s cushions and rugs but also curtains and furniture covering. Sheer curtains softly filter light and, hanging them s-fold, adds depth to windows and doorways. Heavier fabrics like velvet, crepe, or patterned and blackout curtains come in any colour you can imagine and are an effortless way to bring texture and make a room feel finished.
Rugs are cost-effective and ideal for adding texture if you are renting and can’t paint or alter the walls or ceilings of your home. A beautifully woven rug can instantly warm a space and provide a tactile element when touched. Whether a large plush or a flat-weave design, the texture can create a cozy atmosphere and section areas of a room.
Textured furniture coverings such as linen or leather can drastically alter the feeling of a room. To bring elegance to your living room, a soft, suede or velvet sofa looks luxurious against your skin. At the same time, textured linen offers a relaxing coastal vibe. Blend and layer different materials together. I like to toss a coloured knit throw over leather lounges and chairs for a stylish addition to the bedroom or study.
If you’re starting, the simplest way to experiment with texture is with cushions. Use different kinds of fabrics and shapes and layer them for extra comfort and relaxation. Cushions with embellishments, such as tassels or fringes, effectively add personality and charm to your lounge areas. Switch them up seasonally for a warming sensation in winter and a fresh burst of colour in summer.
FLOORING
While not always considered in terms of texture, flooring is a foundational element of styling living areas. Restored wood floorboards, patterned tiling and natural stone each have unique flavours that can define different functional areas of a house.
Distressed or natural timber floorboards can be stained and finished to suit the home’s character. Lighter colours are fresh and beachy, while warm, rich chocolate tones work well for country charm.
However, not all existing timber flooring is in good enough condition. Fortunately, tiles, carpets and other floor coatings can be as effective. As Ben mentioned, textured ceramic or porcelain tiles can imitate other materials, such as timber-like for a warm floorboard effect or stone-look for a cooler surface. Glossy Carrara marble tiles are decadent, while concrete patterned tiles offer rugged industrial appeal without the cost of polished concrete or epoxy resin flooring.
Carpets, rugs and runner additions in varying piles and fabrics give comfort, introduce texture layers, and are soft on the foot.
Work a good mixture of textures on your floors by complementing smooth hardwood floors with a chunky jute rug. Thoughtfully selecting flooring textures creates a dynamic foundation that anchors the rest of your home’s decor while ensuring a welcoming ambience.
ARTWORK
Incorporating texture through artwork provides an engaging visual experience.
Textured art pieces like mixed media collages or 3D sculptures stand out in monochromatic environments, inviting closer inspection. You can make your own canvas using thick brush strokes or layered materials for tactile quality—these pieces can serve as focal points.
To blend natural tones and textures, use clay, glass, or wood ornaments on shelving between books or stacked on coffee tables.
Other wall-mounted textiles, like woven wall hangings or fabric art, introduce softness against hard surfaces. Even the framing of your artwork can contribute to texture; ornate frames or raw wooden edges distinguish a piece and enhance its overall character.
Thoughtfully curating texture in your artwork makes a room feel more personalised and vibrant.
As you choose your textures, consider how they interact with other elements in the room, such as furniture, lighting, and colour schemes, to cultivate a harmonious environment that feels personal and curated.
Adding texture doesn’t have to break the bank.
I love rummaging second-hand stores for unique pieces of furniture, homeware, and artwork. Interchanging cushions, rugs and throws at different times of the year gives a fresh take on a room and can be fun when matched with seasonal celebrations.
Whether you’re aiming for modern sophistication or rustic charm, our team at The Celestial Place is here to help you choose and apply the perfect textured paint to enhance your space. Let us help make your vision a reality and your home a reflection of you.
* I have written this blog with some assistance from Grammarly’s artificial intelligence tool to ensure my articles are easy for you to read and free from plagiarism. If there is a topic you would like us to write about, get in touch.