While strolling or scrolling through that fabulous furnishings store filled with luxurious decor pieces, all of which "would look amazing in your home," the temptation to buy whatever catches your eye at the moment grows.
Don't let the excitement of a random purchase cloud your judgment of what objects play well together, and give your space volume through layering different kinds of textures, including color, materials, and patterns.
Odd as it may sound, we've discovered it's possible to decorate a whole house with lovely accents that cost a lot but offer little design harmony. Essentially, a collective of lonely mismatched items that don't speak to each other. So sad!
Thoughtful decorating is a process that requires patience to get that "who's your interior decorator" impact. You can build well-defined layers of room texture with any unique decor style or color palette, including monochromatic, supposing you have a nice mix of complimentary and contrasting elements.
What interesting elements can we consistently use to capture attention in our space? The textures we choose for our home should appeal to the senses of sight and touch.
Wall Finishes
Plain white matte walls have their place, but we'd prefer to explore wall finishes with some teeth. If you're lucky enough to have an older home with brick walls on the interior, you have the Holy Grail of walls. Brick walls have a brilliant organic color variety that gravitates towards hosting a canvas print gallery wall. Rustic stone walls are another integrated wall texture to embrace, which we visualize paired with a warm farmhouse motif.
Unlike stone or brick, applied textures like paint swirls, tiles, or wallpaper are textures you can change up to match new decor updates. For example, a room decorated ceiling to floor in grand millennial accents is incomplete without a dash of floral velvet wallpaper.
For homes in warm weather places, there's nothing like a tastefully tiled wall that's convenient to clean and keeps the house cool. Tile can be smooth or rugged to touch. Compliment with lush house plants and furniture in bamboo, wicker, or light wood.
Natural Materials
Nature is inarguably the best supplier of fine materials. Humans try to duplicate, but the results are never quite the same. Turn your space into an attractive haven of furniture and accents constructed of soft cotton, wool, linen, silk, or sturdy bamboo and wood.
Some natural materials have antiseptic properties, which are germ-reducing and make a room feel lighter and airy. You'll also notice the presence of pleasant earthy scents wafting through the air from a new wood piece or knitted cotton blanket.
Natural materials require special cleaning care, but it's worth the effort.
Wooden Accents
Wood dining room tables, framed armchairs, and wood credenzas are 100% important home decor objects. Durable utility accents built from wood help us with the daily organization.
A raw wood wall plaque painted in white with decent-sized metal hooks is a simple object but helps keep keys, jackets, and hats in one place. Metal and wood components incorporate a vintage vibe. You don't want a mess to detract from the energy and beauty of a space. And if you're a shorty, like many of us, a raw wood step stool is no match for a cheap plastic imposter. You can carry it from room to room, and it'll fit nicely in corners.
Ravishing Rugs
Just hearing the word "rug" triggers thoughts of snuggling up on a soft, deep piled tufted chenille or walking barefoot over a foot-exfoliating jute carpet. Decide what textures most appeal to your senses. Depending on weaving, hand-tufted cotton, wool, and polyester shags will feel softer to the touch. In contrast, sisal, a material similar to jute, feels slightly bristly but looks terrific in a neutral-toned space.
Designers around the world often tout how rugs add texture, and warmth, protect flooring and maintain their style layered over other carpeting—pair with nubby throw pillows and cozy blankets according to seasonality.
Whether new or delicately distressed, you'll find a beautiful rug that fits your space, no matter the budget.
Decorative Elements
Now that we've given you the foundations of texture, we can start layering decorative elements on walls, beds, coffee tables, credenzas, and countertops. Shop 'til the sun goes down, or you break the bank for decor that mixes well with texture basics.
Wall hangings, leaf-shaped serving trays gilded in gold, house plants of varying sizes, poufs, and colorful pillows are just the tip of the iceberg. Create an eclectic wall decor gallery mixing seaweed baskets, floral prints, photos, and shelving. Add small plants to window sills and standing plants to empty corners. Pillows never cease to bring cozy to living rooms and bedrooms.
The right balance of textures will hold people's gaze, make them feel comfortable, and push them to explore their sense of touch. It just takes a little thought, creativity, and patience.
