Adding Dimensions Through Textures

Texture can add dimension to any room, highlighting its importance in interior design, albeit one that is frequently overlooked. While texture is predominantly a tactile experience, it does not have to be, and can in fact be introduced through lighting, colour, or scale.

Texture, including surface feel and other elements, can bring a cohesive element to the rest of your interior design, which can add warmth, features, or dimension. A room without texture can feel flat, adding texture gives a visual weight.

Tactile texture is the main texture that is introduced in interior design. The use of rugs is the main example seen here. But physical texture can be introduced anywhere in a room; the fabric or wood used in furniture, wall hangings or coverings, cushions, even accessories. These can add smooth, bumpy, rough or shiny textures that add to the visuals of a room. The way light plays with different textures provides points of interest, such as the reflection of a smooth or shiny surface, or how a rough surface provides shadows.

Visual interest is a key part of interior design, and while different tactile feelings can add to this, the use of light, colour, and space can give a visual texture. A sofa covered in different fabrics can give a completely different feel to the room and how it interacts with other elements. A smoother fabric can convey the feeling of light and airy, while a more substantial fabric, such as a cord, will invoke a feeling of warmth. Layering textures can introduce depth, a shiny glass coffee table with contrasting decorative accessories or plants add interest and change the way light reflects in the room. A room needs to be balanced with textures, not overloaded. A mixture of textures that play with each other will create interest without overstimulating the senses.