Texture isn’t usually the first thing you consider when looking at how you’d like to design a room, but it is actually a very important element of design to think about. Texture has the ability to add character, and it has a heavy impact on how you perceive the design of any given room. It adds visual appeal and allows you to create a distinct feeling.
What is texture?
Texture in interior design describes the surfaces we can physically feel in a room, as well as take in visually. If you can imagine how soft leather feels under your fingertips, snuggling up under a flannel blanket, sinking into your favorite plush armchair, or admiring the rough, uneven stone of a fireplace; these are all examples of how we experience texture.
The experience that we have with different textures in a room affects the overall feeling we get in that room. Imagine some of the textures that you experience in fall, whether that be velvet, leather, flannel, cashmere, wool, or a perhaps a wood finish.
We not only have reactions to the way these materials feel but how they look visually as well. You might be drawn to certain textures based on the way they attract the eye or the way they are able to increase your overall comfort from the way they feel. We can identify how these textures make us feel, and these feelings help us determine which textures we want to add into the design of our home.
Visual Weight
Taken from Baskervill.com
Visual weight is a concept in design that essentially means objects or spaces have the ability to draw attention to themselves. The more something attracts the eye, the more visual weight it has.
For example, larger elements in the room will attract more attention, and will therefore have more visual weight than smaller elements in the room. You can probably picture a time where you walked into a room with a huge painting on the wall, and your eyes went there first. Size, color, and texture are major contributors that affect an object’s visual weight.
There are many ways we can increase the visual weight within a room during the fall season.
One way would be to add velvet accents into your living room. Velvet has a unique texture that draws the eye and is both soft and tingly to the touch. We typically associate velvet with colder weather. The easiest way to add this texture to your home would be through adding velvet throw pillows, or maybe a velvet accent chair.
You can also add depth and visual weight to your living room or bedroom by adding a plush area rug; place it at a central point in the room for it to have the most visual weight. It will surely be a focal point in the room because let’s be honest, during the fall months your first instinct when you walk into the room will be to slip your shoes off and run your feet over it.
Balance
Taken from Bernhardt
Balance can be created by varying the textures within a room because it helps to create contrast.
For example, placing a smooth item next to a rougher piece will create visual interest and offer a pleasant balance of texture within the room.
Considering the unique texture of an item and how it will fit with the other elements in the room is important for creating a unique and appealing design. Rougher, raised textures have the ability to create a sense of intimacy and warmth, whereas smooth or shiny textures tend to give the room a more modern, cool impression.
If the fall, many people want to create an overall cozy atmosphere. However, it’s important not to go too crazy with how many textures you include. More doesn’t always mean better in this case. You need to find a balance between the colors, textures, and placement of objects within a space.
For example, if you are using a particular color theme for the room, it is important to have a variety of textures to help items stand out. During the fall season, you can keep your color theme while adding coziness and warmth by adding rougher textures, perhaps wooden knick-knacks for the mantle.
Rough textures reflect less light, seem heavier, and often have a rustic feel that is well suited for fall. A way to add balance to your bedroom during fall might be to replace your summer bedding with a heavy quilt. Quilts typically add balance to the room design because they have smooth fabric in between the rigid threading, offering a strong dynamic of texture; and can keep your feet warm during cold nights!