Today’s Element of Design is texture! In my Elements and Principles of Design series, we’ve covered color, line, space, and shape and form. And now we are going to delve into the world of texture!
Chapter 5: Texture!
Everything around us has a texture, and it can be a really powerful tool when designing a space. Texture is like the icing on the design cake. It brings a feeling of luxury and polish to your room and really helps bring the space to the next level designwise.
The element of texture refers to texture in the traditional sense of how an object feels, actual or tactile texture, and also the way that it looks like it feels, visual or implied texture.
Our perception of texture can change based on adjacent textures, lighting, and our viewing position. For instance, a rough texture will appear even more rough when adjacent to a comparatively smooth surface.
Feelings of Texture
As with the other Elements of Design we’ve covered, different textures bring about certain feelings, vibes, or emotions. Smooth textures can be associated with sleek, modern spaces. Rough textures bring about warm, cozy feelings.
Using Texture
The best way to use texture in a space is to choose two or three that convey the feeling that you’re trying to achieve in the room. If you’re really trying to create emphasis on one specific feature, choose a texture for that feature and then keep to one other texture for the rest of the room. This will create a sense of contrast and draw the eye to that feature.
Ways to Bring in Texture on a Budget: A Roundup!
Use these ideas to help finish your space with a touch of texture!
Textiles
Textiles, such as blankets, bedding, pillows, and curtains can bring in a ton of texture in a really easy, economical way.
Floor Coverings
If you’re looking to change up your floor coverings, take a minute to add texture into your list of considerations. Tile versus wood, totally different texture, totally different feeling in the space. Likewise, adding a rug, of which there are many different variations of texture to choose from, can warm up a space immensely.
Wall Treatments
Looking to make a big impact? Things like shiplap, wall paper, stucco and other wall treatments, can have a tremendous impact on a space, bringing depth and interest to an area.
Furniture
Use the textures of your furnishings as the base layer of texture in your room and build from there, adding layers for visual interest. No need to invest in brand-new furniture, simply pay attention to the texture you already have and play off of that when adding other things to the room from this list.
Accessories
Items like wall hangings, knick-knacks, plants, items from nature, and other decor items have the ability to bring in a ton of texture. Even photos and art have visual texture. These smaller items are a great way to bring texture throughout the room, creating continuity in the design and drawing the viewer’s eye around the room. Plus, this can usually be done for very little money. Keep an eye out when you’re at thrift stores, discount stores, clearance sections, or dollar stores for either accessories with great texture or things that can be used to make accessories with great texture.
Go Forth and Feel the Texture!
Remember, EVERYTHING has texture! Changing your perspective to thinking of things in a textural sense takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you get there, you really can take your space to a whole other level! Take some time to gain a new textural outlook on your existing textiles, floor coverings, wall treatments, furniture, and accessories, and then experiment with some new textures. Have fun with it and get creative!
For more affordable and practical ways to use the Elements and Principles of Design to make your house a home, check out my other Elements and Principles of Design posts. And be sure to stay tuned for the rest of my Elements and Principles of Design series!
As always, check out my updates on Facebook and Instagram and feel free to peruse Homebody Hall for more ideas on how to make your house a home, on a budget! Happy creating!
Want to remember all the ways you can bring texture into your home on a budget? Pin this roundup to your favorite Pinterest board!
