Texture. ˈtɛkstʃə. noun;
1. The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or a substance. “skin texture and tone”.
2. Give (a surface) a rough or raised texture.
“wallcoverings which create a textured finish”.

When it comes to home decorating, there are certain elements to keep in mind in order to create a flowing and harmonious spaces. I think that colour is definetly the front runner of these elements for most home decorators when styling their own homes. But there are two other very important factors to consider to give your space that added appeal and layered effect. First is pattern. Bringing in some pattern using home decor and soft furnishing items is a fantastic way to add that wow to a room as it adds interest and a whole other dimension. Depending on your overall look though, use pattern sparingly, as too many combined patterns or too much of a particular pattern can crowd a room. (Remember pattern doesn’t have to be bright.) The second and more subtle element is texture. It is my favourite element to work with as I love adding in items that not only feel amazing but grab your eye when entering a room. To me an interior is made up of not only thing to look at, but being able to touch those items as well. It shouldnt just be a feast for the eyes, but to the other senses as well. Smell also plays a big role for me in decorating. I’ve said it before and you’ll hear it from me again, finish a room with a yummy smelling candle or scented item so that the scent of the room matches the look. To meet the needs of the the sense touch, you should always remember to add in some form of texture. Why? Because it adds interest and dimension to a space and grounds it. It appeals to our senses and invites visitors to touch and explore. People often finish decorating a room, take a step back and think that something is missing. That something is usually texture.

Texture is a key design feature in both interior design and interior decorating. Using it within the hard finishes of a home: flooring, tile selections and paint finishes. And in decor items: furniture, soft furnishings (cushions, throws, curtains), artwork and textured homewares. At the moment with the natural Boho and tribal themes being so popular, it’s a great time to inject some texture into your home. Don’t think texture only lends itself to a more natural type of style though. It’s a beneficial element to all styles; even the most minimalist and modern of homes. People often say that a crisp white interior is very cold and uninviting. It can be without the presence of texture. To me, a bright white space containing white textured items is perfection! It’s the art of creating layers and depth with a single colour. And that is something that looks subtly amazing!

So how and where do you incorporate texture into your home? If you are lucky enough to be building or renovating you can start using it in the hard finishes. Tiles, flooring, paint etc. There are some absolutely amazing textured tiles available these days, available at price points suitable to most budgets. If you want to create a gorgeous space that is on trend but you don’t want it to date, choose a textured tile over a patterned one. A neutral, textured tile is a beautiful addition to a kitchen, bathroom or laundry room and is a clever choice that will look beautiful for many years to come. People often make the error of choosing a highly patterned or brightly coloured hard finishes because it is currently in trend. This is totally fine if you are willing to replace them at a later date, but it is a costly project so one to think about in advance. By choosing neutral tones, the finishes are less likely to date. In doing this you don’t need to give up a designer look-simply add in some texture to add that extra flair. Another finish perfect for adding texture is timber. Timber walls, floor, ceiling. Fireplaces, bench tops and exposed beams. As far as I’m concerned, it’s always in trend! Painted wood is gorgeous too. Since I can remember, I have loved a painted white timber floor and hope one day to be able to own a home where I can include it within the finishes. Nothing beats the real thing, but these days if your budget doesn’t allow for it, faux timber items such as laminates are quite realistic looking. And when it comes to adding texture in with furniture, homewares and soft furnishings, the possibilities are endless! You could look in any furniture and home décor store and find textured items suitable for any interior style. Textured wooden or fabric furniture pieces. Textured floor rugs, cushions, throw blankets and curtains. Textured artworks and wall hanging. Textured light fittings. And textured homewares pieces including vases, bowls and ornamental pieces. You just have to find the right texture for the space you are creating.

I recently gave our master bedroom a makeover to give it a more soft, natrual and slightly Bohemian look. I have added in lots of textured items. Some I already had around the home and some are new items selected for the space. (The grid photo collages are details of these items). Included in the room are some stunning pieces from Australian business Lost Design Society who work with developing communities and emerging brands worldwide to bring their customers a curated selection of homeware and furniture pieces. New collections launched regulary and last a limited time only. If you are after a unique, quality made, textured piece for your home, look no further! Before adding these gorgeous LDS pieces, I started by stripping the room back to the bare essentials. To create the look I was after, I started with a blank white canvas on the bed with the use of a white linen quilt cover. From there I added in my neutral colours and patterns with blankets and cushions. Next, I began to add textured homeware pieces. I have used  lot of texture in this space as I have kept the colour palette very neutral so the room does need the texture to give it that much needed added dimension. Texture can be found not only in the soft furnishings, but items such as natural woven baskets, hammered metal side table, faux cow hide floor rug and various homewares. Another textural element in the room is greenery. I try to have plants (preferably real but for some rooms faux) in every room of my home as its that extra finishing touch. And in this room, the design needed that living, textured, green element to break up the neutral tones and add to the natural feel of the space.  And of course I finished the room with the addition of a gorgeous scented candle. Because I must follow my own decorating rules!

So next time you aren’t happy with a space in your home or you’ve found a new appreciation for texture, hit the shops to not only look at pieces, but to touch them as well. It’s what our senses are for and what our interiors need.

Happy decorating!

Zoe THE DIY DECORATOR