Jennifer Sheahan: How to elevate interior design with texture
Area In Sheahan In Uses Her Rathmines In Jennifer Layered Moya The Living Picture: Nolan Textures Home
Getting texture combinations right is, in my opinion, the best thing you can do to take your home design from “very nice” to “oh wow”. This is true in any situation, but especially true if your preference leans towards neutral colours, in which case the absence of colour contrast requires textures to play an even more important role in creating depth, warmth, personality, and interest in a space.
If you’re new to design it can be easy to forget texture — you may think all that matters is how soft your bedsheets feel or how comfy your couch cushions are to sit in — but as Kelly Hoppen said: "The use of texture in design is not just about how things feel, it's about how they look too." It’s important to get texture right for both visual and tactile interest in your home. The best part is — it’s easy! Here are some simple guidelines and the most effective texture combinations to get you started.
Textures work best in combination, and the simple key to layering textures is contrast: mix smooth with rough, soft with hard, and matte with glossy. Trial and error is the best way to learn — enter any interior design studio and you will see plenty of physical mood boards containing scraps of fabric and pieces of tile samples. While digital moodboards are fantastic (I love you, Pinterest), bringing together the physical elements is vital to assess how different textures will work together. Testing combinations with samples will also help you to keep your texture combinations purposeful to avoid chaos.
Just like colours, different textures create different moods and atmospheres in a room. Lots of soft fabrics such as wool will give a cosy feeling. Hard surfaces such as polished concrete or tiles will give a cool atmosphere. Shiny reflective materials such as metals or mirrors will add energy to a room.
Leather and velvet feel rich and luxurious; linen and raw wood feel grounded and natural. You can decide what dominant atmosphere you would like in each room — for instance, cosy in the bedroom and welcoming but functional in the hallway — and choose your main textures from there. You can then decide how much additional interest and depth you want to bring in with additional textures.
Of course, there will be other considerations at play, for instance, how easy surfaces are to clean or maintain, but this is your reminder not to forget the effects of texture on the overall mood of the room.
If you’ve read this far and you find yourself looking around your room thinking “Ah ha! Thank you Jenny! This is what I’ve been missing — where do I start?” then luckily for you the fix is easy! Every single surface in a room is a texture of some sort, meaning that every item in a room is an opportunity to bring in new textures and combinations.
Hardwood flooring, satin finish paint, jute rugs, tiled walls, fabric couches, wood tables, canvas artwork, framed photographs, curtains, plants, vases, lampshades — everything adds up to create a textural tapestry, and you can adjust this to achieve the look and feel that you want in the room.
If you need to bring in more texture, start small. Bring in objects that are easy to add or remove, and remember contrast — add a wool throw to a leather couch, bring in a mix of cushions on the bed, and consider whether artwork or plants (I love dried pampas for texture) would be a sufficient addition. If you’re hungry for more, consider textured wallpaper or wall panelling, adding rugs, layering curtains with blinds, and swapping out lampshades.
There are no “right” combinations, which is why it’s necessary to experiment, but I do have some personal favourites which may give you some ideas to get started when experimenting with texture combinations in your own home.
Natural wood and polished marble work so beautifully together that they seem made for each other. The rough, matte surface of natural wood is perfect with smooth marble. The combination creates warmth and timeless sophistication. This could be a marble tabletop on wooden legs as a side table or evening dining table; marble tiles wall tiles with a wooden side table in a hallway; or marble wall lamps on a panelled living room wall.
For a muted, modern vibe, mix lightweight linen curtains or cushions with brushed metal accents such as lamps or side tables. The soft yet slightly rough texture of linen offsets the smooth coolness of metal, creating a balance that feels effortlessly contemporary and light.
Perfect for a cosy cabin vibe — sleek leather contrasts beautifully with soft, plush wool. Try wool cushions or blankets draped on leather couches, armchairs, or headboards for the ultimate in escapism. Oversized chunky knit patterns work beautifully here for an updated look.
- Got a question for our Home team? Email home@examiner.ie