Spice Up Your Space With Some Texture
Hi, it's us again. Just checking in once more to bring you some delicious and refreshing content that will hopefully ease your conscience as we continue our journey on this floating rock hurdling through space around a giant ball of fire. If that existential imagery doesn't brighten your spirits, I don't know what will (sarcasm). Anyway, today we're here to talk about texture in regards to your home: what even is it, and why even do we care about it? Luckily for you, we're here to tell you our non-professional opinion and you can do what you will with this marginally-useful information.
(Notice how the imperfect wood contrasts, yet balances, with the smoother walls and countertops).
When most of us think of the word "texture", we probably think of our sense of touch. And in a nutshell, that is (sort of) what we mean here. It's the sensation we think of when we see something. Apart from function, interior design is visually-focused. Why is that exposed brick wall in a New York-style loft so appealing? Well, it isn't just a blank, white wall. Each brick varies in its color, depth, imperfections- all things you can see. And if you were to rub your hand along that wall, you can feel all of those (well, apart from color- that is, unless you're a synesthete.) For the rest of us with more pedestrian senses, the visual intrigue is enough to make a space more interesting. And beyond the more obvious example of a rough brick or stone wall, there are plenty of other examples of texture in a home, and many reasons you should incorporate it.
You can achieve equilibrium... sort of.
I'm sure you remember this being a vocabulary word in one or many of your science classes in middle and high school. If you don't recall the definition, however- I've got you covered: equilibrium is "a state of rest or balance due to the equal action of opposing forces." Now, think of your current living room for example. What does it look like? What material is your couch? What about your rug, pillows, and throw blanket? Are they all fabrics, and similar ones at that? Incorporating a few different types of materials can bring balance to the for- I mean, space. If you have a fabric couch, try a leather pillow- or a fluffy pillow, or both. Toss on a fur throw blanket over the chaise, get a live-edge coffee table (you don't have to follow all of these suggestions, obviously), but varying materials will add depth and character to an otherwise stylistically-flat and uninteresting room.
(Wallpaper is a fun (and cheap) opportunity to add some texture and visual intrigue.)
Character, and more of it, please.
Ah, yes. One of the words we just used in the paragraph above. Character gets tossed around a lot, and can mean a lot of different things. In the context of texture, to me, character means something original, something unique, something that might not necessarily have been shipped to you from Amazon (not hating on that Prime status, we're guilty as charged). We're fortunate enough to live in an old house, and often enough, "old" is equated with "character". That can certainly be true in many cases. For us, after our home was flipped by contractors, a lot of our focus has been on re-injecting that historic charm and character back into the house, and character has been a big part of this. Taking care of our original hardwoods throughout most of the house, exposing the rafters and beams in our kitchen, and most recently- installing beams in our primary bedroom to fit the flow of the rest of the house. All of these varying woods showcase different textures, and make the house feel warmer and more lived in. Conversely, if your aesthetic leans less towards the rustic than it does the modern, texture (smooth ones, that is) can be used to make a space feel more chic and elegant (think marble floors, a porcelain tub, silver or gold hardware, and the like- the choice is yours).
(These faux-wood beams added a lot of dimension and depth to an otherwise empty space.)
And finally below, a non-exhaustive list of ways you can incorporate more texture into your home:
Walls: is there the possibility to expose any stone or brick in your home? If not, you can try a chic wallpaper, or try your hand at limewashing walls to add texture with paint.
Floors: Is all of your home covered in carpet? Hardwood can be expensive, but it's worth it in the long run. If you aren't ready to bite that expensive bullet, differentiate your living spaces with area rugs. You can even incorporate different flooring materials like brick, tile, marble, and beyond for areas in kitchens and bathrooms.
Decor: We've already talked about pillows, rugs, and throws- but what's on your mantle? Add some greenery, vintage books, terracotta or ceramic pots, dried flowers, or anything your heart desires. Arrange them in a way that multiple materials are in the same vicinity, playing off of one another.
Furniture: If you have a leather couch, try a fabric accent chair, and add a wood coffee table. Try out something different for the chairs at your dining room table, and add a runner. You want to have some sort of flow, but again, the
Structural Elements/Architecture: I saved the most difficult for last. If your home is old, you have the possibility of brick or stone walls, weathered and worn beams, and the like. These can be great definitive features of your home that express its history and personality. If you live in a newly-built home, this might be harder to find. If you live in newer home, you can still add these in if you like- there are reclaimed brick veneers you can use, or you can add in an array of wall paneling types to give your walls more depth and dimension.
