Little decor ideas for big impact: add texture to your home

Ever finished decorating a room and felt it was missing something?  Or maybe you felt it simply wasn’t coming together?  The answer more often than not is the lack of texture which is overlooked by so many of us. So today’s little decor idea is all about how to add texture to your home which can totally transform a room.

Texture creates visual interest and goes a long way to making your space look cosy, warm and inviting. You know those beautiful Scandinavian homes on Pinterest that look so inviting? They all have one thing in common and that is the use of lots of different textures.

Texture becomes even more important when you have a neutral colour scheme because it brings the space to life. So if you love a neutral toned home like me, the way to add the wow factor is with lots of different textures.

5 ways to add texture to your home

1. add texture to your walls

Walls take up a lot of area in every home and are of course very visible. So if you start with adding texture to your walls, you will cosy up your room far more easily. If you’re wondering how to add texture to your walls, one of the easiest and best ways is to go for textured paint which can either be with a real texture or a faux texture (where it looks like it’s got texture). I especially love paints that have a plaster like finish – detalecph’s KC14 is one of my favourites. Detalecph also do a paint with a fabric like finish.  There are other finishes you could opt for like stone, concrete or chalky. Of course we’re talking subtle textures here – nothing too much as it will have the opposite effect.

If painting your walls isn’t an option, you can still add some texture to your walls. Some ideas are hanging any kind of textured artworks or hanging a rug as art. You could also consider an exposed brick wall (if the bricks are new and too bright, you can always whitewash) or you could add wall mouldings which are so on trend right now. Another way is to add texture is to have floor to ceiling and wall to wall linen curtains even if your windows aren’t wall to wall. Curtains aren’t just for windows though, there are many creative ways to use curtains that will add a lovely soft texture to your room.

2. add texture to your floors

Your floors are the next biggest surface area in a room, after walls. This is another great opportunity to add texture. Wooden floors with a cosy rug or two is a great way to add texture. Alternatively stone floors can work well too, especially in warmer climates. If you already have wall to wall carpet, you can still consider adding a rug on top. When choosing a rug, consider natural materials like jute, sisal or shaggy wool for lots of texture.

3. add texture with furniture

Your furniture can totally add texture to your room. Choose natural materials as opposed to anything synthetic because natural materials have a rawness that will add depth to your room. You can consider things like a glass or marble coffee table, a rattan bed headboard, a leather chair — the list goes on. You can even get new covers for your sofa in linen or boucle fabrics which will add so much texture to your space. Adding a vintage piece of furniture to a smooth modern space is also a great way to instantly add texture and the contrast looks great too. This doesn’t just apply to living rooms though – you can do this in every room of your home.

4. add texture with lighting

I often talk about the importance of lighting in a room and how feature lighting can transform a room. But lighting also plays a role in bringing texture in to a room. Lights come in so many different materials like metal, glass, bamboo, fabric, paper, rattan and often in a combination of materials too. I’m not talking pendant lights only but also table, wall and floor lights. Lighting is often not mentioned when talking about adding texture in a room but it totally should be. It’s a key part of every room and there is so much opportunity to add texture with lighting.

5. add texture with textiles

Lastly but equally importantly add texture to your home with different textiles. Many people jump straight to this step when adding texture but for me this is the final layer of adding texture. This is all about adding throws, cushions, baskets, sheepskin and other textured accessories. Linen is always a great choice of fabric but you can mix it up with wool, sheepskin, jute and other fabrics. I do love a bit of sheepskin for the winter months because it looks and feels so cosy. A rattan, seagrass or bamboo floor basket is both useful and looks great. Ceramic or stone objects grouped together on a shelf,  lots of plants, foliage, branches, sculptures, books – all of these contributes to creating a beautifully textured space that looks cohesive.

It might sound like doing all these things to add texture to your home is a bit over the top but as you can see from the pics it’s not.  Of course you don’t have to do all these things – do as many as works for your taste and space. The secret is to keep everything muted and neutral. Use a mix of textures in natural, neutral tones and the room will look so cosy and inviting.

all images via alvhem