10 Must-Know Color & Texture Insights for Reno Newbies

Ready to take your living room to the next level? Color and texture are powerful tools that can turn an ordinary space into something extraordinary. But there’s more to them than what initially meets the eye. This article will highlight 10 surprising facts about using color and texture for everyone who has just started their renovation journey. Let’s begin!

The renowned American interior designer Kelly Wearstler once stated,

“Texture adds depth and interest to a space. It’s like the icing on the cake.”

So, why is this aspect a hot topic in interior design? It isn’t just about adding a few fancy cushions or a polished piece of wood. It’s about blending rough and smooth elements to form a unique visual language.

Exploring Texture in Interior Design

Picture this—you’re chilling and running your fingers over a super comfy cashmere throw or just appreciating a stone backsplash’s cool, rugged look. That’s what we call texture—it’s about an object’s physical feel or visual appeal.

But a room’s overall vibe isn’t just about its objects’ physical and visual features. It’s also about how we perceive the space. Take lighting, for example. It might not have a tangible or visible texture, but its warm or bright glow adds to the room’s feeling of depth. It can make a space feel gentle or intense.

You might think, “It all seems a bit complicated, especially without an interior designer to guide me.” But don’t worry—it’s not all that complex.

You might not have a professional by your side, but when you’re sprucing up your home, you’ll naturally incorporate various elements.

After all, every material has its own unique characteristics. They reflect your preferences, so design naturally includes things you adore. But it’s also a good idea to consider this aspect.

Just like you wouldn’t randomly throw paint colors together without thinking about how they interact and affect the room, the same goes for this element. It deserves some careful consideration, a bit of repetition to set a theme, and a balance with other elements to avoid being too predictable or overdone.

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Types of Textures

• Tactile Texture
  Tactile texture refers to how things feel to the touch. It could be the roughness of a wooden surface, the softness of a textile, or the volume of decorative plaster on a wall.
• Visual Texture
  Visual texture creates an optical illusion. It makes a surface appear textured, even though it’s actually smooth. Examples include laminates that resemble wood or matte and shiny finishes.
• Abstract Texture
  Abstract texture involves creating a unique pattern or design on a textured material. The result is a new texture that is both visible and tangible. It can be found in materials such as river stone fireplaces, brick walls, three-dimensional wall panels, or stacked wood planks that form an undulating surface.
• Original Texture
  These textures are created from scratch using lines, colors, and light. For instance, a wall with an alcove or an epoxy pour with embedded objects can create an entirely new texture.

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Ways to use texture in your living room

Mix Different Textures

Adding texture and pattern to your room creates a balanced and inviting space. Fancy a rustic feel? Try an exposed brick wall.

Want to play with light? Polished plaster or painted walls could be your best pal. The right blend of colors can dial up or tone down these textures, giving you control over how dramatic or subtle you want the room to be.

Mixing contrasting textures, like the rugged charm of brick with plushy cushions or the earthy vibes of wood and stone with shiny metal, can create a beautifully tied-together look.

And don’t forget those little details—George Miller, Home Designer at Neptune Fulham, says,

“Plants, books, or ceramic accessories are a perfect addition where there are more smooth and hard surfaces to contrast, like your kitchen or bathroom.”

In a living room, a stone fireplace or wooden paneling can become the room’s star and add another chapter to your texture story.

Credits: Spacejoy via Unsplash

Go Organic

Natural materials like wood, textiles, and stones have a unique appeal that can give your interiors a rustic look, especially when used in their unrefined form.

Real plants can add vibrancy and liveliness to a room while also improving air quality and boosting energy levels. The variety of plants and flowers, with their different shapes, colors, and heights, can enhance a room’s texture and overall aesthetic. It’s important to choose plants and flowers that complement the existing textures in the room.

The vases and containers used for the plants can also contribute to this effect by echoing an already existing texture, such as an ornament or a lamp base. Incorporating natural beauty into a room adds a timeless charm and appeal.

As Hilton Carter, author of Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants in Beautiful Spaces, rightly said,

“The power that plant life has in a home is transformative. By gathering plants in this deliberate way, the homeowners were able to create a spot everyone is drawn to.”

Credits: Spacejoy via Unsplash

Let’s Play with Color

It’s fascinating how texture can change the way we see color.

When light hits a rough fabric, it gets absorbed, making the colors look a bit warmer. On the flip side, shiny, glossy surfaces reflect light, making colors seem brighter. The colors and finishes we choose can really transform our perception of texture and the whole design.

Regardless of the texture, lighter colors have this magical ability to make a room feel bright and airy. And if your room has loads of natural light, the contrasts between different textures will be even more noticeable. For inspiration, take a look at the Scandinavian style. It’s all about minimal, airy design with neutral hues, but it really comes to life using natural materials like wood, wicker, linen, and jute.

But don’t overlook the darker hues; they can add depth, creating a wonderfully moody and sensual atmosphere. Remember that darker colors absorb more light, so shadows might be less visible.

That’s why it’s super important to include light-reflective materials so your space doesn’t look all gloomy.

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Credits: Jan Skácelík @restyleart via Instagram

Lightning is a Key

Lighting is like the secret sauce that can set the mood in any room. The right design and material of lighting fixtures, like a shiny chrome floor lamp or a charming hammered bronze wall sconce, can seriously level up your room’s style game.

The type of light also makes a big difference. Warm white light gives off a cozy, chill vibe, while cool white light is all about that bright, modern look (although it can feel a little intense sometimes). And let’s not forget the placement of lights—a little corner that’s usually dark can turn into your favorite reading nook with the right lighting and comfy furniture.

Getting the lighting just right in a room is all about mixing and matching different fixture styles, choosing the perfect light bulb, and creating layers of light at different heights.

Credits: Mai Saad via Instagram

Balancing Scales and Proportions

Consider the use of textures and patterns in your interior design as the soul of your decor! They need the right balance and proportion to really shine.

Usually, big patterns love to spread out in larger spaces, while smaller patterns feel right at home in more intimate areas. However, Tricia Guild OBE, a British designer and the founder and Creative Director of Designers Guild, known for her use of color and pattern, suggests using large-scale floral patterns in small rooms, stating,

“It’s grandeur at its best and draws the eye.”

Also, remember to balance your textures and patterns. Try to achieve an even visual weight throughout the room. For example, if you have a big patterned wallpaper, you can balance it with simpler textures on your furniture, rugs, or accessories. This way, you’ll create a well-balanced and visually pleasing space that everyone will love!

Credits: experts.guys. via Pinterest

Creating Contrast

Fabulous textures can be a feast for the eyes and create a perfect balance when contrasted.

If you find your color palette is filled with similar shades, why not spice things up a bit by playing around with the textures of fabrics? This trick works wonders in a room, and even if you have decor in various shades, using contrasting fabrics shows that you’re not just about color and pattern—variety really is the spice of life.

Don’t forget about those less obvious areas for fabric, like curtains, blinds, and even lampshades. Plus, you can keep things fresh by updating these textural contrasts as the seasons change. For example, a linen sofa can transition from cool cotton and silk cushions in the summer to cozy velvet and faux fur when winter rolls around.

Credits: Nordic Nest International via Pinterest

Focal Point as an Art Statement

Sprinkling bold patterns and textures in a couple of room areas can really show off your artistic side, giving your guests a taste of your awesome style.

It could be a wall jazzed up with textured wallpaper, a carpet bursting with patterns, a show-stopping piece of furniture, colored door frames, or a piece of art that delivers a powerful quote. Highlighting these areas adds a fun twist and keeps things interesting, all without cluttering up your space.

Credits: Gloria Kaple via Pinterest

Progressive Intensity

Designing a room involves strategically using textures and patterns to create an aesthetically pleasing flow.

Why not start with some understated textures or patterns in the background? They add a bit of depth without taking over the space. Think about plush, soft cushions or curtains with a gentle geometric pattern. They’ll provide a comforting backdrop to your room. As you move forward, add bolder textures or patterns to give your room a little personality.

A textured accent chair can be a great conversation starter. Or, if you’re feeling bold, how about using statement color painting in a smaller area for that wow factor? This way, you can make the room visually engaging without feeling too cluttered or busy.

Сredits: Drew Michael Scott @lonefoxhome via Instagram

Let’s Dance with Repeat Patterns

When designing a space, think of it like choreographing a dance. You can repeat patterns to create a sweet rhythm and continuity.

This could be anything from swapping out cushions and draping curtains that frame your windows to changing the color of your walls for a transformative effect. Bethany Prince, associate interior designer at SHH, says,

“The principle of repetition is a powerful tool as it creates a sense of rhythm within an interior and establishes consistency. This rhythm can flow through all kinds of visual elements such as color, pattern, shapes and textures and helps to establish the hierarchy within a room.”

By repeating patterns, you’re creating a visual link between different elements in your room. It’s like a dance guide, leading the eye from one part of the room to another, making for a smooth visual journey. This repetition brings continuity and helps to create a harmonious design. It makes the room feel well thought out and purposefully planned.

Credits: Sweeten_home via Instagram

Creating a Perfect Blend of Daring and Delicate

When you think of adding daring patterns like geometric designs or floral prints into your space, remember to pair them with gentle, more subdued elements. This keeps the room from becoming too heady or cluttered.

A simple way to strike this balance is by swathing your walls in neutral colors.

These mellow hues are a visual breather, breaking up the space and letting your daring patterns take center stage.

Instead of vying for attention, these patterns become the show’s star, catching the eye without overwhelming the room’s overall feel. This way, you can craft a lively and harmonious space—a perfect fusion of daring and delicate.

Credits: Simple Shapes via Pinterest

Conclusion

In conclusion, using color and texture strategically in interior design can really make your home pop! Remember, it’s not just about making your space look pretty—it’s about creating an atmosphere that reflects your own unique style and preferences. When you put careful thought into these elements and use them creatively, you can turn a plain room into a vibrant, cozy, and truly unique space.

Balance, color, repetition, and contrast are key to creating a design that is harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

They help create a sense of unity and coherence, making the space not only visually appealing but also comfortable.

So, whether you’re just starting your home renovation journey or simply want to spruce up your living space, don’t forget the power of color and texture. When used effectively, these elements can bring your space to life, making it not only functional but a true joy to live in.

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