The Power of Texture in Interior Design – 6 Ways Designers Use It to Shape the Look (and Feel) of Every Room

If you’ve ever wondered why a neutral living room looks dynamic on your favorite designer’s feed but falls flat when you recreate it at home in similarly subtle shades, the culprit is rarely color. It’s texture – or, more precisely, the absence of it. As palettes whisper even quieter heading into 2026, texture is what gives a space depth and tension without asking anything of color at all.

That makes this tactile-first interior design principle especially powerful for color-averse minimalists, but it matters just as much across every design style. Layering materials – including the ones you don’t immediately clock – is what makes a room feel richer, more characterful, and ultimately, well designed. It’s a principle that shapes not just how a space looks, but, quite literally, how it feels.

You’re probably already working with texture, even if you don’t think of it that way: the friction between warm wood and velvet, the contrast of limewash against a rumpled linen towel. But the difference between your work and that of a designer is the calibrations that make those pairings read as choices, rather than coincidences. Ahead, experts unpack the art of surface effects – and the under-the-radar ways texture does the work when color steps back.

What is Texture and Why is it Important?

‘Texture is the sensory language of a room,’ explains founder and creative director of M.H. Interiors Madelynn Hudson. ‘It’s what makes a space feel tactile, dimensional, and engages your emotions. You encounter it constantly without realizing it: the grain of a wood cabinet, the softness of mohair, the coolness of stone, the slub in linen, the contrast between matte and polished finishes.’

Texture isn’t a design trend, designer buzzword, or even a seasonal device. It’s a condition. Without it, even a carefully furnished room can read as flat, particularly when the palette is restrained. ‘Texture is essential because it keeps a room visually engaging, especially in more neutral palettes,’ Madelynn continues. ‘It prevents spaces from feeling sterile and makes them feel inviting, no matter the season,’ she says.

6 Ways Designers Use Texture in the Home

Texture, at its best, is often less obvious than a shaggy rug under a coffee table. Designers use it to build visual interest you don’t always consciously register. Ahead, the methods they rely on most – and how to translate them into the feel of your own home.

1. Juxtapose Sheen

Sheen works best when it’s doing something in relation to its surroundings. A lacquered table on polished stone can feel expected. Place it against something more tactile – handwoven wool, textured plaster, softly honed stone – and the contrast starts to carry the room.

‘Mix the reflectivity of materials,’ says Joy Lynskey – founder & CEO of Jewel Toned Interiors. She points to a bar setup as a natural place to experiment: ‘Have a leathered countertop next to smoky glass shelves in a bar,’ she explains. ‘You can up the ante by adding a textile that has both matte and metallic threads on the barstools.’

‘Combining sheen levels – matte, satin, gloss,’ she continues, ‘creates instant dimension and is an easy, high-impact move for any room.'

2. Integrate Handcrafted Accents

Handcrafted objects introduce texture in a way manufactured pieces can’t replicate. Not because they’re charming, but because they’re inconsistent. Small variations in surface, edge, or finish interrupt the uniformity of a room.

‘Handcrafted pieces such as ceramics, carved wood, or textured artwork introduce irregularity and soul,’ notes Madelynn Hudson. ‘These subtle imperfections keep a room from feeling overly manufactured.’

Lamps are often the most efficient place to start. Cara Shahbandi, founder and principal interior designer at Stanton Home Design, points out that even a single handmade lamp can recalibrate a space dominated by sleeker elements. ‘A vintage ceramic or glass lamp that has unevenness to it,’ she says, noting her preference for glass bubble textures and metals.

3. Layer Your Textiles

Textile layering matters everywhere: at the windows, in the bathroom, across a table setting, or on a sofa. Relying on a single material – all linen, all velvet – may technically register as texture, but it still reads one-note. Variety is what creates range.

That can start with the architectural elements. ‘Layered window treatments combine function and softness,’ notes designer Madelynn Hudson. ‘A sheer paired with a heavier drape or shade introduces both lightness and structure.’

The same thinking applies to soft furnishings. ‘Layer pillows with different textures,’ adds Cheryl Stauffer of Crimson Design Group. ‘Some smooth, some woven, some with tassels. Even subtle variation makes a big difference.’ As Dan Mazzarini, principal designer and creative director at Mazzarini & Co, points out, this approach also makes seasonal shifts easier. ‘Cotton rugs, pillows, throws, and drapery in biophilic fall tones add a soothing, cocoon-like feel and can be swapped seasonally,’ he says.

Even so, layering doesn’t always require abundance. In some cases, a single contrasting textile is enough to reset the balance of a room. ‘A beautiful chunky or boucle throw blanket adds so much texture draped on a sofa,’ explains Cara Shahbandi.

4. Apply Artisanal Wall Finishes

If you want to fully commit to texture, few moves are as effective as applying it directly to the walls. Hand-applied finishes like limewash and Venetian plaster introduce surface variation at an architectural level, changing how a room reads throughout the day as light shifts.

‘Venetian plaster on the walls is a great way to add tactile texture as well as visual texture,’ notes Cara Shahbandi.

‘Hand-applied or artisanal finishes introduce depth that manufactured materials simply can’t achieve,’ adds Joy Lynskey. ‘Their subtle irregularities catch light differently, creating micro-movement that gives a room subtle sophistication. Consider limewashed walls or handwoven textiles; these crafted materials add nuance and a graceful character to any interior.’

5. Favor Natural Materials

Natural materials tend to read as texture even when they’re smooth. Marble is a good example: polished, reflective, and technically sleek, yet visually active in a way synthetic surfaces often don’t. The movement is inherent. That’s why designers often rely on stone, wood, and clay to introduce texture that feels ‘real.’

Jen Baxter, founder and designer of Baxter Hill Interiors, gravitates toward natural stone and tile for exactly this reason. ‘Veining, fluting, and honed finishes bring quiet drama. A marble tray, stone lamp, or ribbed vase can echo the sophistication of the fluted marble fireplace without major renovation.’

Natural materials also tend to reference the outdoors without spelling it out – a popular cinematic shorthand. ‘Sea grass wallpaper, teak furniture, or matchstick blinds channel natural textures famously used by Nancy Meyers. They soften a room with depth and organic details,’ explains Dan Mazzarini.

Still, this doesn’t mean committing to natural materials exclusively. Texture still relies on contrast. As Joy Lynskey points out, it’s the interaction between materials that gives a space dimension and balance. ‘It’s important to layer in natural elements within manmade materials,’ she explains. ‘For instance, even though stone is a hard surface and can be reflective, it can still ground a space with the sweeping movement of its veins. Bringing organic forms into structured environments softens the room and introduces the kind of visual movement that makes a space feel more nuanced and sophisticated.’

6. Opt for Unexpected Placements

Throw blankets and accent chairs are the obvious entry points for texture – and you’re probably already using them. But designers tend to get more mileage by placing texture where you don’t expect it.

‘Don’t be afraid to take risks. Introducing texture in unexpected places, such as under a stair, within a recessed ceiling, or along the vertical face of a kitchen island, can have an outsized visual impact,’ explains Joy Lynskey. ‘These surprising placements draw the eye upward or inward and create moments of discovery within the home.’

This doesn’t have to entail a major renovation. ‘Even a small application of plaster, wood slatting, stone, or specialty paint can shift the entire feeling of a room,’ Joy continues. ‘These details often become the elements people remember because they add subtle depth without overwhelming the surrounding finishes.’

Texture, operationally, is anything but surface-level. It depends on range: of materials, finishes, tones, and scale. It lives in the upholstery of a sofa and the velvet fall of a drape, but just as much in the relationship between them. That’s where experimentation matters.

All else being beige, texture is the difference between a space that just looks pretty and one that actually holds your attention.