One of the biggest buzzwords in interior design today is ‘texture’, which can be incorporated in many different ways and can be very skilfully applied, if you first understand exactly what it means. In recent years ‘minimalism’ has perhaps been the rival buzzword, and has come to epitomise what people are working towards in terms of contemporary design; space, clean lines, unfussy and uncluttered themes. Texture is not quite the opposite of that, but it is a very different way of approaching interior design.
What is texture in interior design?
In simple terms, ‘texture’ is having something to look at. It is using ‘something’ within your interior design scheme that creates a point of interest and provides something to arrest the eye. This ‘something’ will add vitality to a room, it will add vibrancy and warmth, depth and dimension. You could probably say it adds character, where previously, a minimalist room was a blank space that was serene and peaceful, which is perfectly okay, but is only okay for so long.
How do we add texture to a room?
So if we now understand what texture is, how do we apply it to a room? There are many different interpretations of texture, but to do it right, you can’t just say ‘texture’ is adding accessories such as cushions on a sofa or ornaments on a fireplace plinth, even if you have really thought about it. Texture is more about adding something with a more significant physical appearance and hence a visual impact which could be:
- Patterned wallpaper
- Fabric used on a wall, particularly in contrasting colours
- Materials (imitation or real) such as brickwork, marble or wood
- Wall art
- Impact plants and flowers
- A throw on a sofa or matching armchairs
- A cane screen to section off an area of a room
- Sculptures
- Mirrors
- Mood lighting
All these things give a room character, but have to be well thought out. Don’t add too much texture as this will look messy and scattergun. Adding texture has to have balance in order to work, and if you get it right people will see what you have done and what you are trying to achieve.
How to use period mouldings to add texture
How can we use period mouldings to add texture? Well, you could say that period mouldings were one of the design world’s first attempts at adding texture. In the Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian eras, mouldings such as skirting boards and architrave had a practical purpose, but they were also ornamental features which added a point of interest. Furthermore, some mouldings are also used to give a room balance and make it more pleasing on the eye, and they certainly give a room character.
As texture trailblazers you can revisit features such as architrave, dado rails, picture rails and ceiling mouldings, to add texture to a room, and you can use the wall space in between and the room space available to you, to balance this with some of the other ‘texture’ suggestions listed above.
Check out our range of period mouldings
A period home is an open invitation to explore the idea of texture and adapt your thinking with a raft of design ideas. You can contact our team at Period Mouldings to discuss your interior design and how you want to add texture, and we can make some suggestions and help you plan your scheme. Check out our range of architrave, rails and mouldings, and start adding texture to your life today.
