Humans are moving sensors. We can walk into a room and get drawn to it because of how it looks, smells, sounds, feels, or even taste.This is the idea behind the multi-sensory design. Here, architects and designers heighten our senses within the built environment to attune us into space, whether it’s the home or the office.

If that’s the case, the texture is a powerful design element because it’s perceived by both our sight and touch. One can imagine how it feels like by simply looking at it. In the kitchen above, you can sense the warmth of the wood, the edginess of the wall, and the weave of the rattan placemat, and the surface of the leather — all without touching it.

Texture can make any space utterly inviting. Here’s how you can do it:

Layer different items in a neutral room

A neutral room is a blank canvas and texture is the tool to give it life. Refer to the subtle layer of texture in this simple bedroom design. It starts from the non-slip carpeting, soft yet bumpy comforter, nappy pillows, cosy knitted blanket, smooth wood, and lustrous metal. Not a single texture overpowers the other in order to maintain the calmness that you need in the bedroom.

Exposed walls

Don’t hide your brick walls! It’s one of the timeless design features at home. It never fails to add character to a boring or a busy space. In this kitchen, the designers kept the bricks walls on the cooking area. It became an interesting backsplash in a country-style kitchen.

On the other hand, this loft apartment celebrates its exposed concrete walls. The designer nailed the space’s modern industrial style by adding metal touches and furnishing it with modern, sleek pieces of furniture.

You can also get this look even if you don’t have interesting textures under your drywall. Check the nearest home improvement store for faux concrete or brick veneer. Apply these on top of your drywall. Or you can try the next exciting step!

Textured wall art

In this one, you need to bring out your inner artsiness! The wall art below fits anyone who likes eclectic interiors. You can start by painting your drywall with a bold colour. Then, attach pieces of reclaimed wood on the surface carefully.

If you don’t fancy DIY (I know not everyone is blessed with a talent in arts and craft), you can simply hang art on your wall. Go for paintings that show varying paint texture techniques. You can display photos in frames made from reclaimed wood too.

Rugs

This is one of the easiest and budget-friendly ways to add texture to your home. For best results, pick a rug that stands out from your floor. This fuzzy rug, for example, is placed beside the bed and a chair. Source: Brücke Flooring.

3D wallpaper

This fine piece of technology kicked boring walls out of our homes. Three-dimensional wallpaper gives homeowners a splurged-looking wall at an affordable price. Talk to your architect or designer about using this above your drywall. They might recommend the places where you can score high-quality 3D wallpaper.

The above photo shows a 3D wallpaper that mimics a brick wall. Noticed the fine, symmetrical size and distance between the bricks? Real brick walls are rougher and edgier than this. Because of the brick’s refined look, this reclaimed wooden table stands out.

Cushy velvet couch

The velvet feels and looks more luxurious than other textiles. It’s an irresistible material—your fingers will enjoy its buttery softness. The pieces of furniture upholstered with a velvet look extravagant. No wonder this was only available to the wealthy and royal families before.

Right now, velvet ones come at every price point. You can score one even if you’re on a tight budget.

Natural texture

Displaying anything that reminds you of nature helps set a laid-back mood at home. Here, the designers used a wicker furniture set accentuated with deep red ceramics. They also hung a bamboo divider which is seen behind one of the chairs.

You can also use natural texture in small doses. For example, you can fill up a decorative bowl with pine cones, pebbles, or seashells before displaying them in a coffee table.

Sheepskin

Whether you’re using real or faux sheep fur, this material amps up the cosiness of a room. This is only one corner of an apartment bedroom. The sheepskin made the leather chair and the entire corner more interesting.

Macramé

What you see below is a beautiful Macramé room divider. These knotted curtains and wall hangings add a warm, vintage feel at home. You can find it at a local craft store or online shop. If you’re up for some DIY, you can create your own design. Mix traditional natural fibres, driftwood, metallic yarns, beads, and more. Macramé is not limited as a divider. Hang it above the bed or behind the sofa to enhance your interiors.

Now that you’ve realised the impact of texture in a design, use it to improve your own living space. Don’t be afraid to play, layer, and explore with different textures—even if it comes from an unusual, understated pieces. You never know how awesome and interesting it can look in the end.

Contributed byhttp://www.superdraft.com.au/