Building on Texture: How to Elevate Your Interior Design with SJ Interior Designs

When it comes to creating a memorable and sophisticated space, interior design is about so much more than just colour palettes and furniture placement. One of the most effective—and often overlooked—ways to elevate a space is through the careful use of texture. Textures add depth, richness, and visual intrigue, transforming a room from flat and monotonous to vibrant and dynamic. Whether it's soft fabrics, smooth metals, rough stone, or glossy finishes, the interplay of textures can turn an ordinary space into something extraordinary.

At SJ Interior Designs, we specialise in curating spaces that are not only visually stunning but also tactilely engaging. Texture is an essential part of our design philosophy, and we believe it’s one of the easiest ways to add luxury, warmth, and personality to a room. In this blog, we'll share how to build on texture in your interior design, creating a space that feels rich, layered, and beautifully balanced.

Why Texture Matters in Interior Design

Texture is the visual and physical feel of a surface. It can be smooth, rough, soft, hard, shiny, or matte—and every type of texture can communicate something different in your space. Incorporating varied textures can help a room feel more inviting, interesting, and balanced. When thoughtfully layered, texture engages the senses in ways that colour and shape alone cannot.

Here’s why texture is such an important aspect of interior design:

• Adds Depth and Dimension: Flat, single-textured spaces can feel one-dimensional and lifeless. By mixing textures, you can create a more dynamic and dimensional environment.
• Evokes Emotion: Soft, plush textures evoke warmth and comfort, while sleek, polished finishes may feel more modern and sophisticated. Each texture can influence the mood of a room.
• Highlights Design Features: Texture can be used to accentuate certain areas or features in a room, like a striking feature wall, a textured rug, or a luxurious sofa.
• Creates Visual Balance: When balanced well, textures can complement each other. For example, combining rough textures with smooth, or soft with hard, can create visual interest without overwhelming the senses.

How SJ Interior Designs Builds on Texture in Every Space

At SJ Interior Designs, we understand that texture is just as important as colour and layout when it comes to creating a harmonious and stylish space. Whether you're designing a living room, bedroom, office, or commercial space, we incorporate textures in a way that brings depth, sophistication, and warmth to the room. Here’s how we build on texture:

1. Layering Textures for Depth and Warmth

One of the simplest ways to incorporate texture into a room is through layering. Layering different textures—such as soft textiles, rich woods, glossy metals, and rough stone—creates a sense of depth and complexity. Instead of relying on one dominant texture, we combine contrasting materials to make a space feel dynamic and well-rounded.

• How We Do It: In a living room, we might layer a velvet sofa with a wool throw, leather pillows, a wooden coffee table, and a stone accent wall. The contrast between the soft, plush fabrics and the hard, natural materials creates a visual richness that makes the space feel more inviting and interesting.

2. Balancing Soft and Hard Textures

An essential part of working with texture is balancing softer, more tactile materials with harder, more structured ones. Soft textures like plush fabrics and rugs create comfort and cosiness, while hard textures like metal, glass, and stone add structure and sophistication. Achieving the right balance ensures the room feels inviting but also grounded and stylish.

• How We Do It: In a bedroom design, we might combine a sumptuous velvet headboard with a sleek, metallic bed frame. We would balance these with a textured linen duvet, a polished wood floor, and glass or ceramic accessories. This contrast between soft and hard creates a visually appealing tension that makes the space feel more layered and balanced.

3. Embracing Natural Materials

Natural materials like wood, stone, cotton, linen, and marble not only bring beauty but also add authenticity and warmth to a space. These organic textures connect us to nature, making spaces feel grounded and calming. At SJ Interior Designs, we emphasise the use of sustainable, natural materials that enhance the tactile experience of a room while maintaining an air of timeless luxury.

• How We Do It: We might incorporate reclaimed wood beams in a kitchen, a marble countertop in a bathroom, and a jute rug in the living room. The combination of rough and smooth natural textures creates a sophisticated, timeless look that feels welcoming and earthy.

4. Textural Walls and Ceilings

Walls and ceilings are often overlooked when it comes to texture, but they play a crucial role in creating a fully textured space. A textured wall can serve as the focal point of the room, drawing attention and setting the tone. Whether it’s a textured paint finish, wallpaper, or exposed brick, we know how to make walls work as an integral part of the design.

• How We Do It: For a bold statement, we might use exposed brick or a textured plaster finish on one wall in a living room. Alternatively, we could use wallpaper with a subtle tactile pattern, or apply a fabric-covered wall treatment that brings both texture and colour into the room.

• Ceilings: The ceiling can also become an unexpected canvas for texture. We might incorporate a coffered or wooden ceiling in a dining room or add soft fabric treatments in a bedroom to create a sense of luxury.

5. Introducing Contrasting Textures Through Fabrics

Fabrics are one of the easiest and most versatile ways to introduce texture into any room. Whether it's in the form of upholstery, curtains, rugs, or cushions, fabric can soften a space, add richness, and enhance comfort. We use different fabric textures to create visual interest while maintaining harmony.

• How We Do It: In a modern dining room, we might pair a sleek leather chair with linen cushions, a textured wool rug, and silk curtains. This juxtaposition of textiles—rough and soft, shiny and matte—creates a balanced, elegant space that feels luxurious yet approachable.

6. Textures in Flooring and Rugs

The texture of your flooring can significantly impact the mood of the space. Hardwood floors, stone tiles, plush carpets, and woven rugs all contribute different textures that can either anchor the space or add layers of comfort. The right rug can pull together a room and add an extra layer of warmth, while tile or stone floors create a more structured, grounded feel.

• How We Do It: In a cozy living room, we might select a thick wool rug with a subtle pattern to contrast with polished wooden floors, adding warmth and comfort underfoot. In a hallway, we might use textured stone tiles, combining smooth and rough surfaces to create interest.

7. Finishes and Fixtures for Added Depth

Finally, fixtures and finishes—like the texture of cabinet pulls, lighting fixtures, or decorative objects—play a huge role in completing the overall design. Brass, chrome, matte, and polished finishes can completely change the feel of a space. The way light interacts with these surfaces can bring an added level of dimension and sophistication.

• How We Do It: We select lighting fixtures with tactile finishes—like a matte brass sconce or a glass chandelier that plays with light and shadow. Similarly, the texture of cabinet handles, faucets, and other hardware is chosen to complement the room’s overall aesthetic, from sleek and modern to antique and ornate.

Tips for Building on Texture in Your Space

• Mix and Match: Don’t be afraid to combine different textures. Mix hard and soft materials, shiny and matte finishes, and rough and smooth surfaces for a dynamic look.
• Stay Cohesive: While mixing textures is important, it’s essential to keep a cohesive colour palette to maintain harmony. Stick to a few core colours and use textures to add variation and contrast.
• Consider Scale: The scale of textures also matters. For example, a large plush rug can anchor a space, but smaller, more delicate textures (like woven cushions or fine linens) can be used to add detail and interest.
• Play with Contrast: Contrast is key to creating visual intrigue. Pair a sleek marble table with a rough-hewn wood cabinet, or layer a soft wool blanket on a metal-framed bed for a modern twist on texture.

Conclusion: Building a Textural Masterpiece

At SJ Interior Designs, we believe that texture is one of the most powerful tools in creating a well-rounded, engaging interior. By thoughtfully layering materials, mixing contrasts, and adding tactile depth, we help you design spaces that are not only beautiful to look at but feel amazing to live in.

Ready to add richness and warmth to your space with texture? Contact SJ Interior Designs today, and let us show you how to create a space that’s as luxurious to touch as it is to behold!