Time to get tactile.
Though color is often the first thing we turn to when a home is feeling lackluster or flat, texture is an equally (if not more) effective tool for livening up a room. Indeed, introducing texture to a space has the added bonus of bringing in depth and dimension, and even color-averse decorators can reap the benefits. It doesn't stop at throws, rugs, and fabrics, either. Dressing your walls up in natural materials like marble and wood—or even paints and wallpapers with perceived texture effects—will instantly liven up a room that's falling flat without taking up surface space.
In sitting room designed by Cameron Ruppert Interiors, the pearlized ink dots on Phillip Jeffries' Rivets wallcovering resemble nailheads, a look reflected in the actual metal studs on the green velvet sofa. So when it doubt, opt for a printed wallpaper that creates the optical illusion of texture.
Keep things simple with ash wood paneling. If you already have paneled walls but want to lighten them up, whitewash your panels by watering down your paint. Then brush it on, immediately wipe it, and repeat this until you get your desired color.
When applied with a flat plaster paddle rather than a roller or brush, paint will give your walls some three-dimensional oomph. This light mossy green wall looks more like a work of art and feels fully integrated into the space instead of just blending in as a backdrop.
Heather Hilliard designed this California sunroom to feel both like a sitting room and a home office. The occupant works at her desk while her husband naps on the chaise, Hilliard tells us. The Lee Jofa block-printed grasscloth wallcovering is soft enough to inspire both productivity and snoozes and the golden hue accentuates the sunlight further. A printed grasscloth will make the natural fibers look even more texture-rich and dimensional.
The glossy shine of lacquered paint can make the room feel larger. It has a similar effect to a mirror, as the high-shine finish allows for highlights and reflection. Envelop the whole space in it from floor to ceiling for a glossy impact.
When installed over cotton batting, the silk velvet Designer's Guild fabric in this room by Alison Pickart is even more decadent —and also deadens sound, which is ideal for a cozy bedroom.
Mirrored walls will make a room appear larger than it is while also giving your artwork a more interesting backdrop. Antiqued mirrors boast glamorous vibes, too.
Designer Tom Stringer chose a Ralph Lauren faux crocodile wallpaper to bring texture and a sultry punch to the otherwise clean, classic space. "Dark colors resonate when they have a little gloss over them," he tells HB.
Who says tiles are limited to the bathroom or kitchen? Line them up your wall in a neutral clay hue for extra dimension.
Grasscloth wallpaper has the warmth you'd expect from fabrics and introduces more texture than other wallpaper substrates since it's made from natural fibers. We love this deep chocolate brown hue for a cozy setting.
Incorporating mirrored metallics, stone, wood, and plenty of plush throws, this room is covering all the texture bases. We're feeling that stone wall around the wood burning fireplace in particular. The modern updates make it feel on-trend instead of outdated, as does painting everything white.
There are plenty of ways to texture your paint without going hi-shine gloss. Instead, try this edgy matte vibe with a cement effect paint. Polished concrete is both subtle and bold, especially if you choose a darker tone, like this one.
For a lived-in feel, keep your bricks exposed. If you don't love the industrial look, then add splashes of paint and/or a wallpaper accent. Then incorporate plenty of upholstered pieces to ensure warmth.
A large marble slab on the wall will always make a statement. It's a great option for added texture that still exudes a formal, sophisticated aesthetic.
If you don't want to tile your entire wall, just go half way. The seamless transition from floor to wall is super unique, so bring your color-blocking to the next level with a hexagon scheme like this one.
Upholster your walls to set a soft, dreamy mood in the bedroom. Instead of the doing the entire wall, contrast the fabric with something like wood or concrete.
If you can't make up your mind, who says you can't have it all? Layering color-blocked wood panels with tiles, you'll achieve an intriguing three dimensional look. Stick to neutral tones if you don't want it too appear chaotic.
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
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