Overview:
In this article, we will discuss the basic principles of texture, introduce a variety of textiles, and examine how to use texture and textiles in interior decoration.
3.1 Texture
Texture is the word used to describe how a surface feels and appears. Sometimes, the visual surface of a texture does not match its tactile texture. Before touching a surface, ask yourself about the visual texture. Does the surface look abrasive, stiff, caked, or bubbly? What about coagulated, flimsy, encrusted, or jagged? Choose one word that best describes how a surface looks and either make a mental note or jot it down in a notebook. Only then, should a decorator reach out to feel the tactile texture. With the object in hand, or with fingers grazing the surface, think carefully about the tactile texture. Again, choose one word, this time to describe the way the surface feels. You may be surprised to find the visual and tactile textures do not match one another. A visually bristly surface can feel feathery, and a pockmarked surface can feel bumpy.
One way to become a texture expert is to keep a texture notebook. Delineate three separate columns. Write the name of the material surface in the first column, the visual texture in the second, and tactile texture in the third column. For example, you might write Paper Wallpaper in the first column to record the material surface, Embossed in the second column to describe your observation of the visual texture, and Matte in the third column to describe the tactile texture.
Keeping a texture notebook is a good idea for several reasons. It will help a decorator grow her texture vocabulary and increase her ability to describe textiles with precision. It will also help new decorators get in the habit of checking the material composition of textiles. A texture notebook reveals trends and is a great reference tool.
Texture, like color, conveys mood and adds personality to an interior. Every surface has texture. When selecting objects, it is important to not only think about form, line, weight, and color. A good decorator must also consider the object's texture and the way texture affects mood, as well as scale, balance, and light. Rough, coarse textures are heavier and more intimate, while sleek, smooth materials are lighter and more impersonal.
It is also important a decorator understand heavier textures absorb more light, while lighter textures reflect light. To understand the importance of this principle, imagine a first floor apartment with small windows in a town that has more rainy days than sunny days per year. When this apartment is decorated in a blue and white color scheme with wool, brocade, corduroy, and velvet, any ray of natural sunlight that enters the apartment will be absorbed by the heavy textures. In contrast, the same blue and white apartment decorated in stainless steel, lace, silk, and lacquer will reflect light and make the room appear sunny and bright, even on the gloomiest of days. The power of texture to shape light should not be underestimated.
3.2 Textiles
Textiles are made from natural or synthetic fibers, or a combination of both.
While natural textiles are more expensive, they tend to be softer and more resilient. This chapter will cover four of the most popular natural textiles: cotton, linen, silk, and wool. Decorators should be aware that there are a number of natural materials available on the market. These include hemp, horsehair, mohair, camelhair, and cashmere.
Synthetic fibers are made using scientific techniques that improve upon natural substances. Most synthetic fibers are polymer-based, meaning the fibers are made from an organic substance composed of large molecular chains. Polymer-based synthetic fibers are made through a process of forcing polymer liquid through fine holes in a process known as spinning. Examples include acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, olefin, and polyester.
Cotton is a natural fiber derived from the cotton plant, which has been used for millennia. It is durable and versatile, making it ideal for families with children and pets. Cotton takes dye readily and does not fade, which means the selection of patterns and colors is infinite. Cotton also breathes well, so moisture does not get trapped inside. Cotton is a favorite for upholstery, absorbent bath towels and robes, slipcovers and curtains.
Linen is a natural fiber made from the flax plant. The fibers are tough and both moth- and stain-resistant, but prone to wrinkling. Linen has a slightly glossy finish and appears smooth. The fabric has the advantage of being easily washable. Linen is a favored textile for tablecloths and curtains, particularly in country style interiors.
Silk is among the most luxurious of natural fibers. It is a fragile and unique fiber that comes from the cocoon of the silkworm moth. Silk can be either light-handed or heavy and can add elegance to an interior. Depending on the weave, some silks can be rather durable, while others are very delicate. Interior decorators should be aware that silk fades in the sun, so it is important to only use silk in spaces that are not exposed to direct sunlight. It is also a textile that requires much upkeep and cannot be hand washed.
Wool is scratchy, warm, and extraordinarily durable. Wool comes from the coat of sheep, which is fleeced and processed. The textile has a range of neutral natural colors and is often dyed. Wool is insulating and can bring serious warmth and coziness to any interior. Wool is used for blankets, flooring, and upholstery. It has the added advantage of absorbing both odors and noise.
Rayon is a synthetic fiber made from processed wood pulp, most often used as an alternative to silk. It is bright and slightly shiny, as well as strong and absorbent. But rayon does have its disadvantages. It is prone to wrinkling and rather flammable, meaning it can catch fire easily. It is widely used in bedspreads, sheets, blankets, upholstery, and slipcovers. Because it hangs well and absorbs humidity, rayon is a favorite for window treatments in high humidity areas. Rayon fibers are also found in medical surgery products, diapers, and everyday clothing.
Nylon, also known as polyamide, is a synthetic fiber made from a combination of tar, coal, and petroleum. Nylon is strong, durable, and highly elastic. It does not shrink, nor crease, and is easy to wash. Nylon is used in carpets, as well as music strings and bridal veils.
Olefin is a synthetic fiber widely used for its comfort and function. It is durable and both moth- and stain-resistant, yet light and soft. Olefin is a preferred textile for carpet in high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms. It is also used to make blankets, outdoor fabrics, and upholstery.
Polyester is a byproduct of petroleum. It is especially strong and well liked for its ability to be hand washed. Polyester does not shrink and is both wrinkle- and moth-resistant. It retains its shape and does not easily crease. Because of polyester's superstar qualities, the fiber is often blended with natural fibers to create strong, long-lasting drapes, bed sheets, and upholstery. Polyester is also used in mouse pads, clothing, and conveyor belts.
Acetate is a synthetic fiber made from wood pulp. It is not strong, nor absorbent, but its luster and body make it a common substitute for satin, brocade, and taffeta. Acetate does not wrinkle, nor pill. It is often used in window treatments because it has moth-resistant properties.
Acrylic is a warm, soft artificial alternative to wool, developed by polymerizing free radicals, or uncharged molecules. It is lightweight, durable, and does not shrink. It is also stain and both moth- and wrinkle-resistant. Acrylic is however, sensitive to sunlight and risks fading. When spun on certain equipment, acrylic can be made to look and feel like cotton, cashmere, or any number of natural textiles. This is why it is important to touch textiles and double check manufacturer labels. It is often blended with other textiles to make them more durable, and is used in both outdoor and indoor furnishings.
3.3 Using Texture and Textiles in Interior Decorating
Good decorators know how to layer textures and textiles. While this can feel risky to new decorators, it is in fact a brave decorating technique that feels natural more often than not. One way to imagine the success of layered textures is the way texture appears in natural landscapes. The desert has a dusty sand floor, dry bark, and cacti ranging in texture from barbed to woolly. Similarly, a rainforest will have wet, packed earth, fleecy moss, slick leaves, and bushy treetops.
When selecting which textures and textiles to layer, consider issues of weight, scale, color, and pattern. Using a consistent color palette will make disparate textures feel harmonious. Again, think of the browns of the desert and greens of the rainforest. To translate this concept to an interior, consider a living room decorated in a Southwest style. A short-weave patterned Native American rug featuring beige, teal, and juniper tones may cover a section of rustic terracotta flooring. Atop the rug may sit a tawny leather sofa and chairs made from straw-colored twine. Another living room, this one decorated in the 2017 Forest Breathing Pantone color palette , may have a natural sage-toned slate floor topped with a peacock colored shag rug. To add further variety to the rough stone and bushy floor, a L-shaped sectional low to the ground and with minimal lines may be upholstered in a basil-toned cotton blend and topped with mismatched yellow, green, and purple pillows of varying textures and materials. The room may feature two additional swivel chairs in the same type of fabric as the sofa, but in a different color, such as sea green or mountain meadow. In both examples, a variety of textures flow effortlessly together, as if part of a natural habitat.
Rooms that lack a variety of textures and textiles look flat, dull, forced, and inorganic. They appear two-dimensional, like something out of a catalogue, as opposed to an interior decorated with thought and personality.
In both the desert and rainforest examples, an area rug was used atop the flooring not only to vary the texture, but also to play with the visual balance of the room. Area rugs pull the eye downwards. In the desert example, the multi-colored pattern attracts the eye, whereas the heavier shag texture in the rainforest rug is the alluring force. Because area rugs are used to contain furniture, if their patterns are of an appropriate scale to the size of the room, area rugs draw the eye without detracting from the rest of the interior. The eye bounces from the texture in the area rug to the texture in the actual flooring or another rug, back to the area rug and then up to the furniture and further décor. Whenever possible, use area rugs to add textural variety and visual interest. They are also useful for delineating elements of a room or separating rooms in an open floor plan.
Like area rugs, window treatments are a simple update to an existing room that can make a world of a difference. Simply change out current window treatments in favor of a more tangible textile, and see how an interior is completely transformed. Notice how flowing linen curtains add texture in different ways in comparison to drooping velvet drapes tied with a heavy rope cord. In the desert and rainforest examples, the Southwest style room may opt for chunky, yet smooth plantation shutters with a slightly glossy maple veneer, while the Forest Breathing interior may feature airy and sheer satin curtains the color of acid green or grape kiss purple. For additional texture and depth, a decorator can choose to layer curtains. To layer curtains, first hang a sheer base layer that will softly diffuse light and create a sense of privacy. The second layer is hung in front the base layer on the side of the interior. The texture of the second layer can be different from that of the base layer. A decorator can continue to add a third, or even a fourth layer. Experiment with different types of window treatments and a range of materials and treatments. Together, the layers create visual interest and an altered sense of balance.
Another useful method for adding texture is to work with a range of finishes. Hang muted antlers in a shiny gold frame, or contrast a sparkling bronze-toned light fixture with muted bronze hardware. Yet another tactic is to decorate objects with unexpected finishes that give them an extra layer of texture. Wood furniture painted with a metallic glaze or throw pillows with digitally printed images of wood that look strikingly real are two examples of texture that is unexpected, yet entirely natural. This technique is especially useful when up-cycling or repurposing vintage or retro furniture objects.
Decorators can also add texture, albeit temporary, with plants and flowers. Vases made from glass, ceramic, metal, stone, concrete, and other materials can contain stocky succulents, silky flowers, spiky cacti, and stubbly grass. Use large potted plants to add texture, as well as to balance other elements in an interior. Plants can be placed on coffee and end tables, and on art ledges, mantles, and bookshelves. Plants can also be suspended and mounted to the wall. Plants are not the only pieces of décor with texture. A wall with decades of worn book pages creates warmth, while an art ledged lined with jeweled boxes creates sparkle and shine.
