The Importance of
Textures in Home Decorating
When you look
at something, even if it’s from across the room, your mind immediately
brings up a wealth of information about that object. Some of that info
is about its appearance, identifying the color, size, and shape of the
object. However there is another level of information which is more
speculative, bringing to mind a variety of assumptions about how heavy
it is, how it would feel to touch it, and what the texture of the piece
is. All of this goes together with the visual and other archival
information to create an overall impression, which is the general
feeling someone has in reaction to the presence of the item.
To make a
long story short, the way something feels, can have a profound impact
on how it is viewed.
When
translated into the realm of home décor, this can have a subtle yet
powerful effect on the nature of a space. It gives you a whole new
range of elements for creating a space that feels soft and cozy, or
harsh and invigorating, or even sleek and sophisticated. The secret is
to pay attention to the perceived tactile sensation of items that you
bring into a space.
Rugs,
carpets, and throw rugs, are one extremely subtle, yet powerful method
for using this element in a decorative plan. Most of the time people
will be walking on your rugs wearing shoes or at least some sort of
foot covering. However despite this, the amount of cushion found in a
carpet or rug will still be felt by the pressure of your body pressing
down into its cushion.
In fluffier
pieces, this allows you to create a sensation of the room actually
molding around a person with each step they take. In slimmer, sleeker
carpets, it will just create a very light pad that will act as a
friendly yield to the steps of the person as they enter. Completely
remove the rug, and depending on the nature of the floor below, you can
end up with a clickety-clack of the ground protesting sharply against
every rap that a shoe makes upon its surface.
Seating is
another place where texture can play a vital role in developing the
overall feel of a space. Whether it’s a sofa or a chair, a seat tends
to wrap itself around a persons entire body. Softer pads on chairs and
couches will yield, letting the body slide comfortably into a snuggled
position. Harder cushions will keep their bodies’ upright and alert,
ready for serious or energetic discussion.
Blankets and
throws are another way to evoke textures within a space. This can be a
good way to incorporate seasonal decorating into the home, with warm
fuzzy blankets floated on couches and love seats in the winter, and
softer, cotton throws left trailing along the cushions in the spring.
Even the
perception of texture can be important. Consider a painting crafted
with deep, rich brush strokes that show a dimensionality to the paint
itself. Measure this against the smooth, manufactured face of a poster,
or work of printed art. The difference in the perceived textures can
change something from seeming rich and stylish, to simply mass produced.
People often
overlook texture when decorating a space, because they figure it is a
merely tactile experience. In reality texture affects the way we look
at our surroundings on the whole, giving us speculative information
which then contributes to the perceptions that we develop about any
given environment.
This article
was written by Joey Pebble on behalf of PebbleZ.com’s line of rustic stone
drink coasters, and natural stone home accessories, crafted
from real pieces of sandstone, slate, limestone, polished marble, and
onyx.