The Secret to Layering Textures Like an Interior Designer

If colour is the first thing you notice in a room, texture is what makes you want to stay. It’s the difference between a space that looks flat in a photograph and one that feels inviting in real life. Designers talk a lot about “layering texture” but what does that actually mean, and how can you do it at home without overthinking it?

Here’s our guide to making texture work for you!

Step 1: Start with Your Foundation Pieces

Think of texture as building blocks. Your sofa, bed, or dining table will form the foundation. If these are in smooth finishes (like leather, glass, or lacquer), balance them with softer or rougher surfaces elsewhere (linen, wool, timber). If your foundation is already textural (bouclé, velvet, natural oak), then you’ll need to contrast with sleeker accents, so it doesn’t all feel heavy.

Step 2: Mix, Don’t Match

The magic happens when you layer opposites. Pair chunky knits with smooth ceramics, polished marble with rattan, or velvet with raw linen. It’s about friction. The eye reads the contrast, and the room instantly feels more interesting. A common mistake is choosing everything in the same finish (all shiny, all matte, all soft), which flattens the look. This will do the opposite as it doesn't give the eye more than one thing to focus on. Very quickly you will feel bored and uninspired.

Step 3: Work in Layers

Think about how a room feels from the ground up:

• Floors: Rugs add instant depth and can create both a textural contrast with your flooring and also a contrast in colour

• Furniture: Upholstery gives softness, wood or metal adds structure.

• Accessories: Cushions, throws, vases, trays, lampshades, this is where you can really play with a mix of textures.

Remember, this is why in rooms that are fabric light (think kitchens and dining rooms), generally feel harder to design. In any room you should aim for at least three different textures to add depth and interest. This keeps things visually rich without tipping into chaos. If you can’t add that with upholstered furniture, then add it in with fabric or textured wall coverings. Big statement fabric ceiling lights and lots of accessories can take a sterile and uninteresting room to a place that feels rich and textured.  

Step 4: Bring in Nature

Natural materials instantly add texture without feeling forced. Stone, wood, wicker, linen, clay, they all bring warmth and tactility. Even greenery counts as a texture: glossy leaves, feathery ferns, or sculptural branches add movement and dimension that fabrics alone can’t.

If your room needs an instant texture boost, add a plant in a wicker or stone planter to make a big impact.

Step 6: Test the Balance

Here’s a trick: take a photo of your space in black and white. Without colour, you’ll see whether the textures are working together or if everything blends into one flat surface. If it looks balanced in monochrome, it’ll feel layered and inviting in colour too.

My other tip is when you are building you mood board, take a critical eye and really look at how everything has come together. If it looks flat and uninteresting on the page, it will likely look the same in the room.

Layering textures isn’t about following strict rules, it’s about creating harmony through contrast. Smooth and rough, shiny and matte, soft and structured. The more confident you become, the more you’ll instinctively reach for the right balance.

And if you ever feel stuck, remember this: texture is all about how you feel. You can make a home not just look beautiful, but feel beautiful to live in.