How Texture Impacts Colour

When you think about interior design, I bet you $5 that the first thought (or maybe second) is about colour. I get it, I have stacks of books on adding colour to décor and my love for using colour to make a home inspired starting Colour Me Cosy. But an aspect to colour that shouldn’t be overlooked is texture. You can take the same colour – mustard, slate, sage, terracotta – and depending on the fabric texture, the colour will appear warmer, cooler, richer, softer or dramatic.

Changing the vibe of your room can be as simple as changing a couple of the textures. Cool serenity or cosy warmth is only a carefully chosen cushion or throw away, so read on!

What Colour Temperature Means

On last weeks blog I wrote about understanding colour temperature to help make it easier to pick out décor that compliments your home’s colour tone. The colour of your flooring, walls and the direction your windows face all play a role in understanding the temperature of your house. A super quick refresher on that blog is:

Warm undertones (yellow-based)

Terracotta, mustard, rust, olive, clay – cosy, earthy, inviting

Cool undertones (blue-based)

Sage, slate, charcoal, navy, lilac – calm, fresh, serene

The chosen colour sets the emotional feel of the room, but the texture can either enhance or undermine your desired outcome.  

How Texture Interacts with Colour

At the most basic level, texture impacts how the colour is perceived by how it reflects light. Smooth textures reflect light evenly, making the colours appear bright, saturated and clean. Shiny textures reflect even more light, making those colours bold, vibrant and energetic. Rougher textures reflects light unevenly, creating shadows and letting the colours feel softer, warmer and muted.  

Depending on the texture, the same colour can create a very different mood and feeling. Here are some common fabrics, how they behave and some suggested best uses.

Linen

This natural fabric is fabulous, the matte surface absorbs light softly and it’s slubby weave create a gentle, subtle texture.

In warm rooms - linen calms strong, warm colours. Visually intense colours becomes mellow and grounded, bringing balance

In cool rooms - the subtle texture adds warmth without changing the colour palette. Linen softens stark tones, and creates an natural, airy feel.

Best use - Neutral layers, foundational cushions

Velvet

Velvet is dramatic! It has a dense pile that traps some light and reflects it unevenly, so the colours appear deep and rich.

In warm rooms - velvet enhances warm tones, making simple colours seem luxurious and bold.

In cool rooms - cool tones can be made even colder with velvet, creating drama and moodiness that may need other textures to balance it out.

Best uses - statement cushions, accent chairs,

Bouclé

Bouclé may or may not be trendy anymore, but its super soft texture is timeless. Its looped yarn creates tiny shadows and dimension, giving an incredibly tactile, warm experience.

In warm rooms - Bouclé softens any colour due to its density, instantly creating a cosy, muted haven

In cool rooms - this delightful fabric brings its own warmth, with cool tones becoming softer and stopping the room for feeling too cold

Best uses - layering texture, accent chairs

Textured Cotton

There are many different kinds of textured cotton, slub cotton, waffle cotton, stone washed cotton, the list goes on! Similar to linen, cotton has a subtle texture and absorbs light gently.

In warm rooms - softens vibrant colours without dulling them, creating a relaxed, grounded vibe.

In cool rooms - adds a hint of texture and warmth without altering the colour itself, allowing cool tones to appear less stark.  

Best use - everyday cushions, relaxed styling

How to Use Texture

If your room feels too warm - use linen and cotton to calm the colours and bring balance

If your room feels too cool - use linen, bouclé or cotton to add some depth and visual comfort. Velvet can be used sparingly so not to add to the coldness.  

If your room feels flat - mix textures, any texture. Velvet is great here! Even if you have a monotone colour scheme this will instantly add interest without changing the palette

If your room feels chaotic - consider swapping out some texture for linen pieces. Same colours, but bringing calmness to the chaos.

Extra Styling Tips

• Keep undertones consistent across textures
• Use lighting to enhance texture
• Purchase Colour Me Cosy cushions as they come in a range of colours and textures, perfect for whatever style you have in your home

Conclusion

Once you have your colour scheme down, texture can be the secret sauce that pulls it all together. Just remember, you aren’t creating a show home. Your home should be filled with things that make you feel comfortable and relaxed, and hopefully these few tips help you create the home of your cosy dreams.