Living Room Designs that Offer Tactile Texture

Texture can be a very important component to consider when decorating a room. In fact, texture can be used in much the same way as color to create design impact and visual appeal. However, texture also has the added advantage of being able to add a tactile touch to your living room design. If you'd like to create a living room that feels as great as it looks, here are some design tips to help you use tactile textures as part of your overall decorating scheme.

Textured Fabrics

There are many different ways that you can use textured fabrics as part of your living room design. Throw pillows, tapestry throws, and furniture upholstery can all benefit from a bit of texture. Combine smooth and textured fabrics to add a nice level of contrast, such as displaying textured throw pillows on a sofa upholstered in smooth fabric. Sometimes textured fabrics even have a specific pattern woven in, which can add more visual interest to the room. If you are using fabric with a patterned texture, be sure to choose one that coordinates nicely with any other patterns that you might already be using in the room.

Textured Wallpaper

Adding texture to the walls is a great way to add interest to the living room. It's also a great way to disguise walls that may not be perfect. For example, if one wall in the room is slightly cracked or has surface imperfections, using thick textured wallpaper will eliminate the need for time-consuming repairs. If you want to create a focal wall, use textured wallpaper such as grass cloth on just a single wall, painting the remaining walls in a coordinating or contrasting shade. You can then create a seating arrangement or other visually interesting furniture arrangement in front of it. Wallpaper has a way of making rooms seem warmer and more personable as opposed to simply painting all the walls, making it a great choice for living room areas.

Textured Carpeting and Rugs

Carpeting and area rugs provide another great way to add tactile texture to a room. In the living room, textured wall-to-wall carpeting can be comfortable to walk on as well as beautiful. If you have hardwood, tile or other hard surfaced flooring in the living room, add one or more textured throw rugs to spice up the look. Not only will they add to the beauty of the room, but they can also help protect the surface of your floors, especially in high traffic areas and entryways.

Add Texture with Art

Once you've dealt with the basic decorating aspects of the room, you can then turn your attention towards adding small punches of interesting texture by using artwork. A tapestry wall hanging is a classic way to add beauty as well as texture. Wall metallic decor like nautical metal art, can add an element of sharp contrast and interesting angles, providing you with a way to add an entirely different kind of texture. Canvas paintings also frequently have textured surfaces, which can add tactile as well as visual interest. Even a small piece of textured art can add an element of interest and design to the living room.