When we think of rich, opulent rooms, we often think of baroque spaces festooned in heavy fabrics and gilded to the nines. But even breezy, contemporary spaces can feel sumptuous thanks to a plush rug or combed paint. In short: It’s all about texture.
1. Cloak clean lines in crushed velvet. While furniture upholstered in crushed velvet may seem like a statement, choosing a neutral color and using it on classic, midcentury-inspired pieces creates richness in a modern space.
Here crushed velvet furnishings help create an opulent, library-like feel in this artistic interior.
2. Add a textured statement wall. Sometimes a whisper is more of an attention-grabber than a yell. So it is with this monochromatic textured wall, which instantly draws the eye toward the fireplace.
The Sky Is The Limit Design achieved this affect using modularArts products — large, tile-like pieces of reinforced plaster.
Tip: If you’re considering a modularArts product in your home, be sure to hire a good drywall professional, as the joints will need to be plastered.
3. Embrace industrial elements. The concrete walls and ceiling in this lovely loft space were left exposed to capitalize on the raw beauty of their building materials.
Rad Design kept the industrial space from feeling too cold by creating balance with a cozy, midpile rug and plenty of textural throw pillows.
4. Toss down a shag. Once the fodder for jokes about tacky ’60s and ’70s decor, shag rugs are back — albeit in more restrained interpretations.
Use deep-pile rugs in neutral tones to add can’t-wait-to-take-your-shoes-off coziness in spaces where squared edges dominate.
5. Say moo. The irregular shape and Rorschach-like pattern of a hide rug offer another way to add interest to a large swath of hardwood floor. The light sheen and subtle texture complete the wow factor.
If you’re turned off by the idea of real hide, consider faux to achieve the same effect minus any pangs of guilt.
6. Go big with a glass backsplash. The trend for kitchen backslashes is to go taller and wider — as in this space. Glass in particular is great when you’re using a backsplash to create texture, as its smooth, slightly transparent surface complements both industrial and natural materials, infusing the space with feminine lightness.
8. Play with your paint. Creating texture with paint is a great way to add interest without the expense of textured wallpaper.
Here Tiffany Hanken Design used combing to create a textured effect.
9. Layer for warmth. Why use one floor covering when you can layer two? Break up solids and layer textures by placing a solid shag rug atop a low-pile Moroccan carpet, or a hide atop a solid rug. As for the effect, imagine a modern version of a king’s throne heaped in hides and fabrics. You’re basically creating a more minimalist version of that.
10. Choose a quilt that won’t quit. Opt for a quilt or stitched coverlet to add interest to neutral or pastel bedding. The result will be cozy, inviting and slightly imperfect, the kind of bed that’s meant for drinking coffee in on a rainy Saturday morning.
