A Delicate Art: Textiles in Interior Design

textiles interior design - Christian Fischbacher Collezione Italia Poesia

It’s a common misconception that the role of textiles in interior design is to act as the finishing touch to a room, as opposed to a crucial component of the overall design. In reality, textiles contribute a great deal to the overall design of any space, bringing color, texture and a refined level of aesthetic detail to a room.

So, in this article we’ll be taking a closer look at how to utilize different textures in your own interior spaces, proving that textiles are an integral yet delicate interior design artform in the process.

Textiles in Interior Design Define a Mood

cream velvet and metallic cloud9 design pillows lean against a velvet koket headboard
Cloud9 Design Pillows on a KOKET Bed

Whether it’s blankets and rugs or throw pillows and wall art that spring to mind when thinking about textiles, one thing is undeniable: these items go far beyond being mere accessories. On the contrary, a clever use of textiles can form an integral part of a room’s design through the ability to effectively convey a specific mood.

Interior design with gold and bronze Textiles by Christian Fischbacher
Collezione Italia Interior Textiles by Christian Fischbacher

Many fabrics carry a connotation of mood with them already, so make relevant textile choices based on your interior goals. For example, a bedroom optimized for opulence would emphasize the layer of luxury through the use of silk, whereas a rustic living room would be thematically enhanced through the addition of a textile such as muslin. The trick is to carefully combine your interior design and textiles to create a harmonious atmosphere.

Textiles Can Act as Inspiration

Rather than making textile choices based on your interior, consider making interior choices based on your textiles.

malibu collection neutral interior design textiles by zinc textiles
Malibu by Zinc Textiles

It can be difficult to find that perfect textile piece to match an established interior, especially if the room design has related space or style restrictions. Instead, look to use that dream living room rug or cute, unique throw pillow as your fundamental blueprint for a room’s interior direction.

This can be done in a variety of ways. Firstly, you could draw inspiration from the colors of your textile to decide upon a wider color palette for the room, using the textile as a base color to influence the complementary colors you use. Alternatively, you could take a bold interior approach and use your chosen textile as a statement piece, displaying embroidered linens as standalone items that form the focal point of your design.


HOME TEXTILES INSPIRED BY CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD


Textiles Can Be Layered

A great way of boosting the aesthetic quality of a space is to layer textures through utilizing a variety of juxtaposing textiles.

floral interior design textiles Collezione Italia Interior Textiles by Christian Fischbacher
Collezione Italia Interior Textiles by Christian Fischbacher

Remain consistent in your color palette to avoid any interior disasters, but look to create stark contrasts between patterns for stylish cohesion. Consider the individual components of a room to figure out which elements of your design can be layered.

This works particularly well in open-plan rooms, where you can utilize layering to create a subtle separation between functionally diverse areas. For example, in an open-plan kitchen and dining room space, you could contrast the hard textures found in the kitchen’s contemporary worktops and flooring with softer, more delicate textures achieved through a floor rug or a collection of cushions.

When used correctly, textiles can be an integral tool in the interior designer’s arsenal, able to be adapted to achieve a range of diverse design outcomes.

About the Author:

Sophie Armstrong is a content creator for granite and quartz worktop specialists Burlington Granite, who provide a full bespoke worktop solution by offering templating, cutting, polishing and fitting, all driven by 25 years of industry experience.