When it comes to interior design, most people focus on colours, furniture, or layout. And while those elements matter, two of the most underrated — and arguably most powerful — tools in your design toolkit are texture and tone. These subtle details have the ability to completely change how a space looks, feels, and functions.
Texture and tone aren’t just about aesthetics. They’re about creating an emotional response. A room that feels flat can come to life with the right contrast. A space that feels cold can instantly feel warmer with a shift in material or finish. When used intentionally, texture and tone can turn an ordinary room into a space that feels layered, lived-in, and loved.
Incorporating these elements often starts from the ground up. Materials like French oak floors are a perfect example — they don’t just serve a functional purpose; their grain, softness underfoot, and natural variation set the tone for the entire home.
What Is Texture in Design, Really?
Texture refers to the surface quality of a material — how it looks and feels. It can be tactile (things you physically touch) or visual (surfaces that look like they have depth or softness even if they’re smooth).
Tactile textures include:
- A woven jute rug underfoot
- A rough-rendered feature wall
- A velvet sofa
- A hammered metal side table
Visual textures might be:
- A photo wallpaper of natural stone
- Patterned tiles with a faux-wood grain
- Glossy paint that mimics glassy surfaces
By mixing different textures, you add contrast and dimension to a space. Without them, rooms can feel one-note or sterile, even if they’re full of colour or trendy furniture.
Why Tone Matters Just as Much
Tone is the subtle cousin of colour. It refers to how light or dark a colour is, and it’s often what determines the mood of a space. A room full of warm, muted tones will feel cosy and inviting. A space with sharp, cool tones may feel more crisp and contemporary.
Understanding tone allows you to:
- Create flow between rooms without everything being the same colour
- Add drama with deep, moody tones without overwhelming a space
- Soften a room with pastel tones or balance brightness with muted shades
It’s not just about the colours you use — it’s about how those colours work together through their tonal range.
The Power of Layering
One of the most effective ways to use texture and tone is through layering. Just like in fashion, layering in interiors adds depth, interest, and cohesion.
For example:
- Start with a neutral-toned wall
- Add a natural-textured rug
- Place a linen-covered sofa in a slightly deeper tone
- Bring in scatter cushions with a mix of knits, velvets, or embroidery
- Introduce timber elements for warmth, like a coffee table or bookshelf
- Finish with metallic accents or ceramics for contrast
Layering textures and tones doesn’t mean clutter — it means thoughtful composition. It’s what gives a home that effortlessly styled feeling.
How Texture Affects Perception
Texture can dramatically affect how we perceive a space. Want to make a room feel warmer and more welcoming? Introduce more soft textures — think plush throws, boucle cushions, or fabric-covered lighting.
If your space feels too heavy or dated, consider introducing smoother or lighter textures like glass, polished stone, or fine-weave textiles to lift the mood.
In smaller spaces, overly textured surfaces can feel overwhelming. In contrast, in large, open-plan rooms, layering bold textures helps prevent the space from feeling too cold or empty.
Tone and Natural Light
Tone and lighting go hand in hand. The same paint colour or fabric can look completely different depending on the time of day and the type of light in a room.
- Warm light (like soft morning sun or warm-toned globes) enhances earthy and muted tones, making spaces feel cosy.
- Cool light (like harsh midday sun or cool-white LEDs) can emphasise blues, greys, and cooler tones, making them appear sharper.
Before locking in any materials or colour palettes, observe how natural and artificial light behaves in the space. It’s one of the simplest ways to avoid expensive mistakes and create the exact mood you’re after.
Creating Contrast Without Chaos
One common fear when working with texture and tone is going “too far”. It’s true — using too many clashing elements can create a chaotic, disjointed feel. But with a bit of planning, you can create contrast that adds balance instead of confusion.
A few quick tips:
- Stick to a consistent undertone (warm or cool) across materials
- Use three to five complementary textures in each room
- Ground your design with one dominant tone, then build layers from there
- Think of contrast as a conversation — soft vs hard, light vs dark, smooth vs rough
The goal isn’t to match everything — it’s to balance it.
Bringing Nature Indoors
Natural textures are one of the easiest ways to add warmth and grounding to any space. Timber, stone, linen, and clay all bring an organic richness that modern materials often lack. They age beautifully and often get better with time.
Tones drawn from nature — like mossy greens, sand, terracotta, and ocean blue — tend to be calming and timeless. When paired with natural textures, they create spaces that feel harmonious and deeply connected to the world outside.
This approach also encourages sustainable design — choosing materials that are renewable, recyclable, or ethically sourced, while creating a sense of calm that artificial finishes often can’t replicate.
Personalising with Texture and Tone
Every home tells a story. Using texture and tone lets you tell yours in a way that feels personal, not cookie-cutter.
Maybe it’s a weathered leather chair passed down from family. Maybe it’s a moody navy wall that feels like your personality in colour form. Maybe it’s a mismatched ceramic collection you picked up over the years.
These elements don’t have to match — but they do need to work together. That’s where tone and texture do the heavy lifting, quietly tying everything together in a way that feels cohesive, even if nothing is uniform.
The beauty of texture and tone lies in their subtlety. They don’t scream for attention, but they make a room feel right. They’re the difference between a space that looks good and one that feels good. Whether you’re designing a new build or refreshing a single room, tuning into the textures and tones around you can completely reshape the way you experience your home.
