How Do You Choose the Right Interior Material Textures to Reflect a Home’s Personality?
When you step into a home, you often feel the atmosphere before you notice the details. A room can feel calm, bold, or playful depending on the textures that surround you. At L+P Interiors, we see texture as a kind of language. It’s one of the most powerful tools in shaping how a home feels and functions.
Take our Nantucket project as an example. The layers of linen, driftwood, and polished brass weren’t random choices. They were chosen to reflect the calmness of the coast while still giving the home an elevated edge. Whether you’re building from the ground up or refreshing a single room, textures set the tone for how you’ll experience your home every day.
In this guide, we’ll explore how L+P approaches material textures, why they matter, and how we help clients make the right choices.
See how we brought texture to life at our projects
Why Does Texture Matter in Residential Interior Design?
In a way, there are as many moods determined by textures as layouts or colors.
Tactile texture is the feel of a surface you touch, such as the reclaimed wood, which is rough, or the velvet, which is soft.
Visual texture is how something looks from a distance, like the movement of wood grain or the sheen of polished stone.
The soft textures are usually associated with a restorative feeling, whereas the hard materials bring structure and order.
Research into material psychology supports this idea, showing how tactile experiences influence comfort and mood.
Texture also alters the interaction of light in a room. The soft diffusion of sunlight on a matte plaster wall, and the light bouncing back and adding depth to glossy cabinets, produce depth effects. Our Belvedere project combined rough stone surfaces with a shiny cabinetry that was used to add vibrancy to a sleek, modern room.
At L+P, we approach texture as part of storytelling. Founding Principal Ansley Majit describes her style as “Classic with a Twist,” which often means pairing timeless architectural details with playful surface choices. That mix makes a home feel personal and unexpected.
Explore our design process and let’s talk textures
What Are the Main Types of Interior Material Textures?
Textures may be natural and synthetic and each type has a different result.
It is grounded with natural materials such as stone, oak, rattan, or linen. Artificial materials like acrylics, engineered stone or lacquer are durable, uniform and occasionally have a modern shine. Everyone has their place, according to the tale that a home is going to share.
Popular textures by room:
Bathrooms: polished marble, matte porcelain tile, brushed metals
Kitchens: honed stone, mixed metals, wood cabinetry with visible grain
Living rooms: soft wools, boucle, layered rugs, and wooden accents
Bedrooms: velvet, suede, linen, layered fabrics that feel cozy and curated
Designers often describe certain materials as “elevated and timeless.” Think brushed brass, unlacquered hardware that patinas over time, or oak grain that never goes out of style.
“L+P helped us elevate our kitchen with touches we never imagined, from a smooth ashwood island to velvet banquette cushions.”
How Do You Match Texture with a Home’s Architecture and Geographic Context?
The surrounding environment is a big influence on how textures should be selected.
In coastal areas like Sausalito, we often recommend breathable fabrics and finishes that can handle moisture in the air. In woodland retreats like St. Helena, natural stone and raw wood connect interiors with the landscape. In urban settings, sleeker materials like concrete, plaster, and steel can reinforce the contemporary city vibe.
Respecting architecture is just as important as reflecting the place. In one Presidio Heights project, we balanced original crown molding with modern microcement walls. The blend celebrated the past yet brought modernity to the house. Such a balance falls under the category of contextual design, which, according to some of the most popular resources, such as the Interior Design Magazine, is the key to having a timeless interior.
See how we honored context and lifestyle in our Bay Area projects
What Are Common Challenges When Selecting Interior Textures (and How Do You Solve Them)?
The selection of textures is not necessarily simple. Homeowners often face tradeoffs.
Balancing form and function is one of the major issues. A boucle sofa is amazing, but maybe not the best one to have when you have pets or young children. Marble counters are classical but more prone to maintenance as compared to quartzite.
Durability matters too. We usually prescribe performance velvets, polished quartzite or brushed oak to those who have a busy family since they can stand the day-to-day activities but still appear classy.
At L+P, we have a library of materials that we touch and test in front of clients. This process ensures surfaces will not only look good but also feel right in everyday use.
Some textures can date a home quickly, like overused laminates or faux finishes. Our role is to guide clients away from these choices and toward surfaces that age gracefully (Dezeen on materials innovation).
Imagine an image slider here showing how upgrading from carpet to wide plank oak flooring instantly elevates a space that’s the power of texture.
How Does L+P Personalize Texture Selection for Each Client?
For us, texture selection is not a checklist; it’s a story. Every project starts with what we call a material story, which evolves from lifestyle discovery sessions.
We ask questions like: How do you start your mornings? Do you host often? Do you like your spaces to feel light and airy or cocooned and cozy? These conversations shape everything from fabric choices to stone finishes.
Sometimes a single piece can anchor the story. A vintage burlwood coffee table might inspire the entire living room palette. A set of mohair club chairs can set the tone for warmth and sophistication.
We often create flatlays of color palettes and material boards to help clients visualize the layers before anything is finalized. This collaborative process means clients don’t need to be experts in fabrics or finishes; we guide them, while making sure their voice stays central.
Learn more about working with our interior design studio
What Are the 2024 Trends in Interior Material Textures?
Trends are temporary and may inspire. Nowadays, we are witnessing a revival of matte plaster walls, fabrics that are inspired by corduroy, and fluted wood surfaces. These add warmth and subtle movement to spaces.
But at L+P, we don’t let trends dictate design. We see them as tools to inspire ideas that can be applied in timeless ways. For example, a boucle may be everywhere right now, but when used in a tailored chair with a classic shape, it feels both current and enduring.
Future-proofing material selections is part of our job. We think about how finishes will age and how they’ll feel in ten or twenty years. That’s what design stewardship means ensuring a home feels relevant long after trends have shifted.
When Should You Bring in an Interior Designer to Help with Material Texture Choices?
The earlier, the better. Texture should be considered at the start of a project, when architecture and finishes are still flexible. But it’s never too late. Even during furnishing phases, texture choices can transform a space.
Alignment across the team is key. Architects, interior designers, contractors, and homeowners all need to be on the same page. That’s why we make coordination central to our process.
Unlike paint colors, which can be changed with relative ease, textures like stone, flooring, or cabinetry are harder to revise once installed. Avoiding those costly mistakes is a big reason clients bring us in.
And yes, we help with projects of all sizes. Whether it’s a new build, a phased room update, or furnishing support, our goal is the same: to tell your story through materials that feel both elegant and livable (see more inspiration on Houzz).
Whether you’re fully renovating or refreshing one room, we’re here to make texture part of your home’s story.
Can You Really Feel the Difference the Right Texture Makes?
Absolutely. Texture is not just surface, it’s depth, soul, and functionality. It’s what makes a chair inviting, a bedroom soothing, and a kitchen both hardworking and beautiful.
At L+P Interiors, we believe texture is emotional. It’s how you feel at home. Every choice, from the grain of wood to the softness of a textile, tells a part of your story.
Book an inquiry call with L+P Interiors today
L+P Interiors
4000 Bridgeway Blvd, Suite 305
Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone: +1 (415) 987-5986
Email: hello@larkandpalm.com
FAQs
Q1: How can I make my room reflect my personality?
A: Choose colors, textures, and materials that resonate with your lifestyle and tastes. For example, warm woods and soft fabrics can create a cozy vibe, while sleek metals and glass add a modern, minimalist feel.
Q2: How do I use texture in interior design?
A: Texture adds depth and dimension to a room. You can mix smooth and rough surfaces—like pairing soft upholstery with stone or wood—to create visual balance and interest that reflects your personal style.
Q3: What is the 3-5-7 rule in interior design?
A: The 3-5-7 rule suggests using objects or materials in odd numbers—three, five, or seven—for visual harmony. It helps balance proportions and creates an aesthetically pleasing arrangement within a space.
Q4: How do you determine what fabric to use for an interior design project in a home?
A: Consider the room’s function and mood. Durable fabrics like leather or performance linen suit high-traffic areas, while softer textiles like velvet or silk work well for accent pieces or luxury spaces.
