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Designing With Patterns & Textures

Designing With Patterns & Textures

A Guide to Texture, Textiles, and Fabrics

A Guide to Texture, Textiles, and Fabrics

Picture this...

You’re opening up the latest copy of Architectural Digest and see the most perfect, picturesque living room design. The windows are large, and there are lush velvet curtains draping down to the ground. There’s a marble coffee table situation that you immediately tried to reverse Google Image search. A jute rug grounds the boucle chairs and sofa in the room. Who’s the main character here? Texture.

Texture is, quite literally, the physical appearance or feeling of an object, and it’s a powerful tool in design. Have you ever worked on decorating a room, only to feel like something is missing from the space? That thing is usually always texture. Although texture is brought into design plans through material, furniture, textiles, and physical decorative accessories, it can also come through in lighting since that impacts how we view a space. For instance, overhead lighting gives a super harsh feel in a space, while floor and table lamps bring in a softer, warmer feel. (Consider this your reminder to get more accent lighting.)

Picture this...

You’re opening up the latest copy of Architectural Digest and see the most perfect, picturesque living room design. The windows are large, and there are lush velvet curtains draping down to the ground. There’s a marble coffee table situation that you immediately tried to reverse Google Image search. A jute rug grounds the boucle chairs and sofa in the room. Who’s the main character here? Texture.

Texture is, quite literally, the physical appearance or feeling of an object, and it’s a powerful tool in design. Have you ever worked on decorating a room, only to feel like something is missing from the space? That thing is usually always texture. Although texture is brought into design plans through material, furniture, textiles, and physical decorative accessories, it can also come through in lighting since that impacts how we view a space. For instance, overhead lighting gives a super harsh feel in a space, while floor and table lamps bring in a softer, warmer feel. (Consider this your reminder to get more accent lighting.)

You’re opening up the latest copy of Architectural Digest and see the most perfect, picturesque living room design. The windows are large, and there are lush velvet curtains draping down to the ground. There’s a marble coffee table situation that you immediately tried to reverse Google Image search. A jute rug grounds the boucle chairs and sofa in the room. Who’s the main character here? Texture.

Texture is, quite literally, the physical appearance or feeling of an object, and it’s a powerful tool in design. Have you ever worked on decorating a room, only to feel like something is missing from the space? That thing is usually always texture. Although texture is brought into design plans through material, furniture, textiles, and physical decorative accessories, it can also come through in lighting since that impacts how we view a space. For instance, overhead lighting gives a super harsh feel in a space, while floor and table lamps bring in a softer, warmer feel. (Consider this your reminder to get more accent lighting.)

Picture this...

You’re opening up the latest copy of Architectural Digest and see the most perfect, picturesque living room design. The windows are large, and there are lush velvet curtains draping down to the ground. There’s a marble coffee table situation that you immediately tried to reverse Google Image search. A jute rug grounds the boucle chairs and sofa in the room. Who’s the main character here? Texture.

Texture is, quite literally, the physical appearance or feeling of an object, and it’s a powerful tool in design. Have you ever worked on decorating a room, only to feel like something is missing from the space? That thing is usually always texture. Although texture is brought into design plans through material, furniture, textiles, and physical decorative accessories, it can also come through in lighting since that impacts how we view a space. For instance, overhead lighting gives a super harsh feel in a space, while floor and table lamps bring in a softer, warmer feel. (Consider this your reminder to get more accent lighting.)

Picture this...

Picture this...

You’re opening up the latest copy of Architectural Digest and see the most perfect, picturesque living room design. The windows are large, and there are lush velvet curtains draping down to the ground. There’s a marble coffee table situation that you immediately tried to reverse Google Image search. A jute rug grounds the boucle chairs and sofa in the room. Who’s the main character here? Texture.

Texture is, quite literally, the physical appearance or feeling of an object, and it’s a powerful tool in design. Have you ever worked on decorating a room, only to feel like something is missing from the space? That thing is usually always texture. Although texture is brought into design plans through material, furniture, textiles, and physical decorative accessories, it can also come through in lighting since that impacts how we view a space. For instance, overhead lighting gives a super harsh feel in a space, while floor and table lamps bring in a softer, warmer feel. (Consider this your reminder to get more accent lighting.)

Picture this...

You’re opening up the latest copy of Architectural Digest and see the most perfect, picturesque living room design. The windows are large, and there are lush velvet curtains draping down to the ground. There’s a marble coffee table situation that you immediately tried to reverse Google Image search. A jute rug grounds the boucle chairs and sofa in the room. Who’s the main character here? Texture.

Texture is, quite literally, the physical appearance or feeling of an object, and it’s a powerful tool in design. Have you ever worked on decorating a room, only to feel like something is missing from the space? That thing is usually always texture. Although texture is brought into design plans through material, furniture, textiles, and physical decorative accessories, it can also come through in lighting since that impacts how we view a space. For instance, overhead lighting gives a super harsh feel in a space, while floor and table lamps bring in a softer, warmer feel. (Consider this your reminder to get more accent lighting.)

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Let's define some popular fabric, textile, and material types you may or may not have heard of.

Let's define some popular fabric, textile, and material types you may or may not have heard of.

Roman Shade
A fabric window covering that folds horizontally when draped open or shut (not just made for the Romans).
Tapestry
A highly decorative woven fabric often hung on a wall without a frame.
Window Treatment
A tailored fabric used around windows for both privacy and aesthetic purposes.
Kilim
A flat-woven tapestry rug or fabric, typically hung on a wall or placed on the floor (you decide). We don't make the rules!!
Jacquard
A woven, highly textured fabric whose design is incorporated into the weave rather than being stamped or printed on the material.
Damask
A heavy reversible fabric featuring a (rather luxe) woven pattern that's distinguished from the contrasting pop against the background fabric. Also a common printed wallpaper pattern.
Boucle
A thick, often “heavy” textile containing nubby, looped fabric to create texture.
Upholstery
Soft, padded textile (or animal hides such as leather) coverings fixed to furniture pieces like armchairs, bed frames, and sofas.
Rug
A floor covering made of a thick, woven material that will protect your floors—and make your space look really good, too!

Here's our guide on how to choose the best fabric for your home.

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It’s easy to get swayed into buying a beautiful sofa, but have you ever paused to consider if you’re choosing the best fabric first? Choosing the right sofa fabric is key to making sure it will last as long as you’d like. Here's what you should remember when picking fabric for your sofa: the first thing to consider is what kind of climate you live in. If you live in an area with high humidity, you'll want to pick a fabric that won't absorb moisture and will dry quickly. How much sunlight does your room get? If it's a sunny room, you'll want to pick a light-colored fabric that won't fade in the sun. And finally, how often will you use your sofa? If it's going to be a family room couch that everyone uses, you'll want a durable fabric that can withstand lots of wear and tear. 

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Pros:

  • Ages well, leather softens over time
  • Durable; if treated right away, most spills can be removed fairly easily with a leather cleaner solution
  • Odor resistant, as leather is not a very absorbent material
  • Low maintenance

Cons:

  • Not great for extreme temperatures. Leather doesn’t provide much warmth or ventilation
  • Expensive. Leather sofas tend to cost more, but keep in mind they also tend to last longer than fabric sofas
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Pros:

  • Plenty of fabric options: linen, cotton, microfibre, wool, polyester… you name it!
  • These sofas can come with slipcovers that can be washed or dry-cleaned easily
  • Fabric sofas vary in price; however, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly piece, you’ll get more bang for your buck with a fabric sofa
  • Available in a wide array of colors and patterns
  • Suitable for all climates

Cons:

  • Not as durable and long-lasting as a leather sofa 
  • Some fabrics (like cotton or wool) are more prone to pilling
  • Not odor resistant like leather
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Pros:

  • Adds depth and luxury to a room
  • Available in an array of rich colors 
  • Polyester velvet (or a poly/cotton blend) is very durable and will wear well over time
  • Cotton velvet has more of a matte look if you’d prefer the feel without the sheen
  • Fairly easy to care for using a vacuum or even just a lint brush

Cons:

  • Velvet (especially cotton velvet) can crush and imprint easily
  • Sunlight will deteriorate velvet fabric quicker than other fabric types
  • While silk velvet can make a lovely headboard or decorative pillow, it’s too delicate for a sofa
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Do you prefer a softer feel when it comes to bedsheets, or do crisp sheets make you feel more rested? How often do you wash your sheets? Do you run hot while you sleep? Knowing the answers to these questions will help narrow down your choices and lead you to find the perfect bed sheet fabric. Future you will be thanking you.

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Pros:

  • Cool & crisp
  • Easy to wash
  • They get softer with time
  • Naturally breathable, keeping you pleasantly cool at night
  • There are sustainable options if you look for brands with environmentally-friendly certifications, such as GOTS (certified organic) and Oeko-Tex (free of chemicals)

Cons:

  • High-quality cotton can be expensive
  • Durability; natural fibers such as cotton may wear down faster
  • Not wrinkle-resistant
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Pros:

  • Soft & smooth
  • Slight shine in appearance (maybe this is a con, you decide!)
  • More wrinkle-resistant than cotton percale
  • Suitable for sensitive skin due to the softness

Cons:

  • Durability; natural fibers such as cotton may wear down faster
  • More susceptible to pilling
  • The shine will fade over time
  • Still breathable, but not as much as cotton percale
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Pros:

  • Very cool and will keep you from overheating
  • Durable; linen sheets will become stronger over time with use + washing
  • Rustic appearance—you don’t need to worry about ironing these, take them with their natural crumpled look!
  • Less likely to pill than other fabric options
  • Inherently antimicrobial and hypoallergenic
  • Eco-friendly; linen is made from flax, which requires little water or pesticides, and the production into fabric requires minimal energy

Cons:

  • Coarser feel; linen isn’t quite as soft as cotton percale or sateen
  • Wrinkles; since the flax fibers aren’t very elastic, linen wrinkles fairly quickly (part of the charm, if you ask us!)
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Pros:

  • Budget-friendly
  • Durable
  • Easy to wash
  • Widely available in many colors and patterns
  • Hypoallergenic

Cons:

  • Less breathable as it is not a natural fiber
  • Not environmentally friendly :( 
  • Prone to pilling
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Pros:

  • Less prone to wrinkles
  • Durability; silks are one of the strongest natural fibers
  • Luxurious; extremely soft on the skin
  • Silk pillowcases are great for your hair (goodbye frizz!)

Cons:

  • Stains easily from water or too much direct sunlight
  • Expensive
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Like sofas, it can be easy to get swayed into purchasing a rug purely for looks and not function. (We’ve all been there.) But there are many factors to consider when choosing the best rug material for your home! Think about what the climate is like in your hometown. Do you have pets or children (or plan to have either down the road)? How much foot traffic will your rug get? These are all helpful things to consider before buying your forever (or for now) rug.

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Pros:

  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Insulating; they will help keep your home warm and are nice under the feet
  • Can easily be spot cleaned or professionally cleaned
  • Suitable for high-traffic areas

Cons:

  • Color may fade over time
  • Wool fibers may shed for the first few years
  • Not ideal for damp conditions
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Pros:

  • Very soft
  • Slight sheen
  • Very durable and long-lasting

Cons:

  • Usually very expensive
  • Not as easy to care for as you can’t really spot-clean them; professional cleaning only
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Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Easy to clean 
  • Available in a wide array of colors and prints
  • Suitable for high-traffic areas

Cons:

  • Not as soft and plush as wool, silk, or synthetic rugs
  • Not as long-lasting as wool rugs
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Pros:

  • Make a very good base layering rug
  • Very strong and durable
  • Eco-friendly as often no dyes or chemicals are used

Cons:

  • Very difficult to clean
  • Not suitable for damp conditions
  • Not very soft under your feet
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Pros:

  • Easy to care for 
  • Affordable
  • Available in a wide array of colors and patterns

Cons:

  • Synthetic rugs are often made to mimic wool or cotton in appearance, and sometimes that visual appearance is not matched
  • Not environmentally-friendly
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So what exactly are textiles and fabrics?

These are two (very important) peas in a pod. Both words are often used interchangeably, but their differences are worth noting—even if they are small! Textiles are anything that was produced through weaving, knitting, or felting, and fabrics are made by weaving together other materials like cotton, wool, silk, etc. So, for example, rugs are usually considered textiles, while bedsheets are considered fabric. Both textiles and fabrics can balance out a color palette, bring warmth to a space, and add texture and dimension to a space. They can also absorb sound (perfect for those with kids), insulate drafty homes (you know, the beautiful old homes we love), and help manage humidity levels (hello, tropical friends!), which can be extremely useful depending on where you live.

When it comes to textiles and fabrics, it’s really a “choose your own adventure” situation, depending on the space you’re designing. Use them in window treatments, upholstery for furniture, accent pieces such as pillows or throws, or whatever else you’re dreaming up! Remember to consider the function of the space and then the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve.

So what exactly are textiles and fabrics?

These are two (very important) peas in a pod. Both words are often used interchangeably, but their differences are worth noting—even if they are small! Textiles are anything that was produced through weaving, knitting, or felting, and fabrics are made by weaving together other materials like cotton, wool, silk, etc. So, for example, rugs are usually considered textiles, while bedsheets are considered fabric. Both textiles and fabrics can balance out a color palette, bring warmth to a space, and add texture and dimension to a space. They can also absorb sound (perfect for those with kids), insulate drafty homes (you know, the beautiful old homes we love), and help manage humidity levels (hello, tropical friends!), which can be extremely useful depending on where you live.

When it comes to textiles and fabrics, it’s really a “choose your own adventure” situation, depending on the space you’re designing. Use them in window treatments, upholstery for furniture, accent pieces such as pillows or throws, or whatever else you’re dreaming up! Remember to consider the function of the space and then the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve.

These are two (very important) peas in a pod. Both words are often used interchangeably, but their differences are worth noting—even if they are small! Textiles are anything that was produced through weaving, knitting, or felting, and fabrics are made by weaving together other materials like cotton, wool, silk, etc. So, for example, rugs are usually considered textiles, while bedsheets are considered fabric. Both textiles and fabrics can balance out a color palette, bring warmth to a space, and add texture and dimension to a space. They can also absorb sound (perfect for those with kids), insulate drafty homes (you know, the beautiful old homes we love), and help manage humidity levels (hello, tropical friends!), which can be extremely useful depending on where you live.

When it comes to textiles and fabrics, it’s really a “choose your own adventure” situation, depending on the space you’re designing. Use them in window treatments, upholstery for furniture, accent pieces such as pillows or throws, or whatever else you’re dreaming up! Remember to consider the function of the space and then the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve.

So what exactly are textiles and fabrics?

These are two (very important) peas in a pod. Both words are often used interchangeably, but their differences are worth noting—even if they are small! Textiles are anything that was produced through weaving, knitting, or felting, and fabrics are made by weaving together other materials like cotton, wool, silk, etc. So, for example, rugs are usually considered textiles, while bedsheets are considered fabric. Both textiles and fabrics can balance out a color palette, bring warmth to a space, and add texture and dimension to a space. They can also absorb sound (perfect for those with kids), insulate drafty homes (you know, the beautiful old homes we love), and help manage humidity levels (hello, tropical friends!), which can be extremely useful depending on where you live.

When it comes to textiles and fabrics, it’s really a “choose your own adventure” situation, depending on the space you’re designing. Use them in window treatments, upholstery for furniture, accent pieces such as pillows or throws, or whatever else you’re dreaming up! Remember to consider the function of the space and then the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve.

So what exactly are textiles and fabrics?

So what exactly are textiles and fabrics?

These are two (very important) peas in a pod. Both words are often used interchangeably, but their differences are worth noting—even if they are small! Textiles are anything that was produced through weaving, knitting, or felting, and fabrics are made by weaving together other materials like cotton, wool, silk, etc. So, for example, rugs are usually considered textiles, while bedsheets are considered fabric. Both textiles and fabrics can balance out a color palette, bring warmth to a space, and add texture and dimension to a space. They can also absorb sound (perfect for those with kids), insulate drafty homes (you know, the beautiful old homes we love), and help manage humidity levels (hello, tropical friends!), which can be extremely useful depending on where you live.

When it comes to textiles and fabrics, it’s really a “choose your own adventure” situation, depending on the space you’re designing. Use them in window treatments, upholstery for furniture, accent pieces such as pillows or throws, or whatever else you’re dreaming up! Remember to consider the function of the space and then the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve.

So what exactly are textiles and fabrics?

These are two (very important) peas in a pod. Both words are often used interchangeably, but their differences are worth noting—even if they are small! Textiles are anything that was produced through weaving, knitting, or felting, and fabrics are made by weaving together other materials like cotton, wool, silk, etc. So, for example, rugs are usually considered textiles, while bedsheets are considered fabric. Both textiles and fabrics can balance out a color palette, bring warmth to a space, and add texture and dimension to a space. They can also absorb sound (perfect for those with kids), insulate drafty homes (you know, the beautiful old homes we love), and help manage humidity levels (hello, tropical friends!), which can be extremely useful depending on where you live.

When it comes to textiles and fabrics, it’s really a “choose your own adventure” situation, depending on the space you’re designing. Use them in window treatments, upholstery for furniture, accent pieces such as pillows or throws, or whatever else you’re dreaming up! Remember to consider the function of the space and then the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve.

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