A Season for Texture: Interior Design Tips for Layering Materials this Autumn
- Gemma Budworth
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
Timeless ways to bring warmth, depth and comfort into your home this season.
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, our homes naturally become places of retreat. Autumn and winter invite us to slow down, to add warmth, and to create spaces that feel cocooning and calm. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by adding texture; the quiet details that make a room feel lived-in and loved. In this article, you'll hopefully get some useful interior design tips for embracing the new season.
Interior Design Tips: Why Texture Matters
Texture is what transforms a beautiful room into an inviting one. It’s the reason a space feels warm, even if the colour palette stays neutral. When you touch a velvet cushion, walk across a wool rug or run your hand over a wooden table, your senses are engaged. These small sensory cues build emotional comfort, which is something every home deserves more of in the colder months.
In design, texture also adds visual depth, for instance, in a room with similar tones, changes in surfaces prevent flatness. Texture is what gives a space personality and quiet sophistication.
Just as we have a summer and winter wardrobe that we change for the season, so can our homes.
Materials That Warm a Space
Autumn and winter are all about tactility. Think soft wools, tactile boucle, linen blends and velvet – fabrics that invite touch and add instant luxury. Pair these with natural wood, honed stone, and aged metals to balance softness with structure.
To achieve a look that's more harmonious, I recommend combining materials; for example, a linen sofa with velvet cushions, a wooden side table with a ceramic lamp, or a jute rug underfoot to ground the room. These contrasts create the kind of understated richness that defines timeless interiors.
For colour, lean into earthy greens, ochres and warm neutrals. They complement most interior styles and work beautifully with candlelight and ambient lamps, and are the perfect companions for long winter evenings.
How to Layer Without Clutter
Layering texture isn’t about adding more; it’s about adding better. Start with a calm base — natural flooring, painted walls, key furniture pieces — and then introduce depth through textiles and accessories.
A few gentle rules:
Vary textures rather than colours to keep cohesion.
Mix matte and sheen, for example, a brushed brass lamp with a fabric shade.
Group objects in odd numbers; it’s visually softer.
Leave breathing space so each piece can be appreciated.
When every layer is intentional, the result feels curated, not crowded.
Small Changes, Big Impact
You don’t need to redesign an entire room to embrace the season. Just as we have a summer and winter wardrobe that we change for the season, so can our homes.
Swap lightweight summer fabrics for heavier ones: linen for velvet, cotton for wool. Add a thick throw to the end of the bed, layer cushions in varying scales, or introduce textured ceramics to your sideboard. Even changing lampshades to something warmer in tone can transform the mood.
For a finishing touch, introduce a subtle woody scent, such as a candle or diffuser, which adds another sensory layer that completes the experience.
Bringing It All Together
Texture is the bridge between design and emotion. It’s what makes a room feel finished, even when the palette for the room is simple. As the nights draw in, layering texture brings calm without chaos, creating a sense of warmth that carries through the colder months.
If you’d like to refresh your home this season, why not start with a Styling Day? It’s a simple way to reimagine your space and add those final, transformative details that make a house feel like home.
Book a consultation with me here and see how we can transform your home together.
