What is Textural Art?

"Textural art" refers to artwork that emphasizes the texture of the materials used. It could encompass various mediums like painting, sculpture, or mixed media where the artist intentionally creates or emphasizes tactile elements within the piece.

Where to use Textural Art

Sometimes a piece of art can take center stage of a room, like the wooden chains pictured above. When a space feels full, but a hall or connecting room feels naked next to it, textural art does the trick. This corner of a formal living room needed attention, but we didn’t want to take away from the colors of the main sitting area and fireplace. Juju hats added a subtle wow factor.

Juju hats in shades of white and tan jump off the walls to create a soft corner in Formal Living Room with saturated colors. Notice the walls and accessories are all organic so they do not compete with the main sitting area.

Textural Art and Color

Neutral textures are a great way to fill spaces to help rooms flow from one to the next. What if you want something to really pop and be a statement? Three dimensional textural art can be both organic and colorful. This powder bath is bathed in gorgeous shades of soft plum and purple. While saturated in a color, we needed a statement piece of art that would not compete with the pattern in the wallpaper, and be just as dramatic. Framed chartreuse “moss rocks” and silk orchids are an unexpected surprise in this small space.

The soft plums and purples of this powder bath needed a “wow” factor that didn’t compete with the saturated color. Adding textural and colorful art did the trick.

Furniture as Textural Art

Adding that special touch is what all great Interior Designers do best. A custom piece of furniture with the right textiles, can feel like a work of art. This ottoman in our client’s modern office purpose is to not only look good, but to add texture and color (and a place to land your handbag) after a long day. She can put her feet up on the cozy alpaca hide that covers this oval ottoman.Now the office feels finished and the openness of the glass desk doesn’t leave her feeling exposed.

Tips on Adding Textural Art

Depending on the room, and what vibe you want to create, Textural Art works as a feature and it can work as a connector to another space so they feel cohesive and the design makes sense. Let the location in the home and overall purpose of the pieces be your guide.