Texture Matters When Staging A Home

By July 25, 2024Home Staging

Adding Texture When Staging a Home: Elevate Key Spaces for Maximum Appeal

When it comes to staging a home for sale, one of the most powerful yet often overlooked design elements is texture. Texture is the subtle detail that brings depth, warmth, and character to a room, making it visually compelling for buyers and more memorable in listing photos. Whether you’re styling a modern condo or a cozy suburban home, incorporating texture into the staging process can help create a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing environment. In this blog, we’ll explore how to effectively add texture to key spaces like the living room, bedroom, and dining room, along with tips on choosing the right decorative items and how texture photographs well for marketing purposes.

Why Texture Matters in Home Staging

When potential buyers walk into a home, they are looking for spaces that feel inviting, comfortable, and visually engaging. Texture can play a significant role in achieving this by adding layers of visual interest. A room filled with flat surfaces can feel cold and sterile, but a mix of textures—soft fabrics, rugged wood, or polished metal—creates a dynamic, layered look that evokes comfort and warmth.

Texture is also crucial for staging because it has the ability to appeal to the senses, not only for in-person viewings but also in photographs. When homes are marketed online, great listing photos are key, and texture can make a space look more inviting, even through the screen.

Let’s dive into how to add texture in specific rooms for maximum impact.

Adding Texture to the Living Room

The living room is often the first space buyers see when they enter a home, making it one of the most important areas to stage effectively. Texture in the living room should feel luxurious yet approachable, creating a cozy atmosphere that invites buyers to imagine themselves relaxing in the space.

 

Textile Layers

  • Throw blankets and pillows are the easiest way to introduce texture. Choose throw blankets in chunky knits, faux fur, or woven wool to add softness to sofas and chairs. Layering these items creates depth and contrast, especially when paired with smoother materials like leather or sleek upholstery.
  • Pillows can be a mix of textures, from velvet to linen, and add visual variety when placed on a sofa or accent chair. Mixing textures within a neutral color palette keeps the space cohesive while still adding interest.

Rugs

  • A textured area rug is another essential element. Rugs with high pile (like shag or sheepskin) or flatweave designs with intricate patterns can immediately ground the room and give it a sense of coziness. Textured rugs also photograph well, adding visual interest to an otherwise flat floor.

 

Furniture and Décor

  • To add more texture, mix different furniture materials. For example, a sleek leather sofa can be paired with a reclaimed wood coffee table, while a woven rattan chair adds an organic, earthy element.
  • Decorative items like woven baskets, ceramic vases, and metal sculptures also introduce different textures that contribute to the overall look without overwhelming the space.

Adding Texture to the Bedroom

Bedrooms should feel like a sanctuary, and texture plays a major role in achieving that sense of relaxation and luxury. When staging a bedroom, the goal is to create a space that feels both inviting and restful, and texture can help you do just that.

Bedding

  • The bed is the focal point of the room, so layering is key. Opt for high-quality linens with a mix of textures—think cotton sheets, a quilted duvet, and a soft wool blanket draped at the foot of the bed. The visual contrast of these materials adds depth, making the bed look more inviting.
  • Decorative pillows in a variety of fabrics—like velvet, linen, or embroidered textiles—can add a finishing touch, giving the bed a luxe, layered look.

Accent Furniture

  • Use textured headboards, such as those upholstered in velvet or linen, or opt for a natural wood or woven rattan design to add warmth to the space.
  • Introduce texture through nightstands or accent furniture. A distressed wood nightstand or a hammered metal side table provides a tactile contrast to smooth bed linens and creates balance in the room.

Window Treatments and Rugs

  • Curtains made from heavy fabrics like velvet or linen add softness and visual texture to the bedroom. They also help frame the windows and make the room feel more complete.
  • Adding a textured rug under the bed, like a plush wool or a braided jute rug, not only grounds the space but also brings warmth and comfort underfoot.

Décor

  • Wall art can add an additional layer of texture. Consider framed textiles, woven wall hangings, or even tactile 3D art to create visual interest on the walls.

Adding Texture to the Dining Room

The dining room is often a more formal space, but that doesn’t mean it should be void of texture. In fact, adding texture to a dining room can help soften the space and make it more inviting for potential buyers.

Table Settings

  • A dining table can be enhanced with layered place settings. Think textured linen table runners or placemats, paired with smooth ceramic dishes and metallic flatware. The combination of these textures makes the table feel curated and sophisticated.

Furniture and Seating

  • Wood dining tables are a natural way to add texture to the dining room, particularly if the table has a rustic or distressed finish. Pairing a wood table with upholstered dining chairs creates a contrast that makes the space feel layered and rich.
  • Incorporating woven chairs or even using fabric slipcovers can add softness to a room that’s otherwise filled with hard surfaces.

Lighting

  • A statement chandelier in a metallic or glass material adds a sleek, reflective texture to the room. Textured light fixtures, such as those made of woven wicker or jute, add a natural, bohemian vibe that photographs well and adds personality.

Decorative Accents

  • Incorporate a woven basket as a centerpiece filled with greenery or add ceramic vases to the sideboard. This brings dimension and warmth to the dining room without making it feel too cluttered.

Texture and Photography: The Key to Great Listing Photos

Texture plays a significant role not just in how a space feels in person, but also in how it looks in listing photos. Well-staged, textured rooms tend to photograph better because they have more depth and visual interest. A smooth, flat room can appear cold or one-dimensional in pictures, but the inclusion of soft rugs, layered fabrics, and a mix of materials can bring the space to life, making it more appealing in online listings.

Here’s how texture enhances photographs:

  • Natural Light Reflection: Shiny or metallic surfaces reflect light in a way that draws the eye to certain areas, adding a bright, inviting feel to photos.
  • Contrast: The juxtaposition of different textures, such as a plush sofa against a rough stone wall, creates contrast that makes rooms appear dynamic in photos.
  • Cozy Appeal: Layered textures, especially in the living room or bedroom, create a sense of comfort that translates well into photos, helping potential buyers imagine themselves relaxing in the space.

Photo of Staged Bedroom by No Vacancy Home Staging

Adding texture to a home’s staging is an effective and often understated way to elevate the design and appeal to potential buyers. Through carefully chosen textiles, furniture, and décor, texture adds warmth, dimension, and sophistication to key spaces like the living room, bedroom, and dining room. Plus, texture enhances the marketing of a home by making spaces more photogenic and inviting.

Whether you’re using tactile throw pillows, woven rugs, or layered bedding, incorporating texture is a key strategy for ensuring that your staged home makes a lasting impression—both in person and online.