ADD INTEREST WITH TEXTURE

It’s only when you step into a space devoid of textures – think of an empty gallery or an impersonal public building – that you realise all the ways in which texture can make a room feel warm, varied and characterful. Natural rugs or carpets can usher in a whole new layer of interest and depth. Coir, derived from the husk of coconut palms, can be turned into bobbly furrows of bouclé, while the finer, softer fibres of jute are used to make neat lines of herringbone. Seagrass is often woven into basketweave patterns, while sisal can be interwoven with chunky sections of wool to make satisfyingly tactile looped textures or plaids.

Wool and wool-rich mixes are hardwearing and come in an interesting variety of weaves – with cobbled, nubbly finishes, high-key herringbone or thickly woven rush

matting – that create interest without being too busy. Original and reclaimed timber floorboards have an incomparable patina but are more expensive than new, and being of varying thicknesses and lengths, they also tend to be harder to lay. A cheaper alternative – less prone to warping than solid wood boards – is engineered wooden flooring (layers of timber with a solid wood veneer).

To accentuate the natural texture of timber boards, opt for wax or oil rather than a high-gloss varnish and clean them with a damp rather than wet mop.

Above The matt surface of reclaimed bricks is contrasted with a textural rush mat Left Roughly hewn stone flooring provides an attractive texture in this rustic dining room. The rugged aesthetic is matched by industrial shelving Below Poured and polished concrete has lots of subtle variation, which has a modern aesthetic