Design Advice: A practical guide from La Muur Wallpaper South Africa
Last updated: July 2026
Why (we think) Texture Matters More Than Colour
People usually begin by choosing a colour.
Should it be white? greige? dark and moody? And rules: you can’t use this colour with that one. Match this with that.
Colour feels like the biggest decision because it’s the first thing we notice.
And, it really is!
Then, how can we say: why texture matters more than colour…
After spending time in a room,
JACKIE – LA MUUR
I’ve found it’s often the texture that stays with you.
It’s about a feeling.
It’s difficult to explain until you’ve experienced it.
A textured wallpaper doesn’t necessarily stand out from across the room.
Instead, it draws you in.
As you walk past, the light catches it differently.
Small details appear that you didn’t notice before.
Almost without thinking, you find yourself reaching out to touch it.
That’s something we’ve lost a little in today’s world.
So much of what we experience is through smooth glass screens.
We scroll past thousands of images every day – bright colours glossy – and very few things ask us to stop, look closely or use our hands.
Texture does.
It Isn’t Trying to be the Centre of Attention
is that it doesn’t compete with everything else in the room.
A home is already full of interesting things – furniture collected over time, artwork, books, timber, fabrics and objects that tell your story.
A heavily patterned wall can sometimes demand all the attention.
Perfect as a statement wall.
Texture is different.
It adds another layer without asking to be the main event.
The room feels richer, but it’s not immediately obvious why.
Light Does Half the Work
A painted wall looks much the same from morning to evening.
Texture changes with the light.
As the South African sun moves across the room, tiny shadows appear and disappear.
Metallic details catch the light for a moment.
Woven finishes seem softer in the afternoon than they did over breakfast.
Nothing dramatic is happening.
The wall is simply responding to the light that’s already there.
That’s why textured wallpaper often feels more natural than a completely flat surface.
It Doesn’t Need to Shout
Some wallpapers make a statement the moment you walk into a room.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
But not every room needs to be memorable because it’s bold.
Sometimes the nicest interiors are the ones that reveal themselves slowly.
You notice something new every time you sit down with a cup of coffee or walk past on the way to another room.
Texture has a quiet confidence.
It doesn’t rely on bright colours or large patterns to make an impression.
The Rooms I Remember Most
When I think back to homes I’ve loved, I rarely remember the exact paint colour.
I remember how the rooms felt.
Warm.
Calm.
Comfortable.
Inviting.
Texture plays a surprisingly big part in creating that feeling. It softens hard surfaces, catches changing light and adds interest without making a room feel busy.
Colour will always matter.
But if I had to choose between a flat wall in the perfect colour
JACKIE – LA MUUR
and a beautifully textured wall in a good colour,
I’d choose texture every time.
Final Thought
Texture is a little like a secret.
From across the room, it doesn’t ask for attention.
It waits.
Then, as you move closer, it starts to reveal itself.
The best wallpapers don’t always shout the loudest.
Sometimes they’re the ones that quietly make a room feel like somewhere you want to stay.