5 Tips to Add Texture to Your Kitchen Design

June 7, 2022

Little details like texture can have a massive impact on a kitchen’s design.

While adding texture to your kitchen design might feel like an afterthought compared to larger decisions such as choosing a color pallet or selecting wood species, texture is key in bringing two-dimensional designs to life. In fact, unique textures are taking center stage in many of today’s home designs!

Adding texture in your cabinetry is a great way to engage both the tactile and visual senses while also bringing an interesting contrast to any style design. Fluted cabinetry adds a vintage feel to traditional spaces, while oak slab cabinets create warmth and comfortability in a contemporary design.

Textured materials also serve as a focal point in your design, such as a textured tile backsplash or a range hood made out of contrasting materials.

There are many creative ways of using texture to add interest to your kitchen. On today’s blog we are going to describe 5 of our favorite ways to do this. They can be used individually or tastefully combined for more visual impact!

1. Reeded, fluted, or v-groove cabinetry

A great way to incorporate texture in your kitchen design and make a statement in your space is to design it right in your cabinetry.

While reeded, fluted, or v-groove cabinet doors have traditionally been associated with vintage stylings, this cabinetry type has seen a recent resurgence with a modern twist. Characterized by their textural fronts, reeded cabinets feature ribbed pieces of wood that can either be inset or cover the entirety of a cabinet door. Through its unique ribbing, this kind of cabinetry adds depth to a space and creates visual intrigue in any kitchen’s design.

The best thing about these cabinet styles is that they come in a variety of options that can be either bold or subtle and suits a variety of design styles. At Revival House we gravitate towards the v-groove option for its subtlety and timelessness. This is a great choice for people that want to add texture to their space but don’t want to jump off the deep end of the trend pool. Color can also make v-groove cabinetry very fun and modern!

In this predominately neutral kitchen, the reeded cabinetry on the island and hood add texture that breaks up the whites and greys of the surrounding cabinetry. This texture also creates a focal point in the space with draws your eye to the center of the room.

Notice how reeded cabinetry is also included on the drawers of this island/dining area. This is a more subtle adaptation of the trend that still adds noticeable texture to the space.

Another ways to achieve the reeded look: soldier stacked, skinny, and rectangular subway tile. Other unique variations are honed tile and reeded glass inserts.

Dura Supreme’s v-groove door style Linea with Fire Clay Tile’s soldier stacked subway tile in Adobe against Sherwin-Williams’ Shoji White and Cambria’s Edinburough

2. Natural color variations

Texture is usually depicted by physical characteristics such as the roughness or smoothness of a surface, but texture can also contribute to a design through color contrast. Natural color variations are a great way to add texture and contrast to your space and engage your visual senses.

Consider tile with natural color variation like zellige or brick on backsplash or floor. In predominately neutral kitchens, these warm browns on backsplashes or flooring are a great way to break up whites and beiges create a nice juxtaposition in a space. Tile and brick also possess natural physical textures which do wonders in creating subtle variety in a design. A great way to add texture without adding too much texture.

Adding color contrast is also a way to create a focal point! Ex. a natural color on your hood draws the eye to the center of the space.

3. Stained slab cabinetry with prominent grain markings

Choosing a wood species with a pronounced grain pattern is an effortless way to add texture to any style space!

For people looking for natural texture we recommend plain sawn oak slab cabinet doors in a gorgeous stain like Dura Supreme Cabinetry’s Natural or Praline. Plain sawn oak has substantial texture, so it should be paired with other slab doors in muted colors and tile/countertops with less movement/texture in order to have balance in a design. And if you’re looking for a color, we also love plain sawn oak in black or olive-green stains.

If plain sawn oak is too much or not your style, walnut, cherry, or maple are also good options.

Natural wood has an array of colors and grains that can be muted or amplified by certain stains. Whatever you may choose, the rustic look of wood is a timeless way to add movement and intrigue to your design. Reclaimed wood with coarser textures carries more visual weight than other woods, making this a great choice if you want your wood to make a bold statement in your design.

Plain-sawn oak, slab cabinetry paired with more slab doors in a neutral paint color. Photo: Unsplash

4. Countertops with dramatic movement

Countertops play a huge role in a kitchen’s design as they are highly visible and are just as much a focal point in your space as your cabinetry. Through dimensional color of the stone, countertops are a way you can add texture and movement to your kitchen design.

As with flooring, you have almost countless options to choose from with countertops including concrete, recycled glass, granite, quartz, laminate, butcher block, marble, tile, and even stainless steel. Each of these will give you a different texture that you can layer in with other textures in your new kitchen design.

Consider a countertop like Cambria’s Rose Bay. This countertop pairs nicely with simple cabinetry due to its dramatic visual texture.

Cambria’s Rose Bay with Dura Supreme’s Putty cabinet paint color and Sherwin-Williams’ 111 color family

You can choose natural materials like granite and marble or bolder choices like slate and concrete. Concrete countertops are an up-and-coming trend as they add a contemporary style and texture to a kitchen design.

Silestone’s Raw Texture Brooklyn with Dura Supreme Cabinetry’s Natural stained maple

5. Plaster hood/walls

White is classic and timeless, but it can also be a little boring… Plaster on your hood and walls is a great way to spice up your white while also adding texture to your space!

The rough texture of plaster is extremely subtle but will still be picked up by the eye. This is a perfect solution for those who want movement in their space but don’t want to hit people over the head with obvious texture. This is great for simplistic designs as you can still maintain your super sleek look while achieving tactical variety.

For this trend you can think big or small. Plaster can be used on a smaller scale through your hood or backsplash or a larger scale on an entire wall. Get creative with your plaster! You can also overlay plaster over brick or stone for a chic rustic look.