Sensory Interior Design: Adding Texture to Walls

Interior design is often seen as a visual art form, and it’s easy to see why. Most of the time, we experience it through images in articles, magazines, or online galleries, with the occasional video offering a more dynamic perspective. But while aesthetics play a crucial role, 2025 is seeing a shift towards sensory interior design—a trend that considers not just what we see, but what we feel, hear, and even smell in a space.

In this blog, we’ll explore simple yet effective ways to engage your senses, creating a more immersive and enriching home environment. 

Perhaps the most obvious sensory experience in any given room, what we see has a direct impact on our feelings and emotions, if only subliminally. This can be anything from the colours of the walls and the design of the furniture to the layout of the room. It’s well known that certain shades and combinations of colours evoke an emotional response. This is why it’s important to consider your own personality before hopping on the latest colour trends. Other visual aspects to think about include the brightness and colour of any lighting and how symmetrical (or otherwise) you want your various fixtures and fittings.

The materials and finishes you choose also play a key role in shaping the visual appeal of a space. Viero offers a variety of options that enhance interior design, from Venetian plaster—available in smooth, polished or more industrial textures—to an array of textured paints. These include metallic, pearlescent, and lime-based options enriched with precious pigments, creating unique reflective and tactile effects. These finishes can subtly transform the look and feel of a space, adding depth and sophistication.

Touch affects how we interact with our homes and is more important to design than we realise. The choice between hardwood floors and thick, lustrous carpeting, or between a comfy sofa or a straight-backed chair, for instance, can make a real difference. 

Don’t forget the walls, either. Venetian plaster, for example, can be applied in various ways to create different textures, from a sleek, polished look to a more modern, natural textured effect. For those seeking something more decorative, it can also be finished to mimic the appearance of stone, wood, cement, or even corduroy. If you want a more intense sensory experience, why not invest in moulded, three-dimensional wall panels to add real depth and texture?

We often overlook our sense of smell when it comes to room design, but it plays as significant a part as any other of our senses. Scented candles and reed diffusers are affordable and effective ways to incorporate scents into your design plan. Perhaps the best solution is with an automated air freshener/scent diffuser. These devices will give a pleasant burst of fragrance on a regular basis (typically every 30-60 minutes or so) to keep your room smelling fresh and pleasant.

If you want to go the whole hog and install hidden speakers around the house that emit your own personal ambient noise soundtrack, then you go for it! There are other things you can do to include hearing in your design choices in a more natural way. Double-glazed windows can prevent intrusive sounds from the street from interfering with your life, while fabric wall hangings can insulate interior walls, meaning sound will not travel from room to room so easily. You can create a natural soundscape for your garden by installing babbling water features or a bird feeder that attracts songbirds you can hear through the window.

While we can’t help with every aspect of your sensory design project, if you’re looking for Venetian plaster, textured paints, or 3D wall moulding, Viero UK has you covered. Visit our online store today to make an immediate purchase, call the team at 0870 609 2827 or send an email to enquiries@viero.co.uk.