The one thing every room needs for designer style, according to Kelly Hoppen – and it won't break the bank
The interior designer explains how textures can make or break a room


We're always looking for easy ways to make our homes look the best they can be – ideally without bursting our budgets. So when interior designer Kelly Hoppen offered her favourite way to upgrade a room we were all ears.
‘Layering of textures is really important to me,’ Kelly told us. Whether it’s in the living room on your favourite sofa with cushions, throws and other pieces of decor dotted around the room or in the bedroom, texture is what makes any space feel warm and inviting, rather than something like a living room colour scheme, the interior designer explains.
‘You can walk into a room that's full of colour and it can feel cold,' continues Kelly Hoppen. 'You can walk into a room that's neutral and it can feel warm, and it's the way that it's been layered. That's why you look at all of the many textures and how you layer them.’
One example she gives is warming up a leather sofa with soft and cosy accessories. ‘I always feel that a leather sofa is cold. Like a leather pair of trousers is cold – it even feels cold on your skin. But when you put the right sweater on, or you put the right cushions on a leather sofa or the right throw, and you mix it together, it feels cosy.’
As Kelly explains, any colour can be made to feel warm or cold, depending on the textures used and what other colours you pair with them. ‘A lot of people will say blue is a cold colour, but if it's put with the right textures, like wool and cashmere, it can feel really cosy.’
How Kelly incorporated texture into her M&S collection
Texture was integral for Kelly when creating her new (and first of many, as we're told!) collab with M&S. Since neutrals go with everything, Kelly opted for her signature colour palette of black, white, grey, beige and taupe for the inaugural M&S x Kelly Hoppen range, but while it is lacking colour, there are plenty of different textures purposefully included in the offering.
‘All of these textures work together. You've got the signature cushions with the velvet and the linens. If you were to touch these,’ she says while pointing to the throws from the collection, ‘they feel like cashmere. They're just so soft! So these you could use on a chair, on a sofa, on your bed, wrapped around when you're watching television, however you want to.’
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
‘But there are textures also on the hard finishes – all of the matte, glossy and textured vases of all different scales.’
Our top picks from the M&S x Kelly Hoppen range
If pure cashmere throws are out of your budget - let's face it, they're pricey - then Kelly's throw design is the next best thing as they feel just like cashmere but cost only £35.
Whether you want to call them scallops or dinosaur spikes, these three-dimensional features add some texture and something a little extra to this large vase design.
Kelly Hoppen is known for her pet peeve of chopped cushions. That's why all of her tactile cushion designs from this collaboration, including this grey style, cannot be chopped.
If you really want to nail the interiors game then there are two other elements besides texture that Kelly recommends to focus on.
‘When you walk into a room and you feel at home and you feel cosy, it's because of the smell, the lighting, the textures – those are the three things.’ We’re taking notes.

Sara Hesikova has been a Content Editor at Ideal Home since June 2024, starting at the title as a News Writer in July 2023. She is now also the Ideal Home Certified Expert in Training on Furniture, and so far has tested over 150 different sofas.
Graduating from London College of Fashion with a bachelor’s degree in fashion journalism in 2016, she got her start in niche fashion and lifestyle magazines like Glass and Alvar as a writer and editor before making the leap into interiors, working with the likes of 91 Magazine and copywriting for luxury bed linen brand Yves Delorme among others.
-
The one-year decluttering method is the key to clearing garden clutter this bank holiday – experts say it’s one of the simplest approaches
Banish garden clutter with this simple and effective method
By Kezia Reynolds
-
'We were keen to buy a small country retreat to escape to'
This Devon cottage has brought balance and calm to the owners' busy working lives
By Marisha Taylor
-
Find out how much a party wall surveyor costs now to avoid any nasty surprises later
In some cases, hiring a party wall surveyor will be unavoidable – our guide explains how much to set aside for their services
By Natasha Brinsmead
-
Is your porch missing something to sit on? These 7 porch seating ideas will solve that issue for you in style
These are the top porch seating ideas to make your space more functional and stylish at the same time
By Sara Hesikova
-
I failed my no-buy month because of this Primark tableware collection - it looks so much more expensive than it is
My tablescape has never looked better - without taking a hit to my budget
By Holly Cockburn
-
Kilner's butter churner is back in stock – here's why it sold out in the first place
Make your own butter by hand with this fun addition to your kitchen gadget collection
By Molly Cleary
-
I won't gatekeep – Magimix's new small kitchen-friendly mini chopper is my secret to delicious lazy dinners
My homemade pesto pasta has never been better
By Holly Cockburn
-
'I've now bought 3 different colours' – my favourite affordable linen bedding is currently half-price, and the 5-star reviews speak for themselves
The half-price linen bedding that owners can't stop raving about
By Amy Lockwood
-
Want to cook like Jamie Oliver? This is the top-rated casserole he uses from his own collection all the time on Instagram
Jamie's collaboration with Tefal has led to this casserole dish getting the best user reviews I've ever seen
By Molly Cleary
-
I’ve found a stunning £40 buy that rivals Le Creuset at Wilko - this casserole dish is a dead ringer for one of the most summery colourways
You just can't beat finding a great Le Creuset alternative
By Kezia Reynolds
-
This beautiful mixing bowl is the unexpected star of so many kitchens – including Mary Berry's and the Bake Off tent
This earthenware bowl proves that you don't have to spend a huge amount for a classic kitchen addition
By Molly Cleary