Texture affects color schemes
Textures can radically alter the choices you make with color schemes. You need to see your rooms in different lights so you can appreciate the possible effects. A room viewed in morning sunlight can appear drastically different when lit at night by a couple of table lamps. There are different finishes you can use on walls; paint, wallpaper, brick, plaster, an infinite variety of wood finishes, cork, etc. etc.
By the way, would you like to do your own plaster wall texture? (opens in new window). This web site is full of helpful and practical information on all aspects of plastering.
Floors can be of wood, marble, rush matting, deep pile carpet, rugs. Even confining yourself to fabrics give a choice of linen, cotton, twill, tweed, leather, velvet, moire, silk.
All these different materials have their own look and feel, and because they all reflect light differently, they have a subtle effect on color. A wall painted red will look completely different if a similar red colored wallpaper is applied.
Put it all together
Putting these different finishes together is a matter of taste and judgment.
The colors in this modern room are very soft and muted. Much of the effect is achieved by the use of different surface finishes. The marble floor, fabric and rug, wall and stone fireplace all provide interest.
Generally speaking, if you were choosing a fabric to go near a brick wall, you would probably find a cotton or linen better than a velvet or silk. Although smoother than brick, cotton or linen are like a toned down version of brick, whereas a very smooth silk could appear too 'grand' for such a situation. (That's not to say you couldn't use silk - for every guideline there is always a situation where you can successfully ignore it.)
In the same way that you can use small areas of strong accented color in a room so you can use areas of contrasting texture to create interest. Examples are sisal matting on a smooth wood floor, or an occasional chair upholstered in a quilted plain fabric.
Plain walls, simple fabric, venetian shades, polished floor and rug combine to give a restful effect. As with colors, you can contrast textures to good effect, as here the rug contrasts with the polished floor.
