What Furniture Materials Add Character to a Space

A room becomes memorable through the materials inside it, not the colour of its walls. Walls fade into the background, but a leather club chair, a reclaimed oak table or a smoked glass cabinet keeps drawing attention every time someone walks in. In British interiors, where rooms are used at all hours and across changing seasons, the right material gives a space the personality that paint alone cannot deliver. We look at how leather, timber, marble, velvet, glass and metal each contribute their own character to a home. We explore which materials add warmth, which bring light and which sharpen the edges of a room. We also discuss how to balance several materials so the result feels considered rather than crowded. Read on for our practical, designer led guide to building a home that feels personal, layered and full of quiet character throughout....