ABOVE: Mood board by interior designer Brooke Mennen-Talsma of Brooke MT Interiors for an upcoming new build, completion and available for purchase fall 2025
Texture Is the New Color: Why Minimalists Are Embracing Plaster, Limewash, and Tile That You Can Feel
While reviewing the mood boards and design packet for a new build, something caught my eye: texture—everywhere. Plaster walls, fluted tile, boucle fabrics, limewashed finishes. At first, I chalked it up to a single designer’s style. But after reviewing multiple projects, remodels, and even high-end furniture collections, I realized this is a much bigger trend. We’re witnessing a shift away from bold hues and toward the quiet power of texture.
In today’s minimalist interiors, color isn’t carrying the weight anymore—materials are. Plaster and limewash finishes are making a major comeback, adding softness and movement to walls without the visual noise of bold patterns. Limewash, with its chalky, cloudlike finish, adds an organic depth that’s both calming and sophisticated. Plaster brings subtle curves and tonal dimension, replacing the flatness of paint with something that feels handcrafted and architectural. In one of our recent luxury remodels, we swapped a stark white accent wall for a custom limewash finish, and it transformed the entire mood of the space—warm, grounded, and deeply tactile.
Another key player? Textured tile. We’re using it more than ever—in powder rooms, kitchen backsplashes, even fireplace surrounds. Whether it’s zellige tile, fluted stone, or 3D ceramic panels, textured surfaces bring a sense of movement that balances beautifully with the cleaner lines of minimalist design. These materials create depth without distraction, making a space feel intentionally designed, not just styled.
Incorporating texture isn’t about adding complexity—it’s about creating spaces that feel layered, lived-in, and visually rich. It’s a reminder that in design, subtlety can be powerful, and simplicity doesn’t have to mean sterile. If you’re looking to elevate a new build or modernize a neutral palette, texture might just be your best tool.
