Textures can be warm or cold, as colours are, says MacDowall. For example, cashmere, wool and wood are considered warm textures, and marble, steel and lacquer are cold.

A few years ago, feature paintwork was popularised to give a home an instant texture fix. But the trend wore off quicker than it took to remove the gritty stuff from the walls. Accessories are the simplest way to add texture to a room. 'If you enter a room with no accessories, it's going to feel like something is missing,' says MacDowall.

Almost anything can be used: metal, wood, water, aluminium, all kinds of paper, glass, cement, tiles, sisal, fresh flowers, leaves, pebbles, fruit - even plastic.

Texture makes even the most neutral palette come alive. While it still shouldn't be too loud, don't be afraid to mix it up. Play with fabric, and see how well it works. A sofa upholstered in heavy linen will 'go pop' when teamed with a lighter coloured silk cushion. Fabric can define a space, as Philippe Starck demonstrated at Jia in Causeway Bay. The French designer used flowing sheer fabric as clever room dividers and, voila, the chic boutique hotel feels like home.

Artwork adds beauty and texture. Think mosaic or trompe l'oeil if you have the space and budget, but you can also do it yourself. A brocade or embroidery can be framed and hung, or a photo can be transformed into a three-dimensional layered artwork when set in a box made of timber or steel. Make or buy decorative paper boxes using contrasting textures from rough

to fine.

Rough iron is trendy, especially if it's rusty. Team it with shiny stainless steel. Surfaces can beg to be touched - such as timber or bamboo flooring, and natural stone benchtops. Don't discount laminate, which can be a designer's best friend. Feel the different textures of this highly versatile product and think of its many uses.

Fung shui practitioner Jill Lander says a judicious use of texture, via the five elements of wood, water, fire, metal and earth, will enhance harmony in the home.

In interior design projects through her consultancy Golden Elements, Lander uses two different types of crystals - quartz for supporting relationships, and man-made chandelier alternatives to promote fame and recognition. Water is used to control negativity, conflict or tension, while active water is said to trigger prosperous activity such as wealth. Metal is the element to get rid of sickness, and wood to develop relationships.

These textures can be found in ordinary furniture - the wood of a coffee table, or the metal frame of a bed - or can be decorative, such as a specific wind chime or a water feature.

Jo Allott, group merchandising manager for Indigo Living, says texture is the hot trend after years of a bland interior palette. The more organic, the better, she says.

'A lot of our clients come to us with the usual white walls, wooden parquet floors and cream micro suede sofas, which is just screaming out for texture and colour. The key to changing this is to add unique statement pieces that pull it all together and make things interesting.'

This could be in the form of sculptures, carved wall plaques, textiles or even a piece of salvaged driftwood. Fabrics that breathe, such as cotton and linen, are preferred over man-made fibres, and textiles, Allott says.

'If you want to keep it natural, just make sure the pieces you add have lots of texture,' she says. 'All of the accent pieces we bring in are one-of-a-kind.'

Allott says the key words for spring/summer 2007 interior design are natural, organic, earth tones, sculptures and rich prints.

'This season is on more unique one-off statement pieces,' she says. 'You'll see a resurgence of handcrafted pieces - which are irregular and exude an appreciation for the natural - statement accessories, natural fabrics: linens heavy cottons, pleating and bold graphics.'