Creating a cohesive material palette for your home can feel exciting at first, until the decisions start stacking up. You fall in love with a beautiful stone slab, then realise it doesn't quite work with your flooring. You order a sofa, only to discover it looks out of place in your space.  

As an interior stylist and designer, this is something I help clients navigate regularly. The most memorable homes aren’t necessarily the ones with the most expensive finishes, they’re the ones where materials have been chosen thoughtfully, with a clear point of view.

Here’s the exact process I use when helping clients create a material palette that feels layered, personal and beautifully resolved.


Image Source: Freshwater residence designed by and styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones.

1. CHOOSE THE FEELING FIRST

Before selecting flooring, stone, tiles or upholstery, decide how you want your home to feel. 

This is the step people often skip, but it makes every material decision easier. Your material palette should support the mood you want to create, not simply reflect what happens to be trending. Do you want the space to feel calm and restorative? Warm and cocooning? Elevated and luxurious? Bold and expressive?

Soft plush upholstery, mohair and velvet naturally create comfort and richness. Venetian plaster and French wash finishes bring softness to walls and beautiful movement. Textured blankets, wool rugs and drapery encourage lounging and help a space feel more relaxed. If you want your home to feel more connected to nature, materials like timber, rattan, bamboo, linen and natural stone instantly bring warmth and a restorative quality. 

Choose a few words that describe how you want your home to feel, then use them as a filter for every decision that follows. 

Image Source: Brisbane Residence designed by Tom Mark Henry and styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones.

2. BUILD A NEUTRAL BASE

A cohesive material palette usually starts with a strong neutral base. This creates a backdrop that allows more expressive layers, whether that's artwork, furniture or colour, to stand out. I personally love warm, earthy neutrals because they feel inviting while still offering longevity. Think creamy whites, warm beige, muted olive, terracotta and softer clay tones rather than stark whites or cooler greys.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing materials for their home is underestimating how much natural light changes their appearance. A warm beige can suddenly feel flat or grey in another room, while stone with green, pink or blue undertones can shift dramatically throughout the day.

If your home receives cooler light, warmer neutrals can help soften the space. If it’s flooded with sunlight, softer creamy tones usually work beautifully. The same thinking applies to paint colours too.

Image Source: Freshwater residence designed by and styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones.

3. START WITH YOUR HARD SURFACES

When choosing materials for your home, I always recommend starting with the hardest finishes first, as they're often the most expensive and difficult to change later.

Flooring is usually the best place to begin because it anchors the home and sets the overall direction. Timber, for example, creates warmth and works beautifully as a versatile neutral base.

Stone and tiles are where you can introduce more texture, movement and personality. Marble, travertine, quartzite, sandstone and handmade finishes all bring something different, whether that’s softness, warmth or a more organic feel.

The strongest material palettes balance contrast thoughtfully. Pair tactile finishes with smoother surfaces, matte materials with subtle shine, and cleaner architectural elements against something more organic. And while aesthetics matter, functionality should always suit how you actually live.

Image Source: Brisbane Residence designed by Tom Mark Henry and styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones.

4. BRING IN YOUR SOFT FURNISHINGS

Once your hard finishes are resolved, this is where the home starts to feel warmer and more personal. Rugs help anchor a room, absorb sound and add softness underfoot. Drapery diffuses harsh light, creates movement throughout the day and brings a softness that harder materials often need.

Upholstery is often where I encourage clients to have a little more fun. If your base palette is relatively neutral, this is an opportunity to introduce accent colours, richer textures or subtle pattern. Those tones can be echoed through artwork and decor so the home feels layered rather than overly matched. 

Practicality matters here too. A beautiful ivory linen sofa may look incredible, but if you have young children, pets, or a home that sees a lot of everyday life, performance fabrics or more forgiving finishes may be a better fit. The most beautiful interiors are the ones that reflect and support your everyday life. 

5. CREATE A SAMPLE BOARD

If there’s one step that will save you from making an expensive mistake, it’s this one.

Creating a physical material board is one of the best ways to understand whether your selections actually work together. Visit showrooms, order samples, then layer your tile, timber, stone, fabric and paint selections together on a large table. 

What works? What feels off? A material can be beautiful on its own, but not right for the broader palette. Edit and refine until everything feels cohesive.

Check your samples in morning, afternoon and evening light too. Materials can shift dramatically throughout the day, and it’s far better to discover that before installation.


Image Source: Brisbane Residence designed by Tom Mark Henry and styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones.

6. GET CREATIVE

Once your material palette feels resolved, this is where you can start pushing things a little further. Some of the most interesting homes are the ones where materials have been used in more unexpected ways, bringing a stronger sense of personality into the space.

In our own home, I used leftover Travertine Onyx from our fireplace and powder room, alongside Brazilian Quartzite from the kitchen, to create a custom Palladiana floor in our ensuite. It became one of my favourite details in the house.

Stone offcuts are a perfect example of how material selection can become more creative. What might otherwise be discarded can become a bespoke coffee table, dining table or sculptural plinth. Often, it’s these more original applications of materials that make a home feel distinctly yours.

Image Source: Dolan Bay residence designed by and styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones.

NEED HELP CREATING A MATERIAL PALETTE FOR YOUR HOME?

Creating a material palette can feel overwhelming when you’re making decisions in isolation. Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to create clarity before committing. 

I offer personalised 1:1 interior styling and design consultations, available in person in Sydney or online via Zoom. These sessions are designed for people who want expert guidance without committing to a full-service interior designer.

Whether you’re selecting finishes for a renovation, refining a single room or trying to make sense of conflicting choices, I can help you move forward with confidence.

Image Source: Dolan Bay residence designed by and styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones.

FAQ: CREATING A MATERIAL PALETTE FOR YOUR HOME

How do I choose materials for my home?

Start with the fixed elements first, including flooring, stone, joinery and tiles. These decisions create the foundation of your home and make everything that follows much easier.

What materials make a home feel cohesive?

A strong material palette usually combines a neutral base, complementary undertones and a thoughtful mix of contrasting textures.

Should I choose flooring or paint first?

Flooring first, almost always. It’s one of the largest and most permanent decisions in a home, so it should help guide your paint direction rather than the other way around.

How do I make the colours in my home feel cohesive too?

Materials and colour work hand in hand. If your colours feel disconnected, your materials often will too. I share my full process in this guide on creating a cohesive colour scheme in your home.

Can I mix different timber tones and stones?

Absolutely, but there should be a clear relationship between them. Shared undertones, similar warmth levels, or intentional contrast will help the combination feel curated.

How many materials should I use in one home?

There’s no strict formula, but I often think about materials the same way designers approach colour, with a clear hierarchy of dominant, supporting and accent finishes.

In one space, that might mean one or two dominant materials, a few supporting finishes, then one or two accents for contrast and personality.

The key is making sure not every material is competing for attention. The most cohesive spaces usually have a clear foundation, with contrast introduced more selectively.