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"Texture is one of the best ways to add depth and life to any web design. When used carefully, it can help create an expressive and organic experience, but when over-done, it can lead to tacky mess.\r\n\r\nIt's not easy to strike the perfect balance, but when you do, something very natural and memorable surfaces. There's tons of variety in the way textures can be used by web designers, but overall the results tend to fall into 3 categories: photographic, pattern or simulation. Each type has its own purpose, and it's up to you to decide which one you like best for which project.\r\n\r\nCheck out this list featuring some of the best examples of texture in web design:\r\nPhotographic\r\nPoco People's gigantic photo background serves a few different purposes, namely to introduce the team, set the mood and hint at where they're from. Near the top and bottom of the design, the background functions more abstractly like a texture (instead of a clear photograph), as it blurs and fades to balance visual interest and distraction.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0\u00A0Poco People\r\n\r\nAs we said in our article on minimalism, Christopher Meeks, a freelance web designer from St. Louis, presents only the essential bits of information in stark white over a beautiful grainy photograph. While some details are hard to find due to the navigation\u2019s simplicity (try clicking the arrow on the right of his logo for more information), there\u2019s never a frustrating moment of usability failure.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Christopher Meeks\r\n\r\nMathieu Strabach's site presents an overlaid, washed out photograph as the background of a very minimal and beautiful design.\r\n\r\n\u27A4 \u00A0STRBK\u00A0(source: WDL)\r\n\r\nPablo Gonzalez's portfolio showcases the possibility of photographic textures. The subjects of a photo aren't the focus, but the aesthetic value is still there.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0\u00A0Pablo Gonzalez\r\nPattern\r\nAs we said in our roundup of 9 gorgeous examples of black and white websites, Blissfully Aware is a cross between a collage and an appendix.\u00A0Josh Lane\u2019s site showcases a perfect use of space, making it easy for the eyes to bounce around from heading to heading.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Blissfully Aware\r\n\r\nWearable Print has a soft, tan texture that goes well it's name. The light paisley background for each catalogue only strengthens the connection.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0\u00A0Wearable Print\r\n\r\nAmazee Labs' site feels like it was made on an old letterpress.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Amazee labs\r\n\r\nHugs for Monsters shares a similar appeal with Amazee Labs, but with a more modern feel. It's very illustrative, with a texture pattern that carries on throughout the entire page.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Hugs for Monsters\u00A0(via WDL)\r\n\r\nCreate Digital Media features a subtle, fabric-like texture background and a minimalist design contrasted by surprisingly good animations.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Create Digital Media\r\n\r\nBERG Cloud, of Little Printer fame, shows off it's minimalistic roots with a balance of subtle textures and solid colors.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 BERG Cloud\r\n\r\nBold type and a fresh looking pattern sets Teixido apart from other sites. But what really makes it shine is the way other elements (like the nav bar) come together.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0\u00A0Teixido\u00A0(via Six Revisions)\r\nSimulations &amp;amp;amp; Illustrations\r\nKaleidoscope's background plays on its name, and is based on its vivid icon.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0\u00A0Kaleidoscope App\r\n\r\nPointless Corp's wood background is just right. Simulated textures with the intention of looking realistic can easily be\u00A0messed up, unless they are dead on.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0\u00A0Pointless Corp\u00A0(via Six Revisions)\r\n\r\nElectric Peel's design (created by Ryan Scherf) has a perferated leather-like header background, with a neon-banana body background. That's right. Neon-banana.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Electric Peel\r\n\r\nBloom Health's page (also by Ryan Scherf) follows a formular similar to Electric Peel, but with a calmer approach. The wood isn't hyper-realistic, but feels right behind the casual, cut\u00A0and pasted illustrations.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Bloom Health\r\n\r\nPolargold's subtle illustration falls right into the background, making it less about the objects and more about the mood it sets for the entire page.\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0 Polargold\r\n\r\nThroughout all of these awesome examples, balance is key. Busy elements, like the animations on\u00A0Create Digital Media's site, have to be met with calmer backgrounds, while\u00A0Amazee labs's letterpress inspired design creates visual interest with texture in the forefront. No matter what styles you embrace, it's important to use texture with restraint.\r\n\r\nWith these sites for inspiration, it's hard to deny that texture can be used to create an amazing design -- so long as it's in the right hands.\r\n\r\nFor more inspiration, check out the entire Design and Dev channel. You can also take a peak at these 14 examples of illustrative web design."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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