The Calm of Clay: Why Dubai Designers Are Embracing Earthy, Textured Walls

Espacio Betty Showroom featuring Bauwerk Colour limewash. Image via Bauwerk Colour.

Welcome to the first edition of Material Mood: One Element, Endless Atmospheres - a new series where we explore the emotional power of materials in interior design. We’re starting with one of our quiet obsessions: clay.

Because sometimes, the most impactful design move is the most ancient one. But when we say “clay,” we’re also talking about a larger aesthetic mood. That’s why we also include limewash paint in this conversation. While technically different, limewash shares that same quiet energy - creating soft, earthy finishes with depth and soul.

Think natural textures, matte surfaces, irregularity that feels intentional.

Clay, Reimagined

In the ever-evolving interior landscape of Dubai, where futuristic meets global - clay is having a subtle but soulful resurgence. It’s not flashy. It’s not loud. And maybe that’s exactly why it matters.

Clay brings a grounding presence. It makes a room breathe slower.

From sunlit cafés in Alserkal to luxury homes in Jumeirah, we’re seeing more people gravitate toward this organic material - not as a trend, but as a timeless language.

Image courtesy of Bauwerk Colour, featuring Basa Goods project.

Why Clay Feels So Good

Clay is deeply tactile - even when you’re not touching it. Its softness catches light in layers. Its imperfections create movement. And its tone? Warm, quiet, unbothered.

Designers in Dubai are using clay in:

• Hand-applied wall finishes that feel like sculpture

• Earth-toned plasters that shift subtly with the sun

• Built-in seating and archways with a soft, structural edge

It pairs beautifully with linen, aged wood, brushed metals, and natural stone. But clay doesn’t need accessories. It holds its own.

Clay is Luxury Without Trying Too Hard

Real luxury isn’t always about polished marble or mirror-finish metals. Sometimes it’s about mood. And clay brings a kind of emotional texture that’s hard to replicate.

Imagine this:

• A villa in Al Barari, where the living room walls are wrapped in warm, matte clay

• A creative studio in Business Bay, where built-in shelves flow like sculpture from floor to ceiling

• A boutique café near JVC, where the bar front is a curved clay volume, catching shadow like a quiet artwork

The effect? Elevated, grounded, and deeply human.

For Designers + Design-Lovers Alike

If you're building, renovating, or just dreaming, ask yourself: Where could my space use a pause?

That’s often where clay belongs.

We love using it in:

• Bathrooms (hello, tadelakt - waterproof, seamless, ancient)

• Kitchens (textural backsplashes that age beautifully)

• Feature walls (especially in minimalist spaces that need soul)

• Custom furniture (soft-edged forms, naturally pigmented)

Espacio Betty Showroom featuring Bauwerk Colour limewash. Images via Bauwerk Colour.

The Bigger Shift

Dubai design is changing. We’re seeing more warmth, more patience in how materials are chosen. Less about status, more about emotion. Clay is part of that shift—a move toward materials that tell stories, age gracefully, and connect us to place.

At Kaen Studio, we’re obsessed with materials that speak softly but powerfully. This is just the beginning of Material Mood, a series that goes beyond trends to explore the soul of space. One element at a time.

Next up: maybe linen. Or brass. Or glass that doesn’t try to be invisible.

Stay tuned.