Tapestries can be used in so many ways to enhance your home's beauty. Not only do they make marvelous wall hangings, but tapestries can be utilized as throws, drapes and even tablecloths. These amazingly versatile and sturdy woven pieces add style, texture and sophistication to even the plainest furnishings.



Most modern day tapestries consist of a tight jacquard weave that makes them extremely tough and able to stand up to abuse. You can use tapestry bolsters and pillows to add character to a demure couch, or spice up a mantle with a fanciful runner. Larger tapestries can be used as a throw for chilly winter days when all you want to do is curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and toast by the fire.

Personal effects can also be enhanced by tapestry - handbags are a favorite way to display small tapestry panels and often reflect the owner's personality. Small framed tapestries can be used in the home as well, as accents in small spaces. Table runners present a formal look for those times when you want to impress company, and a wall hung tapestry can make a great icebreaker if it has an interesting history.

History of Tapestry Use

Tapestries were used primarily in the homes, churches and cathedrals of the wealthy. Many were produced by Belgian, French and English artisans in medieval times - some still remain nearly intact. They covered the walls to provide added insulation to the stone separating them from the elements, and provided pictorial histories of great events in a time when books were a rarity and the ability to read them even more so.

Tapestries were also used as door coverings and bed curtains as well as drapery. The royalty in many countries had household weavers whose job it was to document their reign in woven form. The makers of these fine tapestries were respected on a level with the finest painters and sculptors of their day.

In more recent times, tapestries have become a way to represent classic masterpieces by the worlds greatest artists. Many paintings by such masters as DaVinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Titian and others have been woven into tapestries. This results in a rich rendering of the original work.

Matching Tapestry Styles with Decor

If your passion leans toward the gothic or baroque, with lots of dark wood and heavy brocade, medieval tapestry designs are probably a good choice. Hung at the head of a massive four poster, the dark rich colors of a tapestry showing the Knights of the Round Table might be just the touch to pull it all together.

If paler pastel shades and dainty Louis XIV is more your style, a softer Renaissance tapestry might be more to your liking. Angelic appearances and pastoral scenes glow in rich gold and blue hues, accenting the gilt and fussiness of French décor. You can often find landscape tapestries in sets, and hang them vertically side by side to form the illusion of gazing through a window at the peaceful countryside.

For a cheerful country kitchen look consider fruit and flower designs that can't help but bring a smile. Southwestern themes can lean on Native American artists for strong traditional patterns in earthy colors. Modern minimalist chic can benefit from an exotic Oriental piece featuring a dragon or a brilliantly plumed bird.

Places to Hang Tapestries

Cozy spots are great places for tapestries as long as you don't overwhelm the space. An Indian portrayal of an elephant or a British Naval battle scene can add just the right touch to a study. You can even splurge and invest in a wide horizontal map of the world to hang with pride in a library.

Look for ways to maximize your space. If you can't handle a huge tapestry hanging behind you over the couch, consider running two narrow vertical ones side by side. This will effectively break up the space with out overpowering the room. Small framed tapestries can fill spots in stairwells or out of the way corners.

Don't forget the bedroom. Peaceful landscapes or guardian angels are favorites for this most sacred of rooms. Restful colors like soft cream and blue and shell pink are great to promote a calm state of mind.

Consider using tapestries next time you remodel. With so many great online sources, you can get a tapestry incredibly cheaply - and use it to cover a multitude of sins. Cracked plaster and chipping paint may have to wait until you get to it, but in the meantime a nice tapestry will be greeting your eyes and bringing cheer.

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