A touch of chic: 6 textile decor ideas for experimentation
A Mid Century wall tapestry made in the Art Protis style popularized in 1960s Czech Republic. The non-woven technique uses dyed wool layered into an abstract collage. Design: Time & Place Interiors
On a trip to Western Ireland a few years ago, I bought eight mohair throw blankets for my home and for family gifts. By some miracle, I fit most of them in my carry-on. When we returned the following year to continue our journey on the Wild Atlantic Way, I picked up a wool one straight from the weaver’s storefront…plus a linen blend shawl, for good measure. I couldn’t resist their softness, comfort, and vibrant colors. Now the blankets bring memories of sweeping Irish hills, idyllic sheep roaming the sides of country roads, and the craftspeople who carry on proud traditions.
Textiles like throws, pillows, tapestries, drapes, and linens make the best authentic decor. While they naturally give us thermal comfort and introduce pattern, they can also be used to create visual coziness and essence of place.
Handmade fabrics created by artisans who continue centuries-old traditional techniques make fabulous opportunities to dress your home with worldliness. So are vintage textiles passed down by generations, or fabrics found in antique shops by decorators willing to give an old textiles new life in a fresh setting. Read on for six ideas for using textiles in your home decor for traditional, modern, or eclectic looks.
Wall art
Art for your home doesn’t have to be limited to prints and paintings. You can make fantastic decor with artful tapestries, antique textiles (framed or simply pinned up), or even rugs hung on walls. While it’s easy to find wall hangings at many chain retailers these days, handmade pieces of traditional techniques will bring the most integrity to your home.
An antique wall hanging from the 1900s in a Victorian home. Design and Photo: Georgie Stogdon
A hand-died tapestry picked up on travels in Japan decorates a Mid Century dining room. Design: Time & Place Interiors
2. Window treatments
Instead of conventional drapes, consider using found fabric for your window treatments. Your grandmother’s linen or a fabric found at an antique shop make for easy elegance on windows. They can be hemmed or have ring hooks sewn into them for an air of French casualness.
Pretty fabric gets purpose as an alternative window drape. Design and photo: The Lavender Ghost
A stitched patchwork fabric sample was saved, then recreated into a window curtain. Design: Tamar Barnoon / Photo: Laure Joliet
3. Bed covers and dressings
There’s no more important place for the softness of textiles than bedroom decor. A handmade bed cover is the perfect opportunity to make use of a beautiful fabric picked up on your travels. For a layered look, mix larger and smaller scale patterns, varying textures, and a few colors between your bed cover, pillows, and throw blanket. Check out our post for more inspiration: Softest touch: A guide to styling your coziest bed
A North African Berber textile is used as a bedspread in an eclectically decorated room. Design & Photo: David Oliver
Peruvian wool pillows, an Irish wool blanket, a Portuguese coverlet, and a Moroccan rug are layered in a guest bedroom. Design: Time & Place Interiors
4. Canopies
You can make your princess canopy dreams come true even if you don’t have a four-post bed. Get your creative spirit on by hooking fabric to your ceiling or over a doorway for a sumptuous look. The more flowy, the better.
A beloved fabric found a home loosely hung over a bedroom. Design: Hollie Bowden / Photo: Helenio Barbetta/Living Inside
A bed crown and damask create a dramatic accent in the entryway between a hallway and a kitchen. Design: Katharina Marie Herold / Photo: Lisa Winter
5. Upholstery and furniture covers
Upholstery is a great opportunity to add rich texture to your space. Draping a bold textile over a sofa or chair is a low-stakes way to experiment with colors or patterns. Suzani, ikat, or a wide range of other interesting fabrics make for exciting adventures.
A patterned fabric placed over an armchair gives extra texture to an eclectic Parisian apartment. Design: Joanna Chevalier / Photo: Michael Depasquale and Martina Maffini
Homeowner Hillary Kerr repurposed an old oriental rug into upholstery for her Mid Century dining chairs. Design: Deborah Gleiberman / Photo: Jenna Peffley
6. Seasonal decor
Dressing up your home with textiles is a lovely way to embrace the spirit of a season. To up your room's cozy factor in the winter, pile a stack of wool throw blankets, ready to be grabbed for movie night. In the summer, enjoy the cool luxury of a linen towel, which doubles as breezy bath decor.
Italian, Lithuanian, and Mongolian wool blankets stacked on display for Winter-ready grabbing. Design: Time & Place Interiors
A linen shawl from Ireland doubles as decor in the Summer. Design: Time & Place Interiors
BONUS IDEA: Just because!
“Every room can handle a wonderful piece of fabric,” as Deborah Needleman, author of my go-to interior decorating book, writes. If you have a textile you love, try integrating it into your decor in non-traditional ways as an expression of your unique personality.
A patchwork curtain made from sewn-together Japenese linen kitchen cloths. Design: Yumiko Sekine / Photo: Nao Shimizu
Vintage fabrics draped casually over a modern stair rail in a Hudson Valley Victorian home. Design and photo: The Lavender Ghost
Does your home need a touch of handmade style?
Time & Place Interiors specializes in decorating with handmade, antique, and vintage designs that make a house a home. Use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with founder Ksenya Malina about how to add authentic character to your space:
