This week You! shares a guide to spice up your interiors with unique tapestry…
interiors
Want to change the look of your indoor spaces but are tired of experimenting with decor and interiors? Your interiors can be spiced up with other fantastic ideas, though. A fashionable work of art, such as a wall hanging or painting, can be added. Even adding a lovely floor lamp or flower arrangement to the room’s corner is an option.
But have you ever considered experimenting with tapestries? In general, a lot of people prefer to mix up paintings with tapestries. First, understand the idea of a tapestry. A tapestry is a substantial piece of fabric that is embellished with a stunning image or pattern. These artful pieces add colour, texture, and pattern to a space, whether you hang them over the sofa, or behind the bed to serve as a bold headboard alternative. This week You! shares a guide to spice up your interiors with the unique artform of tapestry…
Tapestry is one of the oldest forms of woven textile. As a technique, tapestry has been used to create everything from tunics and purses to table covers and chair backs, as well as some of the world’s largest and most beautiful pieces of textile art.
Each unit of the pattern or the background is woven with a weft, or thread of the required colour, that is inserted back and forth only over the section where that colour appears in the design. As in the weaving of plain cloth, the weft threads pass over and under the warp threads alternately and on the return go under where before it was over and vice versa. Each passage is called a pick, and when completed the wefts are pushed tightly together by various devices (awl, reed, batten, comb, or serrated fingernails in Japan). The weft threads so outnumber the warps that they conceal them completely. The warps in a finished tapestry appear only as more or less marked parallel ridges in the texture, or grain of the fabric, according to their coarseness or fineness. The thickness of the warp influences the thickness of the tapestry fabric.
For a colourful tapestry, after weaving coloured weft threads through plain warp threads, the warp threads are stretched on a loom and act as a grid for weavers to create a pattern with the coloured weft threads. The key feature of tapestry weaving is that most of the weft threads do not run all the way across the warp. Instead, the weft runs back and forth across a specific segment of the warp to create a small block of colour. This is known as a discontinuous weft. Weavers build up blocks of colour to create a pattern or picture.
During weaving, the weft threads are beaten down, hiding the warp to create a weft-faced textile so the design is visible on the front and the back. In older tapestries, the original colours are often more intense on the back, which would have been to protect from exposure to light.
Change the look of any living space
Tapestry creates a unique focal point in the rooms. Despite any decor setting, room size and interiors, it adds charm and beauty in indoor spaces. They are also great for gifting to those who love fine textiles and decor. Decorating with a tapestry is a creative and versatile way to add character, colour, and texture to any living space. Here are some ideas on how to effectively incorporate a tapestry into your decor:
Wall-art centrepiece: Hang a tapestry as a focal point on a blank wall. Choose a design that complements your decor style and colour palette, instantly transforming a dull wall into a captivating art piece.
Bedroom elegance: Use a tapestry as a headboard alternative. Hang it behind your bed to create a stunning backdrop that adds a touch of luxury and cosiness.
Bohemian vibe: Embrace a boho-chic aesthetic by draping a tapestry over a bed, couch, or even a canopy. This adds an element of whimsy and cultural flair to your space.
Room divider: Large tapestries can be used as room dividers, effectively segmenting spaces in open-concept layouts while also adding an artistic touch.
Use a rod to hang tapestries with pockets in the back. If your piece is rectangular or particularly large, you could also drape it over the rod to create a faux headboard or an eye-catching display over the sofa.
In your sight, tapestries can only be used as wall hangings? Well, no. Ditch the old ways and adopt new tips and tricks that professional decorators use to enhance the aesthetics of the interiors with the tapestries.
Induce an air of sophistication in the bedroom by covering the comforter with a stylish nature-inspired tapestry. Give your bedroom some new pattern treats by pinning the tapestry around the old headboard. Add tone and texture to your dull dining table by using the tapestry as a table cloth. You can also use it in the background for taking that dream selfie.
If your wall hanging has a large enough weave (to prevent poking holes in it) and isn’t too heavy, this is a great method. Place a pin or nail in each top corner of the tapestry for an elegant drape. Display the wall hanging with a row of nails or pins across the top for a neater look and stronger hold.
Making a tapestry look good involves careful consideration of various elements to ensure that it harmonises seamlessly with your decor while standing out as a captivating art piece. Here are some tips to help you achieve a visually appealing tapestry display:
Choose the right design: Select a tapestry design that complements your overall decor theme and colour palette. Consider the existing textures and patterns in the room to ensure a cohesive look.
Size matters: Opt for a tapestry size that fits the wall space without overwhelming it. Too small, and it might get lost; too large, and it could dominate the room.
Hanging height: Hang the tapestry at an appropriate height – typically at eye level or slightly above – to ensure it is easily viewable and becomes a focal point.
Pictures courtesy: Shamaeel Ansari
