Completely transform your room with a tapestry or wall hanging

Transform the look of any room with a tapestry or wall hanging. Tapestries and wall hangings are a unique, elegant way to spruce up a room.  Not only do they create a talking point for guests and visitors but a tapestry or wall hanging will transform the look of a room.

There is a vast range of tapestries and wall hangings available today that will suit any home from the more traditional to the contemporary and modern.

Wall tapestries look particularly good in a lounge area, over a bed head or in an entrance over a hall table and are an excellent way of creating that first impression in an entrance way.

Tapestries and wall hangings come in all manner of designs and colors, from the very modern to the more traditional antique style. You can purchase tapestries to suit the changing seasons and holidays with tropical and winter scenes just to name a few. They are also available in reproductions of historical weaves such as the famous Bayeux tapestry.

In the past, tapestries were displayed in the homes of the wealthy, but today anyone can afford to purchase a tapestry as some are surprisingly inexpensive depending on the materials and the process. Hand-made tapestries can take up to a year or more to produce and as a result, the price reflects the amount of work involved. Machine manufactured tapestries and wall hangings however are reasonably priced and create the same result in terms of your home decor.

Why not create a theme in a room by starting with the tapestry first. Then picking out some of the colors to decorate the wall, window sashes etc. The finished effect is only dependent on your imagination.

A tapestry can create a whole new look

Tapestries have been one of the most popular forms of wall decoration for nearly two millennia. Egyptian wall paintings and carvings show people working on looms similar to those used for weaving tapestries, and there are images of pharaohs and others with what appear to be tapestries on the walls.

Woven tapestries were popular wall decorations in Greek and Roman times as well. Though none have survived, they can be seen in the backgrounds of paintings and on pottery that does survive from those ages.

The art of tapestries flourished during the Medieval years. The most famous centers of the art were in France and in Britain at Canterbury, but there were lesser centers throughout the European world.

It was during this time that the most famous surviving tapestries were created – the so-called Bayeaux tapestries, and the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. There was another upsurge of popularity for tapestries in the late 1800s when several Europeans undertook to restore and preserve historical tapestries.
 
When most people think of tapestries, they think of those popular medieval European designs, with lush floral backgrounds woven into the fabric of the wall hangings, and stylized figures. They frequently depicted hunting, combat or mythical themes.

Modern tapestries take as much from impressionist painting and modern art as they do from traditional themes. The colors are softer or brighter, the figures more natural, the themes as wide and varied as your imagination. Modern work in tapestries shows the influence of African tribal art, East Indian weaving and Native American and Mexican styles of rug weaving.
 
If you’re looking for a dramatic piece of artwork to accent a wall in your home, you’ll find that modern tapestries have a richness and luxury that a painting simply can’t match. To help you choose the right piece for your walls, interior decorators recommend the following:

• Choose tapestries that suit the scope of your room. A large bare wall in an open, airy room can handle a large-scale tapestry that would overpower a smaller room.
• If the room has busy patterns in the upholstery or carpet, choose strikingly simple tapestries. There are some beautiful series that feature a single flower on a plain background with a harmonizing border, for instance.
• For an unusual accent in a stairwell, hang a narrow tapestry on the facing wall. Choose one with colors that blend the tones used on both floors. 

Decorating with woven tapestries is a tradition that goes back to Egyptian times, but modern tapestries have given a new twist to the tradition that simply makes them timeless!

A tapestry can create a whole new look

If your walls are looking a little stark or a room needs sprucing up, then try adding a tapestry or wall hanging. A tapestry is a great way of dressing up a room and they are available on line at a reasonable cost. A tapestry can become the focal point of any room.

The variety of tapestry scenes available is extensive from traditional landscape scenes all the way to bold and dramatic geometric designs. For an extra touch of class you can purchase tapestries that are reproductions of an historical print or painting.

You can purchase tapestries and wall art for children’s rooms, bedrooms, lounge areas and even kitchens. They look best on large walls otherwise they can tend to take over a room. If this is the affect you are after, however, then by all means go ahead. There are no restrictions on home design.

For the best quality you can’t go past a hand-woven tapestry, however, if you have a limited budget then a machine-woven tapestry will create the same result in terms of your home décor.

Tapestries are not only made for your walls. You can also purchase tapestries as throw rugs, table runners and pillows. Tapestry fabric adds a touch of elegance to any room.

A tapestry can create a whole new look

In medieval times, tapestry wall hangings were a sign of wealth and influence. They involved the work of many hands, and weeks or even months to complete. The tapestry was more than a decorative wall hanging. They were often commissioned by wealthy lords to commemorate a special event, or a family crest or theme.

Hung on cold stone walls, they provided warmth, covered windows and openings to the outdoors, and afforded privacy. Some of the most famous pieces of art, particularly textile art, date from those years. Many of those are available as reproductions for your home.

What’s the difference between a tapestry wall hanging and an embroidered one? Tapestry is a weaving technique. The colors that create the pattern, picture or design are a part of the fabric itself rather than being added on to it with stitches after the material is finished.

In a medieval tapestry wall hanging, the colored yarns or threads are not carried all the way through the width of the fabric. Instead, they are discontinued where the color ends. To prevent ‘splitting’ of colors—where two different hues are beside each other—weavers developed a number of different ways to splice and enclose the loose ends of the threads. These different kinds of joins are one way to tell what school of design an original tapestry wall hanging is from.
 
Among the most famous tapestries are several from France in the Middle Ages. These include the Bayeaux tapestry, which is said to have been commissioned by the Bishop Odo to commemorate his brother’s triumph in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. There is a mild irony to the Bayeaux tapestry being known as one of the most famous in history. In actuality, the Bayeaux ‘tapestry’ is really an embroidered wall hanging. The designs and pictures used in it are embroidered in laid and couching stitches rather than being woven into the tapestry wall hanging itself.
 
Other famous tapestries include the Lady and Unicorn tapestries that are widely copied for contemporary tapestry wall hangings, posters, notebooks and more. Tapestry is far from a dead art, though. The art of weaving tapestry wall hangings is carried on throughout the world by artisans working in many countries. Today’s designs may use traditional themes like hunting, florals or still life’s, or they may depart from tradition with vivid abstracts and simple designs. No matter what the theme, a tapestry wall hanging can bring a touch of regality to a bare wall in your home.

Shop online for Tibetan, oriental and Persian rugs and save

Enhance your decor with a beautifully designed elegant Oriental, Persian or Tibetan rug. The quality and style of these hand made area rugs makes them a truly beautiful addition to any home.

Tibetan rugs are hand woven from wool and silk into a variety of patterns including geometric and abstract designs as well as the more traditional religious symbols of Buddhism. Some of the more popular designs for Tibetan rugs are flowers, trees, tigers and of course mythological dragons which are very popular as they symbolize power and strength.

The soft colors of the Tibetan area rug can be used to create a stunning effect in a modern home that has been decorated with modern styled glass and chrome furniture, although a Tibetan rug is equally effective when placed on wooden polished floors where more traditional furniture has been used.

Oriental rugs from Asia are available in modern or traditional designs and look spectacular on a polished hardwood floor or tiles. You can purchase beautiful oriental rugs that have been hand knotted in high quality silk or New Zealand wool.

Oriental rugs are generally dyed using ancient time tested vegetable dyeing process. Antique oriental rugs are expensive but with the proper care, they will retain their color and last for many years. Hand made classic rugs from Persia add elegance and charm to the home and the beautiful designs will enhance the look of any room.

Contemporary Persian rugs are made from natural or synthetic fibers, and although wool, cotton and silk are more durable than imitation synthetic materials they tend to also be more expensive. However, a Persian rug in either synthetic or natural fibers will look beautiful as part of your home decor.When shopping for a rug for your home, some of the things you may like to consider are:

• the materials used,
• knots per square inch (kpsi),
• price,
• and of course the color and design will play a big part in your decision.

A wall hanging or tapestry can create a whole new look to a room

Wall hangings, tapestries and wall art will brighten and enhance a drab and lifeless area adding personality and style to any room. Wall art can be as low-priced or as expensive as fits your budget. Remember that expensive doesn’t always mean that you will necessarily create a better effect.

Wall hangings and tapestries are manufactured in an extensive number of styles, colors and designs which will suit a wide variety of decors and interior designs. Traditional tapestries with country scenes or reproductions of classic paintings certainly add a touch of class to any room. However, if you have a contemporary style home, then your home will also suit the bolder, geometric designs and more modern scenes that are widely available nowadays.

A wall hanging as the focal point of a themed room will really establish the atmosphere of the room. An African theme, Egyptian theme or animal theme can easily be accommodated with an attractive wall hanging or tapestry to suit.

A children’s room can be brightened with a bright and beautiful wall hanging that can also be educational. Wall hangings including the ABC’s; calendars to enable children to learn the months, days and years; and height charts to track your child’s growth are inexpensive but really do add to the look and feel of the room.

Teenagers generally prefer pop art and wall art posters, and these are readily available online. As your teenager will probably change their view of the world many times, you are well advised to purchase inexpensive wall art so that it can be changed on a regular basis.