Incorporating textiles into your home is an easy way to add a touch of elegance to your interior design. More so, unique pieces can introduce color in a way that your home has never seen before and serve as a focal point that guests are sure to ask about. There are many methods of creating textiles from knitting to weaving. However, one thing remains true: textiles are sure to bring beauty to any space.
If you are looking to add textiles to your home, we’re here to help. We reached out to experts across North America, from West Chester, PA to Fernie, BC, to give us their best tips. From decorating your walls with a nordic rya rug to having a custom piece created, keep reading to see what they had to say.
1) Bring comfort to your home with woven art
The time-honored, meditative process of weaving induces a calm tranquility that is also invigorating – generating a series of energies that are transmitted from the maker into the artwork and projected outward. Colors, textures, materials, imagery, composition, and design elements are meant to resonate with our own personalities, make our hearts sing, and be the star of every décor. – Pamela Palma Designs
2) Avoid placing textiles in direct sunlight
Whether it’s a handmade weaving, felted sculpture, or colorful basket, homeowners should be aware that textile fibers can fade in direct sunlight. Not all colors are created equal or lightfast (how well a color holds up under sunlight) and your grandmother’s quilt may easily fade in the front bay window with enough exposure. Collectors can be assured their textile treasure will stay vibrant and true with a little decorating forethought. – Shana Kohnstamm
3) Hang up your textiles for visual interest but also practical use
Textiles on walls are a great way to add interest but they also have a practical use of insulating and soundproofing.. Hanging a textile on the wall can be a statement and provide that extra bit of coziness in living areas and the bedroom. There are some wonderful artists working in contemporary textiles so visit your local art and design museums for inspiration. – Mardi Nowak
4) Make sure to choose durable materials
When choosing the materials for a textile project in your home, you’ll want to consider the wear and tear your finished project will receive. For example, a throw blanket will probably be touched, snuggled, and washed on a regular basis, so you’ll want to use a durable yarn or material that doesn’t pill or fray. But a project such as a wall hanging, which would receive little to no wear-and-tear, can be made with more intricate or delicate materials. – Em’s Fiber Arts
5) Drape your quilt over ladders, banisters, or chairs
Whether antique or newly made, consider displaying your quilts draped over the rungs of antique ladders, over the top of a banister, or across the arm of a chair to add a splash of color to any area. Quilts can add a cozy feel to any room or make a dramatic statement through their geometric patterns and colors. – Kimberly Einmo
6) Hang your quilt up on the wall
Hanging a quilt on the wall is a wonderful way to fill up a large space and add a colorful work of art. Keep in mind that textiles, such as fabric in a quilt, fade in the sunlight. To extend the life of the colors in the textiles, avoid placing or hanging them in direct sunlight. – The Quilt Patch by Tori
7) Try an art quilt
Art quilts make beautiful and unique wall displays while adding instant warmth and comfort when incorporating textiles into your home. They help muffle sounds to prevent noise from carrying from one area to another making them ideal in today’s open concept living. People hang quilts to capture textures, patterns, and colors that only fibers can provide. – Sally Manke Fiber Art
8) Purchase furniture made of solid fabric
I recommend buying living room couches and chairs made from solid fabric and adding eye-popping pillows to coordinate with your art, rugs, or painted walls. An added benefit of this decorating choice is that you can also change them to reflect the changing seasons. You can buy pillows from a variety of home dec stores or you can sew them yourself to add a real personal touch to your décor. – Carol Ann Waugh
9) Warm up your walls with a nordic rya rug
Become part of the rya rug revival as this fiber art dating back to Viking days (and a midcentury modern heyday) is now making a comeback. A kit includes all the traditional wool supplies you need to make your own in the size and design you choose. – Byrdcall Studio
10) Include macrame decor to add textiles in your home
Use a large-scale macrame wall hanging as a statement piece in your living room, or utilize macrame plant hangers to brighten your space with plants. Macrame is versatile, so experiment with different colors/textures to best fit your interior decor. – Knots of Art
11) Incorporate crocheted projects for a unique touch
Add a crocheted piece to your home such as a beautiful and cozy granny square blanket that adds a pop of color to your living room or delicate decorations such as wall hangings, baskets, mobiles, or stuffed toys. You can also try the indoor plant trend by styling your vases with crocheted cotton covers. Lastly, consider personalizing your own outdoor space with hand-stitched projects like cushion covers and rugs made with durable outdoor yarn. – Elisa’s Crochet
12) Contrast modern spaces with an antique rug
Don’t just stick to new fabrics in your interiors. Incorporating vintage textiles into your home such as antique rugs will add a point of interest and a little more soul to a room. They work particularly well in modern spaces as a contrast to the sleek hard lines of contemporary homes. – Cup and Cloth
13) Shop local and have a custom piece created
Try to have a color scheme in mind, but be open to various textures and patterns as these will give your space more depth and character. It’s great to support local artists when supplying your home with textile pieces. Many artists will create a custom piece just for you which will make your home decor even more unique. – Distill Creative
14) Display yarn for a pop of color
Yarn isn’t just for scarves and sweaters. Consider taking up tapestry weaving and create gorgeous modern wall art or knit chunky pillows and throws for the sofa. Have a huge yarn stash? Don’t hide it away in plastic bins in the garage – set it out in baskets around your home. You can even make seasonal decor by choosing themed colors to display. – Cast Away Yarn Shop
15) Choose a focal point to center your fabric on
You can arrange the furniture and build around it with different textures, colors, and accessories such as quilted wall hangings, throws, cushions, table runners, and more. These additional elements could make a room more welcoming and cohesive, as well as elevate the feel, mood, and aesthetics of a space. For example, if you would like your living room to be all about lounging around and feeling cozy, center your room around the couch, and introduce quilted throws and cushions to make it more inviting. – The Weekend Quilter
16) Use the “opposites” rule
If your furniture, walls, and floor coverings lean toward neutrals, choose pillows, throws, and wall art with a lot of texture and color. If your interior is bold, accessorize with a quieter palette. Use a similar approach when the seasons change: cold weather is perfect for chunky, snuggly, large-scale items; when the weather warms up, delicate creations cool things down. – Sharon Silverman
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