European wall tapestries: a unique choice for home decor

For centuries many different cultures have used tapestries and textiles to decorate their buildings, churches, and homes. Today that trend has continued. Tapestry wall hangings are one of the most accomplished and durable textile-based art forms and come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, giving the tapestry a true historical view.

In modern times tapestries have become a very popular element of home decor and they are being used in a variety of interesting and unique ways. Any elegant styles from floral and landscapes to medieval, impressionist and modern art can be used to create a tapestry that's truly a work of art, providing the weaver has the skill to do so. These add an entirely unique dimension to this traditional form of art, while many interior decorators and art enthusiasts enjoy the many benefits of tapestry art.

Traditional tapestry wall hangings, particularly those from Medieval times, were produced from wool. This provided a strong fabric for applying many dyes and pigments as well as the added durability and maintenance. Wool tapestries when mixed with synthetic polymers have the distinct advantage of preserving the traditional warmth of standard wool tapestries. The basic use of natural materials has remained a staple with tapestry weaving, even with present day weavers.

The modern wall tapestry makes the most of varying blends of fibers, using new and improved fibers to reproduce classical art works and famous tapestries from the past. With the improvements made to pigments and dyes, we can buy faithful reproductions of centuries-old tapestry designs like those found in many European museums.

Another popular choice is the use of chenille for modern tapestry wall hangings, mainly because it is a flexible material that is soft and adaptable. It can be used in a broad range of home decor settings, including wall tapestries, cushions and tapestry throws. When decorating your home chenille tapestries can add an elegantly soft touch, that adds warmth and versatility to any decorative setting.

A chenille piece can often be hung as a wall hanging and used as a throw, with all the range of design and color options you find in traditional wall tapestries. However the real popularity of chenille tapestries comes from the fact that they can make the room feel cozy and comfortable.

If a room is small and needs something to make it feel less cramped, consider choosing a tapestry that will bring a breath of fresh air into your living space.Some spaces can present a decorating challenge, such as an office or fairly large room. Many forms of high quality art tapestries can aide the home decor enthusiast and open a window to the past, expand living space visually, create the basis for a theme, add color and give your living space individuality, personality and charm.

Furnishings that are otherwise bland will assume character when complimented with a beautiful tapestry. Choosing a tapestry and using it creatively can minimize and solve a decorating problem by presenting a flash of color or opening a window to another time or place. With a vast range now available it is easy to find a wall tapestry that will provide you with many years of viewing enjoyment.

If a room is small and needs something to make it feel less cramped, consider choosing a tapestry that will bring a breath of fresh air into your living space. This could be a city, land, seascape or a traditional tapestry design such as Medieval. Choosing a horizontal tapestry will help add length to a room or try opening a space by choosing a tapestry with doorways and windows. These types of tapestries give an illusion of added space by leading the eye of the viewer outward.

If your room is large, scale it down by hanging a series of smaller tapestries together. This creates the illusion of a smaller space and can bring a large, blank wall down in size. Hanging small tapestries together will also add warmth to your room. When creating this illusion be sure to choose tapestries of a similar theme and style.

European Wall tapestries, often rich in history, can transport us to another time and place. They encourage reflective and tranquil moments, enlighten the human spirit and are great subjects of conversation. They also elevate our decorative needs, add charm and warmth to our homes and are soothing to the soul.

All of these qualities have made wall tapestries a popular choice amongst art lovers for centuries. Today with modern textiles and fabrics and centuries of tradition, art and design behind them many are finding wall tapestries as charming, versatile and beautiful as ever. A tapestry wall hanging is an heirloom that can be past down for generations.

About the Author:
Sean Russell - Owner and Operator of Designer Wall Tapestries European Decor