Timeless Tapestries

To me, tapestries will always be a timeless option for artistic décor. Lately, you may have noticed that tapestries are popping up everywhere. Pottery Barn, Fabricut fabrics, and Ruggables have embraced the tapestry trend. Throughout my interior design career, I have had a love-affair with tapestries. It all began when I learned about the beginnings of hand-woven tapestries in Europe in college.

A Brief History of Tapestries

In the Middle Ages, scenes of foliage, fauna, scenery, and sometimes biblical stories decorated their rooms with beautiful tapestries. Additionally, they also had a more practical use when they were mounted on the cold castle walls to insulate them. Woven of dyed wool yarns, these tapestries were passed on for generations. Then, in the late 1800’s, William Morris was widely known for his woven tapestries. Further, in the 1990’s, the interior design trends of Tuscan and European styles dominated residential architecture and the design industry. Following that trend, tapestries became sought-after wall décor items. These wall hangings complimented carved mantels, mirrors and the traditional landscape paintings and décor. The newer woven wool tapestries were made by a handful of companies in France, and others were machine-made in polyester and cotton.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the resurgence of tapestries is apparent in home décor of all styles. One reason is that layered, unframed wall hangings are a warm contrast to a minimal, contemporary room- like this tall foyer designed by Shea McGee @Studio McGee:

Tapestries do not have to just be hung, though. In this contemporary bedroom below from Pottery Barn, their Greenwood tapestry motif is printed on fabric and used as a duvet cover:

In our upstairs sitting room, I chose a pair of plump pillows in a tapestry motif for the vintage French daybed. The depth of color and foliage design adds a richness to the other checkered fabrics.

My Favorite Tapestry Tips

• Since it will hang freely at the bottom, look for a thick woven texture. Therefore, a wool blend or another fiber similar to wool will work best. This close-up a portion of a tapestry almost looks like hand petit point.

• Hanging a tapestry with individual decorative hooks or drapery medallions is an easy way to hang your selection. It especially works well on a curved stairway.

• Finding a tapestry can be tricky if you want to find one that is unique. One-of-a-kind tapestries is found at local vintage and antique shops, on eBay, Etsy, and other on-line shopping sources.

 

I hope that next time you are selecting art pieces for your home or project- you consider the sometimes trendy, but always timeless, tapestry!