Choosing Fabric Wall Hangings
Weaving Through the Options
Fabric wall hangings have been a favorite designer trick for years. So why is the popularity booming now? Modern technology is bringing richer, more vivid colors and softer weave patterns within reach of any budget. Imported tapestries that were once only for the rich can now replace your rock - and - roll posters. Let's follow that thread.
Thanks to modern pigments and materials, you get more vivid colors and patterns to choose from. Don't go crazy. With patterns, contrasting with what you already have creates interest. If your wall, windows and trim already look busy, add simpler patterns like florals first to calm and balance your room. If you're staring at a blank, blah wall, then by all means go nuts. A good rule of thumb: geometric patterns add energy, as do fire colors like red, orange and yellow. Earth tones and flowing, watery shapes including vines and waves create peace. Next, decide whether you want to mix or match. If a secondary color in the tapestry wall hanging matches your wall color, it'll pop out and help the fabric wall art fit in. Avoid matching the main colors of the wall hanging to the wall color unless your goal is subtlety. Take a photo of your wall and hold it up to your computer while you browse our selection. You'll know right away when you have a good color match. |  |
Texture Painting
Some fabric wall hangings are richly textured, with a thick nap or sculpted weave. These provide a great contrast to otherwise flat walls, especially drywall. Fabric wall art with a finer, smoother weave looks especially good on textured walls like stucco or brick. You'll create interest and depth when you choose a texture that contrasts the wall texture you have.
The same goes for finish. Flat - finish walls usually benefit from hanging wall tapestries that have a shimmer or gloss. Some include gold and silver thread that is all the more dramatic against a flat background. Glossy walls usually need softer, more matte - looking fabrics for balance. As always, this is a guide, not a law.
Sounds Beautiful
How noisy is your room? A little activity is energizing, but too much feels tense. Textured fabric wall art sucks up a lot of sound, calming a busy room or office, especially the shrill tones. To remove more low - frequency noise, add some sound treatment behind the wall art. Thick fabric wall art makes a huge difference in the noise level of any room. Don't go overboard. A dead - sounding room can feel claustrophobic.
How ya Hangin'?
If you have a lot of area to decorate, a large wall tapestry may be dynamic and interesting on its own. Also consider smaller pieces gathered in groupings. Geometric patterns look especially good in sets. Lots of florals can look busy, but a floral or two looks intriguing when mixed in with simpler patterns.
Normally it's best to avoid precise alignments. It's just too hard to get it perfect, and it looks rough if you don't. A more random alignment suits the softer nature of fabric wall art, and it's easier to pull off.
Tapestry wall art can be heavy, so as with any wall art style, hang with care. Try to anchor into a wall stud, or as close to one as possible. If you're not sure, knock on the wall or tap it lightly with a hammer. If it booms like a drum, you're over a hollow spot, which is shaky ground. Hanging fabric art is great for covering up wall damage, but you don't want to make any new holes in the process.
When you consider the room's color, finish and "energy," you'll find that choosing the right fabric wall hanging is easy!
