5 Ways to Style Rugs on the Walls
Hand-knotted rugs are an art form that has spanned a thousand years. The permutations of this human endeavor have resulted in beautiful compositions that deserve to be shared with everyone who is in the vicinity.
Yet, often, there's a nagging feeling that, as these works of art lie underfoot, not immediately visible to the naked eye, and accumulating dust and detritus from people and their pets, we are wasting their potential.
Parallely, there have been people throughout history who have had the same nagging feeling.
To avoid these problems, they simply affixed their rugs onto the walls of their homes, chalets, and castles. From this process of gradual innovation emerged French arrases, Japanese tsuzures, and the many other wall-hung tapestries of the world that have enriched and enlivened the interiors of our living spaces.
And we continue to do this into the present day. We keep our intricate, expensive rugs in pristine condition by affixing them to the vertical plane of the house. In this post, we present 5 ways to style these vertically-hung rugs.
1. Establish Entryway Flair
The stage is set at the entrance. You establish the lines, colour palette, textures, and mood as soon as people enter the house. Being an in-relief, highly textured decor element, a hand-knotted rug has the ability to draw the attention of the guest in one fell swoop right here.
Rugs, in general, adhere to the maximalist decor philosophy. The intricate elements are meant to keep the eyes busy. They add dimension and depth to the space. If you adorn the wall directly opposite your main door using a rug with a saturated and sophisticated design, you can be certain that it will make the statement you want it to make.
2. Look for Empty Space, Fill it in
Wall-hung rugs perform best when given plenty of space to work with. In general, hanging a rug on the walls of living rooms and bedrooms with stark walls can give them that rare, cozy feeling. The soft, textured, three-dimensionality of the rug covers the emptiness of the space.
A double-volume living room (ones with mezzanines) can be the ideal place to maximize the scale of your rug's art. Essentially, the rug becomes a focal point, similar to a painting on a wall. The wall behind a bed is also a good place to make a statement, as it adds to the coziness factor while also acting as a soft "headboard." Rugs not only warm and soften the look of the room, but they also act as noise absorbers.
3. Use Lighting Wisely
One important fact to note is that sunlight has a negative impact on the dyes and hues in your rug. Please don't make the mistake of displaying your rug directly opposite a large window in your room. Sunlight should be kept to a minimum on the surface, and it should be filtered and reflected toward the rug from as far away as possible.
Accent lighting should be used instead: place spotlights, track lights, and sconces above and below your wall-hung rug. This will draw attention to the art piece while also giving your space a sophisticated identity. The atmosphere created by the subtle light tone and textile pattern is worth the trouble.
4. Don’t Nail, Opt for Rods & Bars
When working with woolen hand-knotted rugs, nails are not recommended. Wool-made rugs are typically heavy, and, as they sag under their own weight, will tear at the pile around the nail. This is antithetical to the idea of preserving the rug on the wall. You don’t want to ruin these valuable heirlooms!
Instead, suspend your hand-knotted rugs on curtain rods, bars, or PVC pipes that are fitted and screwed directly into the wall. This will leave some space between the rug and wall, allowing you to vacuum clean behind it easily. If you want the rug to have a flushed appearance on your wall, you may have to try constructions that use casing, wooden boards, and other types of backing, but it is preferable if you consult with experts to do this.
5. Mix & Match Themes
You do not have to always match your rug themes to the room’s themes all the time. If you have a good eye for interior aesthetics, your rugs can make a statement even with unusual combinations. Despite their differences, you could pair a transitional floral-foliate damask with a minimalist-themed room just to bring out the rug. You never know how good it could look until you put it to the test!
If your rug is of a rustic theme, you could pick a custom-made rod that looks like a branch to emphasize the theme even more. Dark tones can clash with neutral tones, and vice-versa. The possibilities are endless! If, in case, your eye isn’t as attuned to these nuances as you hope , you can always ask a consultant steeped in the visual arts. You can find several of us at Cocoon Fine Rugs. We are happy to serve your immediate needs!