Wall Tapestry

Establishing a Mood


The size of large art tapestries means they will set the mood of the room rather than compliment it. As a result, you want to select a tapestry that speaks the message you want heard. If you want a romantic setting in the room, perhaps for a bedroom, you should select a tapestry that exudes romance, such as one with a soft floral design or possibly a lover's scene.

Backdrop

If you have a theme to a room in your home, a tapestry may be the way to set the theme and be a backdrop for the other decor items that you are going to use to accent it. For example, if you want a world traveler theme, which is very popular these days, you may wish to choose a tapestry of beautiful old-world maps. This large tapestry of maps will be the backdrop for the items you have collected along your path of world travels.

Art for Beauty


Sometimes you don't really need a good reason to have a wall tapestry in place in your home, you can do it just because. When you choose a piece of art that you are in love with and have to have it, do you stop to think about if it will fit with the rest of your decor? Not likely. Art is special. Art can be it's own entity and will create it's own place in your home. Many wall tapestries are literally works of art. These have been hand crafted thread by thread to create a design or picture that speaks to you in the same way a painting or sculpture might.

No matter your style, decor preferences or home space, there is always room for an art wall tapestry to brighten up the environment, set the mood you want in play, or just to be a thing of beauty that can be admired by all who see it.

Freshen Up on a Budget

1. Color Your Walls

Completely transform your room with just a few gallons of paint. Try a fresh shade, and watch how it transforms all your existing furniture. Paint costs so little compared to how much you get in return.
A grid of nine colorful paintings pops against a deep gray wall.
Poppy Nine Patch Canvas Set
$349
Available at Art.com



Rethink What You Have
It costs nothing to reassess what your room already looks like. Why not move a few pieces around? Sometimes a fresh approach encourages you to get rid of tired pieces that drag your space down. Do you really need everything you see? Does everything have a purpose and a special meaning to you? If not, then give it away. I promise, less is more.
Air Mail print
$40
Available at Art.com
Havanita print
$40
Available at Art.com



Choose Lighting Wisely
Adding dimmers to your space offers dimension and mood at very little cost. Or buy a fresh shade for your lamp. Consider replacing mismatched floor lamps with two, new matching lamps. Place one on either side of your sofa or bed, and see how the room suddenly has cohesive style.



Update Your Pillows
Can't afford a new sofa? There are dozens of affordable, fabulous pillows that are one of a kind and will zip up your space instantaneously.
Golden Horizon print
$25
Available at Art.com


Sleep In Style
Does your bedroom need a lift? Give it an instant update. Try buying just a new headboard with a unique fabric or pattern. Invest in a great set of sheets, complete with shams. Choose a bold pattern that will define your room, and don't be afraid to mix and match.
Calla Lilies framed print
$310
Available at Art.com



Try a Mirror
Can't afford art? You can find unique mirrors at discount stores or vintage shops that, when grouped together, will bring elegance and personality to even the smallest of spaces.



Recover and Renew
Can't afford a new chair? Give your existing one a makeover by recovering it in a new pattern. Get a little daring and see how a simple chair can be completely transformed.

Architectural Art

Select Hangable Object

Search architectural salvage, flea markets and thrift stores for an interesting item, keeping in mind that lighter-weight choices with flat backs will be the easiest ones to hang. Shown above is a rustic, planked door. It gives a calming conversational focal point to this room.

Materials Needed:

• item you wish to display
• flat 1x3 MDF trim
• nail gun and nails
• drill
• screws
• level
• tape measure
• note pad and pencil
• painters' tape
• wallpaper paste
• wallpaper or fabric
• caulk gun
• paintable caulk
• spackle and putty knife
• medium-grit sanding block
• paintbrush
• semi-gloss paint
• chop saw
• damp cloth
• smoothing tool
• utility knife or scissors
• hanging hardware (screw eyes, wall anchors, picture wire, D-rings, etc.)

Measure and Mark Display Area

Using tape measure, measure object and add three to five inches on all sides. Transfer these dimensions to wall with pencil. Further define area by applying painters' tape to wall just outside pencil marks.

Add Wallpaper or Fabric

Cut fabric or wallpaper two inches larger than measurements. Create a backdrop for object by adding wallpaper paste to wall inside taped-off area, pressing precut wallpaper or fabric in place, smoothing with smoothing tool, then cutting away excess with scissors or utility knife.

Cut and Paint Trim

Using a chop saw, cut trim to size, mitering each corner. Lightly sand mitered edges with sanding block. Paint cut trim with two coats of semi-gloss paint, in same color as walls.

Install Trim

Place trim along outside edge of painters' tape and attach trim to wall with nail gun or drill and screws. Once all pieces are installed, fill nail or screw holes with spackle using putty knife. Caulk inside and outside edges of trim with caulk gun. After spackle and caulk have dried, lightly sand spackled areas, then paint finish coat using paintbrush.

Attach Hanging Hardware

Measure, then mark the wall where object will hang. Attach hardware, such as a nail, screw or anchor, if needed, to wall. Ready object for hanging by adding screw eyes or D-rings and picture wire to back of object. Once hardware is secure, hang object on wall.