10 modern wall tapestries to warm up your interior

By Pauline R. Stuckey Last updated Mar 18, 2022

This article is sponsored by Fine Art America. Our partners are handpicked by the My Modern Met team because they represent the very best in design and innovation.

If you’re looking for a way to add warmth and texture to any room in your home, you might want to consider hanging a tapestry of your walls. For centuries this textile art has been used to beautify interiors and now, fine art america makes it easier than ever to place a wall hanging in your home.

As the world’s largest online art marketplace, Fine Art America works with thousands of artists, photographers and graphic designers. This means that whatever your style, you will easily be able to find the right tapestry to suit your needs. Their lightweight microfiber tapestries will give you a museum quality piece of art ready to hang.

In recent years, wall hangings have seen a resurgence. What was once thought of as simple decor for dorm rooms or just bohemian-style ones is now rightly appreciated for its artistry. More than ever, people are using textiles to soften their interiors and bring movement into their homes.

Modern wall hangings make the perfect accent, whether you place them above your bed, over your sofa, or along a curved wall where traditional paintings are difficult to hang. Since they are lightweight, you don’t have to worry about placing anchors in the wall. In fact, there’s so much flexibility in how to hang a tapestry that they work even if you’re renting and don’t want to put holes in the walls. Velcro, nails, and tacks are all options for mounting the flowing fabric. But if you want to make an elegant statement, you can drape it over a rod, use a poster holder, or even frame it.

So where does the tradition of wall tapestries come from? We will have to go back to the Middle Ages to find our answer.

William Morris Acanthus Leaves

History of wall tapestries

While tapestries dating from ancient greeceit was really during the 14th century CE that they have found their place. Popular throughout Europe, the textile pieces were woven by hand on a loom. Although cotton, linen, and wool were popular materials, it was not uncommon to find silver, gold, and silk woven into the most opulent tapestries. These large statement pieces were often hung above thrones and their portability allowed kings and nobles to roll them up and take them to their various residences.

Although Germany and Switzerland hosted the first workshops, the medium has really caught on in 16th century Flanders. There, workshops filled with skilled artists flourished and often collaborated with the best artists of the time to design and produce massive tapestries. A good example is the tapestries designed by Raphael which still hang in the Vatican Museums in Rome, Italy.

Later, in the 19th century, William Morris revived the art of tapestry by creating elegant wall hangings based on designs by Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones.

After World War II there was a shift in which artists took the reins as weavers and began to produce their own designs. Tapestry exhibits started popping up all over Europe and the United States to give value to their work. Art programs began to teach fiber art and by the 1980s it was a popular component of art school.

This continued enthusiasm for tapestries simply proves the lasting legacy that these works of art possess.

Fine Art America Contemporary Wall Tapestry

Journey to the Jungle

modern wall hangings

Now that we’ve learned how wall tapestries can be used around the home and their history, it’s time to find the perfect piece of art for your home. With nearly five million tapestries available, Fine Art America’s selection may seem daunting, but they’ve made it easy. You can filter by collection, subject, shape and color to quickly narrow down your choices and find the perfect tapestry.

To help you get started and give you some inspiration, here are some of our favorite highlights from Fine Art America’s selection of tapestries.