by Margaret Telsch-Williams

Created on: January 31, 2009

A nicely decorated house is one that reflects the personality and style of the owner. The same is true for quilts. Different quilts give off different feelings. Some quilts look backward and resemble relics of the past while others clearly strut their stuff in the modern age. When it comes to decorating your home with quilts go with what works for you, in color and in style. Once you have a collection you are ready to display, whether they are purchased or handmade, there are several different ways to show them off.

For starters, place your favorite quilt in a central area so others can see it. You can do this by hanging it on the wall (there are all kinds of sashes and brackets for this) either by itself or above your sofa. Another choice would be to let it hang, front and center, on a decorative quilt rack or you may choose to drape it over a side chair or trunk. Keep in mind that quilts shouldn't be displayed where they will be in contact with direct sunlight because the colors may fade. Red fabric today may be brown tomorrow.

Other suggestions include spreading a nice quilt on a guest bed and perhaps placing a second quilt folded at the foot of the bed. If these are prized possessions, however, don't spread them out where Fido may want to sleep or chew on them. Some well loved quilts can even make great rustic tablecloths. If you have several quilts to put out, consider keeping them in a nice stack in a deep cabinet so that samplings of your quilts can be seen without taking up every chair or couch.

In the bedroom, wall hanging sized quilts make great statements when hung over the headboard. A striking quilt at the head of the bed is a great way to enter the room and can be incorporated to match the sheets or other quilts on your bed completing the look of the room for you. Even small wall hangings can be hung in bathrooms, although don't use your best here because of the fluctuation of humidity and temperature a shower or bath can create.

When your home is surrounded in quilts it helps put you and others at ease. There's nothing stuffy or uptight about beautiful fabrics and intricate stitches hanging for everyone to see and admire. Not only will you be able to come home and feel relaxed almost instantly, but so will others that visit. Keeping yourself surrounded in the beauty of quilts is one of the rewards of such a functional piece of art. Only quilts can warm your body and your mind.

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