Traditional handmade wool and silk rugs are incredibly versatile decorative and practical home furnishings. Not only are they an art form, offering depth of colour, texture, and intricate, exciting designs, but they are also excellent sound and warmth insulation. Generally, they are also far less expensive than a very large-good quality painting.
Almost any size and type of modern rug, whether round or square, can be displayed on a wall, ranging from small rug fragments and tribal bags and animal decorations to decorative prayer rugs of 5ft x3ft (1.5×0.9) and up to floor rugs of 12ft x9ft (3.74×2.69). The methods vary depending on the weight.
A fragment of an antique rug, or a small decorated tribal item of daily use such as a saddle or salt bag, can be displayed by having a stretcher made. A stretcher is a wooden frame with a suitable fabric stretched over it and stapled on the reverse. The decoration is then sewn directly onto the material to give you a beautiful flat and contrasting wall decoration.
The smallest wool rugs can be fixed flat on the wall using broad-headed carpet tacks, available from any DIY outlet or ironmongers. Using one every six inches, they can be placed between the knots and driven in until not quite flush. This will help avoid flattening or damaging the pile and make the heads easier to find if you need to remove them. This is a cheap and easy method and has the advantage of leaving the rug utterly flat against the wall. If you find that your surface is not entirely vertical and the rug hangs slightly away from it, then fix the tack down the sides and along the bottom if necessary. Sometimes, with an out-of-shape older rug, you will not be able to do this without leaving a crease somewhere, so you must accept the outward hang.
Always display a rug with the pile facing down the wall. To ascertain this, run your hand over the pile, and the rug will feel smoother in the correct direction. “think of an animal’s fur. The rug has been started from this end, and therefore the pile lies this way. The light will be reflected from the yarn surfaces rather than be swallowed by the gaps between them, and you will get the better colours and clarity of pattern. If you have a graphic design, it should have been woven, so the design is showing in the correct pile direction.
However, if you have a silk rug, or would prefer to hang it without inflicting any physical signs, you should hang using a sleeve sewn onto the reverse of the rug. Before doing this, decide what size of wooden or metal rod the rug needs to avoid it bowing under the weight. Hooks or rings will support this rod at either end and if a large hanging from the middle too, so your wall must be suitable to have the necessary size inserted.
The sleeve can be of heavy linen or cotton and should be affixed, invisible from the front. Therefore, start it at least an inch in from the sides and an inch from the top. The advantage of this method is that the weight of the rug is entirely evenly spread, which avoids tension problems should you want to use it on the floor at a later stage. It also makes it easier to take down for cleaning, painting, or moving home. The only disadvantage is that the rug will hand inwards from the top and not be flat as using tacks or a stretcher. If in doubt about the process, ask your local rug retailer, or curtain maker, to do it for you.
