DEAR GAIL: I’ve recently received two beautiful, handmade queen-size quilts. I would like to display them in my bedroom, but don’t have room for a traditional quilt rack. I was thinking of displaying them on the wall, hanging them similar to towels on oversized bars. Will this work, or do you have any other suggestions? Hali B.
DEAR HALI: What a wonderful gift to receive, quilts have become very popular over the last couple years. It is amazing the time, effort and love that is put into making them. The patterns have become so colorful, detailed and intricate that they really are works of art.
Hanging them over oversized bars like towels will definitely work. You can use decorative drapery rods with crystal or brass finials. When using any decorative or wood rod, make sure that the finish will not come off or tarnish over time from the weight of the quilt and any humidity or temperature change in your home.
You can also display one or both on the walls if you have room. Do not place any nails, tacks or screws into the quilt itself to hold it. I know that this may sound like common sense, but I’ve seen it done. Instead sew a pocket onto the back and then hang from a decorative rod. Make sure the rod supports the entire length of the quilt and never hang just from the corners. Quilts look wonderful when hung behind a bed as a headboard.
Other ways to display them by hanging when you have more than one is to purchase an antique ladder. Lean it against the wall and hang one over each step. Hang them over a landing staircase railing, an open armoire door, arm chair or sofa. A gently draped quilt gives a cozy and inviting feel to any room, especially with the cooler months coming up.
Some other decorative ways to display your quilts is to use as a table skirt, but protect it with a glass top. Use small clear rubber pads between the quilt and the glass to get air flow. You’ll also want to reposition the quilt to keep permanent creases from forming. If you have a large dining room table, drape your quilt over it as a table cloth.
You can also fold them and place at the end of the bed, on top of a chest, or inside a bookcase. If you have a stack of them place them in a curio, corner of the room or in an antique wagon. When folding quilts, you’ll want to insert acid-free tissue paper into the folds to pad them and refold it regularly to avoid hard fold lines and disintegration
With larger quilts and not enough room to display them, fold them so that the section of the quilt that you want to display is shown. Consider only showcasing one at a time and rotating how you display them.
Of course the most popular method of displaying a quilt is on a bed.
No matter how you decided to display them, just be careful to make sure that they are not exposed to direct sunlight through your windows. As I’m sure you are aware, our Las Vegas sun can be very damaging to fabrics. Also be careful of continued direct artificial light as it can also fade the fabrics. If you are placing them over furniture, make sure that they are moved before sitting otherwise the stitching can break with use.