Hanging Carpets from Walls Chic or Tacky?

[CyberCharon]

My friend recently brought me along for a visit to his cousin in East LA and I was somewhat surprised to see she had this gorgeous Oriental carpet (I'm assuming - I'm no expert) but instead of having it on the ground in the den, it was mounted on the wall. I've seen this in movies, but never in person. I have an antique rug that I've kept on the floor for years but now I'm considering moving it to my wall. But is that considered a better presentation of a luxury rug or is it seen as a tacky move? My friend's cousin is Russian and I guess there's this tendency in Russian culture to hang luxury carpets from the walls, so, as someone who isn't Russian, is that weird? I know aesthetics can be personal but there are decorating moves that are universally tacky.

 

[Subyman]

Does your friend have a rug on the wall or is the wall actually carpeted? I've seen carpeted walls and they are horrific. A decorative rug (or quilt even) could easily be considered a work of art. Displaying it on the wall would be fine IMO as long as it is presented properly.

 

[zinfamous]

that's a rug, not a carpet. By the way, this is very popular in Russia. ...lol at 3rd image

I don't know if it has to do with trying to keep warm during those winters and being low on government-issue heat all those years or what...but it's weird.

oh, I didn't read all of your post that already addressed this. Yes, so that person is Russian, so it is the only reason they are doing this.

Don't do it.

 

[lxskllr]

It /can/ look good, but I've never lived anywhere it would have. I think it takes a room with lots of wood, or maybe a castle :^D

It is a shame to put some rugs on the floor. My boss has one he got at an auction for $7k. He had it appraised for $30k. It's now under his daughter's table in a country kitchen. Looks nice of course, but it's gonna get fucked up there. Beautiful rug.

 

[CyberCharon]

Yeah, just to clarify, the full wall wasn't carpeted - it was just like a rug mounted to the wall. It seems like it's distinctive to Russian culture. Thanks for the responses, they've helped!

 

[FeuerFrei]

Don't think there's anything wrong with tapestries depicting some scene. You can cover a lot of empty boring wall with those. But straight up rugs that belong on a floor is odd. Seems like it originated in hunting lodges, or mountain cabins where you hang the bearskin rug on the wall with your drying pelts.

Tacky would be some Indian mandala/new age/ fractal/ hippy-esque/tribal wall hanging.

Sometimes people do this to cancel sound reverbs. People serious about music/home theater.

 

[zinfamous]

Don't think there's anything wrong with tapestries depicting some scene. You can cover a lot of empty boring wall with those. But straight up rugs that belong on a floor is odd. Seems like it originated in hunting lodges, or mountain cabins where you hang the bearskin rug on the wall with your drying pelts.

Tacky would be some Indian mandala/new age/ fractal/ hippy-esque/tribal wall hanging.

Sometimes people do this to cancel sound reverbs. People serious about music/home theater.

Don't forget Velvet Elvis.

 

[Brainonska511]

Looks nice of course, but it's gonna get fucked up there. Beautiful rug.

I bet it really ties the room together.

I feel like for a rug to work on a wall, you'd have to have a pretty big wall and maybe a fairly open room.