For that cosy touch to a kitchen, or a homely feel to an entranceway, embroidery is a subtle but classic artform that can add a personal touch to your home. These tips and tricks will help you showcase your embroidery, be that by your own hand or a spectacular find that you want to show off.

Best Places to Showcase Embroidery

When adding a personal zing to your own home, there are some key places to draw attention to a framed embroidered artwork. The first thing to consider is how light falls on the walls in your house that are available to hang picture frames. Light exposure will eventually fade the rich colours of embroidered works, so consider a wall that gets moderate sunlight or is in the shade.

If you have a few pieces, and you feel they flow together, then create a feature wall to draw attention to each artwork as a collection and turn even smaller pieces into a talking point. Try to compliment the softer nature of embroidery floss with soft upholstery and rustic furnishings. Alternatively, if you have more contemporary furniture, then use your embroidery as a daring contrast to the room’s style.

Also, consider how you frame your embroidered fabric: a classic wooden frame, a distressed painted frame or perhaps something else? The Frame does not need to match the main colours in the art, but it should draw the eye to the embroidery.


Starting Your Own Embroidery

When considering undertaking your first embroidery project, you can either purchase a fabric that is pre-embroidered, stitch your own fabric by hand or purchase a sewing machine. These sewing machines are quite specialized, such as embroidery machines, but can be the best choice for big projects, such as wedding table runners or multiple, repetitive projects such as initialling uniforms.

If you have never tried an embroidery project before, then start small and enjoy the rewards of finishing a project, such as initialling a handkerchief or a pillowcase, and then building up to the more ambitious embroidery designs. These add small touches to your decor and also prevent laundry mix-ups.

Ideas for Embroidered Fabrics Already in your Home

You can buy fabrics to embroider onto, but there are already plenty of fabrics in your own home that you can use. Whichever fabric you use, remember that there are things to consider when choosing a fabric, such as the types of thread you use.
Oldschool Fabrics

Traditional fabrics to embroider include bath towels and bed linens. A unique stitch can be handy on beach towels that could get mixed up in the excitement of sea, sand and sun. Add an extra special touch to a baby or child’s blanket for a piece that can be loved and cherished forever. To complete the ambiance for an infant, here are five tips on decorating your child’s room.


Suppose you have a pet that enjoys wearing a neckerchief. In that case, an embroidered name is a charming addition to this fashion statement and can even include useful information like a phone number if they get lost.

The table is a classic setting for embroidered work to shine as it compliments the comforting setting of home-cooked food. Placemats can turn charming with some embroidery and table runners are a quick way to add a layer of visual interest to any tablecloth. And don’t forget the cooking apron.

Unusual Fabrics

Contemporary embroidery is taking the art form traditionally associated with keeping households in running order and transforming it into a daring medium that breaks traditional views. Take a broken or vintage tennis racket, for example; the mesh becomes a foundation to create avant-garde patterns. This can be a stunning way of breathing value back into broken rackets.

If you are handy with a drill, consider creating regular holes in a metal or wooden surface, such as the box lid or the side of a leaky watering can. These tough textures contrast beautifully with soft embroidery floss and can turn defunct items into art statements.

Embroidery is a rewarding hobby that you can cherish your whole life, and create extra details in your home that make it truly yours.