The thing that I love most about quilts is that they’re a balance of function and frou frou… both practical and pretty. They keep you warm on chilly nights, AND they also look beautiful. My husband is all about function; he doesn’t care if something looks awful. I’m more concerned with frou frou, even if the functionality is inconvenient or impractical. Somehow, we’ve managed to blend our preferences within the home, and quilts are a perfect example of this harmony… Function & Frou Frou.
This Christmas vintage vignette looks even prettier paired with a quilt of matching colors.
My husband’s Grandma Mamie was a wonderful quilt maker. In fact, she designed a special quilt just for him, a scales of justice design to celebrate his law degree. Her quilts were the first to be displayed in our home. We’ve since added to the collection and have discovered all kinds of ways to incorporate quilts into our home’s decor.
This is one of Grandma Mamie’s beautiful quilts designed by her as a gift to my husband. Isn’t it a work of heart!
At Comfy Lane Cottage, quilts are not only a work of heart; they are a work of art and worthy to be displayed. Here are 9 ways that we enjoy displaying our growing collection of quilts with over 60 photos for inspiration.
1. Ladders
We own a 1940’s three room schoolhouse. My husband uses it for his legal office. It’s not in the safest of neighborhoods. We’ve had too many vandalisms over the years. Once I found an old weathered ladder hidden in the bushes by the classroom windows; I assumed it was intended for another break-in. I scooped it up and brought it home. I had my first blanket ladder!
I never met my husband’s Grandma Mamie, but I think we would have gotten along well. She was not afraid of color, as you can see by her vibrant homemade quilt. It’s lovingly displayed on my ladder found in the bushes. Aren’t these quilt colors beautiful?! I enjoy displaying this homemade quilt in our bright colorful sunroom. It makes the room smile.
Some people like to display several quilts on one ladder, each quilt folded and hung from a different rung of the ladder. I prefer to display as much of a quilt as possible, showing off the colors, patterns and details, so I only hang one quilt at a time, usually on an upper rung of the ladder. Both styles are personal preferences and make beautiful quilt displays.
This quilt is from my sons. The ladder is a gift as well. They’re placed in our entry foyer to greet family and friends. A homemade quilt creates a warm and cozy welcome.I move quilts around the house, depending on the season and decor colors. This ladder in the foyer is the perfect example; you never know which quilt will be hanging out to greet you!St. Patrick’s Day calls for a festive green quilt like this one. I like it when the foyer and front porch decor colors match. It all flows together, creating a cozy cottage feel.I raised my four children in a small cozy cottage. The girls shared a room, and the boys shared a room. They slept in bunk beds. I have such fond memories of our close-knit family. This quilt ladder is none other than a repurposed bunkbed ladder. Sentimental decor, like this old ladder, transforms a house into a home.This Christmas tree holds decades of memories, with many of the ornaments homemade or gifted by my children. It seems fitting to have one of Grandma Mamie’s quilts displayed on a ladder next to our Christmas tree.As mentioned, I tend to move things around when decorating. This St. Patrick’s Day display looks especially warm and cozy because of the quilts.A smaller baby quilt looks wonderful displayed on a smaller ladder. Placed across the top of the ladder allows a view of both the worn ladder and happy quilt. For years I have wanted an embroidered state flower quilt. I finally scored one at an estate sale. Spring is the perfect time to display it!At Christmas time I use lots of red when decorating. This old bunkbed ladder gets a red and white quilt, just for the season.See how lovely the red and white quilt looks displayed for Christmas!I have many colorful quilts, and oftentimes, on the reverse side of a quilt will be a solid color, like this soft blue quilt displayed on a ladder in our sunroom. I’m never afraid to display the back side of a quilt when it comes to decorating!
2. Benches
My husband likes his furniture brown. Too much brown is a bit boring for my taste. I balance his brown with splashes of color. We have two old benches, a yellow one in the dining room and a blue one in the living room; they’re definitely colorful. I enjoy displaying quilts over the back of these benches. They look pretty, and on the practical side, they’re handy for comfy covers when it’s cold.
A splash of yellow for Spring! In all honesty, I bought this yellow quilt just for decorating. It’s such a happy color! By folding the quilt into a narrower section, the blue-tiful chippy bench gets to show off.Last Spring, I was smitten with pink and green. I was inspired by the beautiful quilt hanging over our dining table bench. I folded it wider to cover the entire back of the yellow bench. It all looked so soft and pretty!Quilted pillow shams, like this red and white one, also look beautiful hanging over the back of a bench. The matching quilt hangs over our foyer stair railing. I like it when a home flows from room to room. Quilts can help accomplish this. A red quilt looks just right displayed with a bit of patriotic decor.This is the same red quilt displayed for Christmas time. In a colorful room with all kinds of patterns and decorations, a solid colored quilt gives the eyes a place to rest.No need to move this red quilt after Christmas; Valentine’s Day requires lots of red decor!What catches your eye first? For me, the yellow quilt and blue bench just pop!This soft blue quilt, the reverse side of a star patterned quilt, helps to balance the busy paper that’s lining the back of our corner shelf. The yellow bench adorned with this blue quilt creates a warm and inviting spot for gathering around the table.A romantic alfresco anniversary dinner! Grandma Mamie’s blue star quilt adds country charm to an old wooden bench. Placing the quilt at an angle allows the bench to be seen as well.Doesn’t the quilt displayed across the back of an outdoor bench add to the coziness of this outdoor summer setting?!Orange ya glad I have an old orange quilt?!!! Orange and blue are a bold color combination for Fall. This quilt is actually hot pink on the other side. The quilt was used by my husband as a moving pad in his bachelor days…. till I rescued it!Orange, pink, and yellow… another bold Fall color combination! Have you noticed that I enjoy playing with color combinations when I decorate?!!!!A red quilt folded over our yellow dining bench matches the red apples with their yellow spots. This has a country cottage feel that I adore.
3. Couches
My first big girl quilt that I ever bought was a Better Homes and Garden quilt. I folded it over the back of our couch, where it looked pretty and could also be used for warmth. That quilt out lasted several couches, moved with us to Comfy Lane Cottage, and is now considered vintage. A quilt displayed over the back of a couch is the essence of country charm. Cozy!
Here she is, my first big girl quilt still sitting pretty, folded over the back of our couch!Our bird dog, Katie Mae, really likes this quilt! She agrees that a quilt adds to the coziness of our home.Nala, on the left, rarely sits on top of the quilt but likes to put her head on it. With pets, quilts and slipcovers are wonderful because they can be thrown in the washing machine for easy cleaning.A floral quilt is perfect to usher in the Spring season. This quilt is an estate sale find. It looks so charming and cozy displayed on our living room couchI couldn’t resist another picture with our family dog, Katie Mae. She really likes this comfy cozy spot!By changing the quilts and throws, our living room is transformed from Spring into Summer. Layering quilts on the back of the couch adds interest and color to a neutral slipcover used as a backdrop. This photo is older, but it shows how a pretty quilt can help to hide an ugly brown couch.We use our sunroom much like a family room. It currently has a cabin vibe with the old 50’s fridge. After our bird dog ripped up this couch, we moved it to the sunroom and covered it well with a slipcover, quilts and pillows. No would ever guess that this soft couch’s upholstery is full of rips. This is probably the comfiest spot in our home!This old patchwork quilt, folded over the back of the couch, was a gift from a dear friend. She knows how much I like displaying quilts (and pillows). The quilt is so colorful and has a country cabin look.When my kids were growing up, I would use this vintage Waverly slipcover during the summer to decorate for 4th of July. It became a decor tradition. The red and blue quilts protect this special slipcover from the dogs. They also help to break up the bold pattern. We often use our sunroom for larger gatherings, like Easter dinner. The old couch is covered in a blue check slipcover with a dark blue quilt to add to the cozy charm.
4. Chairs
I have an affinity for old chairs, especially those without a mate. I have a difficult time turning my back on a chair cast aside by others. Fortunately, when guests visit, we are never short on chairs! Most of our collected chairs are hand-me-downs and ReStore scores. Nothing makes a chair feel more cozy and at home than by displaying a quilt over the back of a chair or on a chair’s arm.
This vintage, beautifully carved rocker was hand made in El Salvador. My husband had it shipped home decades ago. It is a favorite comfy spot for family movies. The quilt serves double duty, displayed and also used for getting cozy.If you like to rock and read, like I do, then this is the SPOT! The quilt keeps the back of the wooden rocker nice and soft. This is another favorite cozy reading nook in our home. Two quilts are displayed here… one for pretty and one for practical!Changing the quilt displayed on the back of this corner chair, transitions the space from Summer to Fall. Such warm bold colors!Displaying the yellow quilt on this blue chair creates a calm, warm and inviting place to sit for a spell. Behold the power of colors to create that cozy environment!This old tufted desk chair gets a facelift by adding the floral patterned quilt. The quilt isn’t necessary, but it makes this serious side of the room smile.If you have a covered porch, then a quilt looks. cozy as can be paired with a vintage wicker chair. I would never keep my heirloom quilt outside for months, but it’s a lovely way to add country cottage charm for special occasions.On a chilly day, tossing a quilt in the dryer for a few minutes before sitting outside is a soul nurturing experience.
5. Tablecloths
Call me old fashioned, but I really like using tablecloths. They remind me of my grandmother and her country kitchen. I enjoy being creative when it comes to covering and gussying up a tabletop. Using quilts for table coverings during holidays and special occasions is one of my favorites. Plus, utilizing a quilt as a tablecloth creates both a colorful and welcoming country feel. It’s such a beautiful way to display a quilt!
A pinwheel quilt truly makes a statement! With a vintage sewing box for a centerpiece, this is one of my all time favorite Fourth of July tables. This quilt, made by Grandma Mamie, definitely makes its rounds throughout our home, displayed in various ways all year long. It’s just too pretty to store out of sight!This gorgeous quilt is actually the reverse side of Grandma Mamie’s green, blue and yellow quilt. It’s perfect for Fall, and in my opinion, makes this Thanksgiving outdoor table display a showstopper!A simple summer bouquet is all that this table needs to complete its Americana look. There’s no guessing as to which holiday this quilt is displayed; it’s perfectly patriotic!
Now, you’re probably wondering how I keep a quilt from getting stained while using it as a tablecloth. It’s no secret in our house that some things are more for decor than others. We’ve never actually eaten at a table displayed with a special quilt. I might set snack trays and candy dishes on such a table, but not a full sit down meal. I’m too protective of our heirloom quilts. I prefer to use inexpensive vintage and lace tablecloths found at estate sales, even pretty patterned bedsheets, when it comes to a table where we’ll sit down to eat.
6. Railings
The first quilt ever displayed in our home, Comfy Lane Cottage, was over our foyer’s stairwell railing. We live in a raised ranch split-level type house, previously my husband’s bachelor pad. It’s the kind of house where you must choose upon entering to go upstairs or down. The stairs going up lead to our living room. My husband has his entertainment center set up against the railing, so he can get to the backside and multitude of cords through the railings. He was quite proud of this setup… even though the first thing guests saw were a big mess of cords and the backside of our TV, stereo, speakers, computer, etc. I prayed for a compromise of sorts, a way to give him easy access AND look pretty to all who enter our home. Displaying his Grandma Mamie’s quilts over the railing was the perfect solution, creating a curtain to hide the ugly stuff. We were (and still are) both quite happy with the solution… our first union of function and frou frou.
You would never guess about the mess behind this country quilt! This red and white star patterned quilt makes a wonderful foyer display… and curtain!This is the landing at the top of our stairs. Do you notice how the railing quilt matches nicely with the ladder quilt? Both red and white star quilts are displayed for Valentine’s Day.Another quilt made by Grandma Mamie, a star quilt in blue and white! A quilt displayed over the railing adds to the country feel in this Autumn season.
7. Stacks
Did you know that Comfy Lane Cottage is also on Instagram? Instagram is where I learned so much about social media and grew as a blogger and photographer. I have many wonderful friends on IG, as it’s often called, including Frankie from My Junk Life. I love her colorful vintage style! She taught me about stacking linens…. tablecloths, pretty sheets, lace, and QUILTS! Why hide such beautiful quilts in a linen closet when they can be displayed!!!
This outdoor seating area has such a romantic feel! Notice how lace is also displayed in this quilt stack, adding texture and variety. A side table holds a colorful quilt stack set on display. With quilt stacks, I prefer a more casual display with both folds and edges exposed together. Some people prefer only the folded side to be seen, which looks lovely in an open cabinet. See how this quilt stack enhances the warm country feel to our sunroom?!I will often put something on top of a quilt stack, adding to the charm. A crocheted afghan works wonderfully mixed within this stack of quilts.My sunroom quilt stack continually changes from month to month as I redecorate for holidays and seasons, trading out quilts for various displays.
8. Vintage Salvage
In case you haven’t noticed, I like old stuff. I also enjoy figuring out ways to repurpose others’ junk into pretty gems. I definitely believe in second chances! One of the ways that I repurpose vintage finds is through displaying quilts on them. With a creative eye, I will see something with great potential for new life, including as a quilt rack.
I’m not sure if this was once part of an old baby crib, but it definitely makes a beautiful quilt rack.Our sunroom is home to many of our collections. It is the perfect room for displaying quilts. They add to the warmth and comfort. This salvaged piece of furniture is propped on a vintage farm table, lovingly displaying one of Grandma Mamie’s colorful quilts. Care to guess what the quilt in the corner of the room is displayed on?! It’s a door, but not just any door. This door is from our 1940’s schoolhouse. It was once a stall door in the girls’ restroom, and is now a corner quilt display. I couldn’t bear to see the door discarded. I knew it could be upcycled into something useful and beautiful.This is the same school door, up close and personal! It is merely propped against the wall. I fell hard for the sunbonnet quilt at an estate sale. It reminds me of my childhood school lunchbox. The quilt displays well on this door, carefully folded over the top of the door.This is my latest architectural find. It was once the towel rack to an antique washstand. It’s slightly warped, but the price of $2.50 was irresistible. It looks right at home repurposed as a quilt rack. I’m still trying out different spots to display it. This is the perfect example of my passion for creating beauty with junk!
9. Tree Skirts
I saved till last one of my favorite uses for colorful quilts. Quilts make wonderful Christmas tree skirts. You simply gather the quilt into a circular shape, tucking under the corners till it fits the area under the tree. Make sure the quilt hides the tree stem. This works just as well with an Autumn or Halloween tree. It creates a warm and cozy country cottage feel.
Our family’s memory tree sits on top of an old trunk. A red and mint green Pioneer Woman pinwheel quilt is the perfect tree skirt. It has that country cottage look that I so adore, especially at Christmas time.Our vintage Shiny Brites tree is skirted with a green and white quilt. We found the quilt on a thrifting adventure in an underground cave hosting a flea market. I use lots of tartan plaid in the living room, so the quilt is a rest stop and feast for the eyes. This tree is set up in October for Halloween and stays up through the new year. Once Halloween is over, the tree gets a change in ornaments and a new skirt to adorn its base. I really like sunflowers; they make me smile. This yellow quilt matches the sunflowers adorning our Autumn tree. I can’t begin to tell you how many smiles this tree display brings as we gather with family and friends.
I am so excited to finally finish this blog post on displaying quilts. I’ve been sorting through photos and writing for several months. I just kept finding more and more photos to share and inspire! Whether it’s an old heirloom quilt, a newly purchased patchwork beauty, or a special quilt that you’ve sewn yourself, I hope that you display such quilts throughout your home. There are so many wonderful ways to show them off as works of heart and works of art. Quilts are guaranteed to create a warmth that welcomes others into your home and deeply touches their soul.
This pink and blue floral quilt is the inspiration for our Spring decor. It is the reverse side of a beautiful patchwork quilt and creates a romantic cozy cottage vignette.
Comfy Lane Cottage 