Baker's Dozen: My Favorite 13 Tapestries in 2023 (So Far)

Trying to find things that are calming to me or make me happy is one of my goals I've set with my psychologist this year. It's hard to feel relaxed and comfortable when your brain never shuts up and your body is always tensed up. If I'm not berating myself with that infamous inner critic, I'm having nightmares or insomnia or clenching my jaw until my teeth hurt - there's just no peace in me. I've never been one for meditation, so the best I can do right now is improve the home atmosphere. Make it somewhere I want to come home to and where I can really relax. But I don't really know what that is for me yet; a lot of emotions are either practically screaming - so loud - or they're really nuanced and hard for me to grasp sometimes.

It's so, so simple to swap tapestries out for whatever atmosphere I want at a moment's notice, and I really like that for quick changes throughout the day. I can be anywhere with just a few changes; visual in the form of tapestries and projectors, auditory in the form of ambient sounds or natural sounds through a speaker, and olfactory in the forms of perfumes, candles, or incense. The clutter that's built up has been a huge hindrance, but so has the blankness of the house. There's few colors, little texture...

It's just a place I am; not one I really want to be in and feel like I can be comfortable in. In my parents' home, I never felt comfortable to be myself or express myself (or even know how to express myself cause no one asked or taught me how). In this home, I feel I can express myself - after several years resisting the idea. The discomfort right now comes from not having clear spaces to get cozy in and not having a pleasant atmosphere to look at. Thankfully, decorating is a much easier thing to fix than the emotional neglect I grew up with.

While I, myself, am still in the midst of an identity crisis, my partner and I have finally begun working towards getting our house into order and decorating it to finally make it ours. Admittedly, my partner doesn't care so much about the way the house looks, but the bare walls and stripped atmosphere of the rooms as a result of that have done nothing good for the depression I've had for decades. Between my depression and PTSD and his... I forget if it's A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. (very rarely does he mention it by name and it's been long enough I get fuzzy)...

Either way, between us, it can be very difficult to keep things in order. Especially with 6 furry animals indoors as well.

It didn't always used to be this bad, but we moved 3 times in 3 years, each place larger than the next, so by the time we wound up in our home for the last - nearly - 5 years...

...It was very easy not to finish unpacking those boxes of odds-and-ends, and it snowballed from there. My well-intentioned piles of items for recycling, scrapping, or repurposing added to the growing clutter. The sheer size of a three-level house with front and back yards which need upkeep - and the growing pack of animals that constantly fur them up - caught us a little unprepared. Prior to a fallout in 2021, I would drop everything to go help family at a moment's notice and then not have the energy for myself - much less the house - on top of all else.

Underlying all of that was my slightly avoidant attachment style and the way I grew up. Despite being in my longest relationship at the time (about 3 years, then - now 8), when we moved into this house, I was still expecting our relationship to fall apart at any time. Not because my partner gave me any reason to think he'd leave me suddenly, but because that's what I've come to expect from past relationships. Growing up with a very disabled younger brother - over whom prior boyfriends had ended the relationships over - didn't help; I grew up with the mindset that I would basically be an old maid, forever and only taking care of my brother. I never thought I would get a long-term relationship.

So I never decorated the house, so that, if and when it didn't work out, there would be limited evidence of my living there for my partner to fix. Welcome to my mind - real fun place, eh?

But my partner is a mostly patient man. He's got very little patience for electronics that don't work as intended in quick fashion, but is a true sage when it comes to winning over animals and the like. So by the time my ties with my family were becoming questionable a few years ago, my ties with him were becoming more clear; I could put down roots in this relationship. And by extension, the house. It was around then that I started therapy, and I've been working on both myself and the house since.

It's agonizingly slow going.

One thing I didn't expect to get really excited about when thinking of what we could decorate with was tapestries. I've always enjoyed them when I've seen them at someone else's house, but I initially started finding a few for our house due to how much wall space they take up. Most pictures I have laying around are small-medium in size, and would leave much of the rooms they are supposed to go in still quite barren. Given that the walls have some swirly texturing going on, the less painting we have to do, the better. Tapestries are much lighter than heavy-framed pictures and can fill up larger areas of blank wall. It's also very easy to swap one out for another, and that is what I've been getting very excited about lately.

This is especially true in the upper hallway and bedroom. I know I want each area of the house to have a different kind of element and atmosphere tied to it; I know I want the hallway to have at least two large tapestries to break up that long, narrow, bleak stretch. At first, I wanted more leading up the stairs - the first being a tapestry of looking up through trees into the starry night sky. Then one of constellations. And finally, one of an entire galaxy; I wanted them to sort of tell a story and all, pulling away from Earthly bounds.

Well, first off, I'm probably only going to have two now; I think instead of the stairways housing one, it will just have the mirrors and candle sconces we plan to put there, for simplicity's sake. Second, I'm growing fond of the idea of switching those tapestries out much more often than expected, and making that hallway sort of a free-for-all for any and all tapestries and not just the space-y ones. I wound up getting some that I liked, but that didn't fit in with the more "fixed" rooms - the ones with more dedicated themes. For example, I won't be hanging the polar bear tapestry in the dining room, which is themed more towards jungles that would feature tigers and leopards - but there's not really a dedicated spot for it. It would be an ideal candidate to hang in the hallway - sometimes.

Most rooms are far from done; I'm fully expecting it to take us the entirety of 2023 to get everything cleaned up and all the decorations hung up with our usual hangups in mind. But we've made progress with a few areas already. One such area is the most recent: a chain stretched across my office closet. Its purpose? To let me hang tapestries there. Admittedly, between my partner and myself, such projects are basically amateur hour... There's more holes to fill in later than I care to count already, and we're just getting started. But - I hope - when we're finally done putting it all together, I think it'll really be nice. Somewhere I want to be; can relax in. Can maybe find peace in.

Wouldn't that just be lovely?

While I can't wait to get things in order and show off these tapestries in the areas they're actually supposed to go in, for now, let me introduce you to my favorite 13 tapestries - so far! They are in no particular order - I love all of these pretty equally! Don't mind the folds and creases - these came straight out of their packaging or were crumpled up for a time as I waited for us to get the chain hung up. They'll come out with time. There's also some sagging in the middle - I may have to include clips on the sides of the closet to help pull the tapestries open properly in the future, but for now, it's a small annoyance I'm willing to put up with.

Links for the tapestries are in the headers - I hope you enjoy!

1) Orca

I've always had a soft spot for the orca, or killer whale, so it comes as little surprise that I bought a tapestry or two featuring the creatures! This was also one of the first I received, and it's spent a little time crumpled up since then. Even so, it's a very lovely piece!

Initially, this one was going to be featured in the master bedroom's bathroom. Odd choice, I know, but the tapestry would have covered an entire wall in the bathroom (the bathroom is quite small). However, this was one thing my partner - who usually lets me do just about anything I want - spoke up against, saying it was akin to carpet in the bathroom. Since the "tapestries in the bathrooms" wasn't going to pan out, we instead ordered different items for that wall. A little more expense, but it still turned out fairly nice (can't wait to show off the finished rooms).

It did leave me with this - and another tapestry - without a proper home; and it was then that I decided I would buy even more tapestries than initially purchased so that I can swap them out as frequently as I desire.

I love everything about this one: how light the material is, the contrast of sea and sky, and the scene itself is both reminiscent of true behavior in the wild and slightly whimsical. Though the breaching individual looks more like it would be "spy-hopping" - a technique used to see prey above the water line - it's also fun to imagine these intelligent orca as stargazing. An easy detail to miss - or misinterpret - is the third individual, as its head appears next to the middle orca's fluke. Overall, it's a calming scene - and that's largely what these tapestries are about!

2) Ancient Marine Reptile - Tylosaurus (?)

My office, once cleaned up and decorated, is supposed to largely feature the elements and prehistoric life. Mainly dinosaurs, which should come as no shock after my last job at Jurassic World: the Exhibition in Denver, 2022. Now, the ancient marine reptile pictured above is not a dinosaur. What exactly it is, I have a hard time saying. I think in the listing it mentions Mosasaurus, but I've seen this same image in YouTube docs that usually call it Tylosaurus. All I know is it's an ancient marine reptile and I am here for it!

This one is a little longer than other tapestries I bought; I was so excited about this one that I got one of the bigger sizes, even though I knew it meant using more of my limited bit of chain to hang it! This is the tapestry that influenced the chain extending over not just my closet, but also over the mirror! Obviously, the slack is a drawback, but there's only so much that can be done given the weight and how we hung the chain up.

I love being able to look this prehistoric creature pretty much right in the eye - I certainly couldn't do it otherwise!

3) Daytime Ocean Shallows

I actually first bought 3 canvas prints that form the same image when the orca tapestry wasn't going to be placed in the master bedroom's bathroom! I loved them so much that, when browsing more tapestries and coming across this, I had to get it!

It is simple, but beautiful. Serene. It's the very kind of tapestry I was searching for when looking to add some calm to the house - and, I hope, myself! While the 3 canvas prints in the master bedroom bathroom lend to the "sunny shallows" theme now implemented in the room, I'd be happy to hang this one in several spots to help elevate my mood!

Also, though the fold lines still stand out, the sagging actually somewhat improves this tapestry in that, as I pace about my office as I do, the extra folds and "waves" give it a little extra dimension. I really notice it with the sandy bottom, and it almost extends the effect to make the sand look uneven as it would in real life. Often as I approach during my pacing, it's easy to imagine walking on that uneven, sandy seabed.

Truly, this one invokes calm and serenity. And I - and my PTSD - could use some more of that...

4) Nighttime Ocean

Minus the fold lines and the sag-lines... Could you believe this is on fabric?!? That water looks gorgeous! Yes, I'd like to splash around in that - or just admire it (I'm not much of a swimmer)...

As far as this one goes, it is a very calming piece for me. I am often a night owl, so the moon in this image is also a huge comfort. But the light reflecting off the top of the water, and that beautiful blue in the foreground... Is it any wonder this was another case of, "I love this picture so much, I am going to get a tapestry of it too"?

5) Rock Overlooking Sea

Is it really a surprise this one made the first list (I mean, it is the cover photo)? It's so bright, vibrant, and full of natural beauty! I really enjoy the textures and contrast this tapestry offers. It's another one of those, "Can you believe this is on fabric!?" type pieces. Grab me a chair; I feel like I'll see a seabird flying by any second! A little ambience from a speaker playing ocean wave sounds, and I'll simply drift away!

Moreover, like one of the previous entries, the sagging actually adds to it; as I'm pacing the room and nearing the tapestry, the folds cause the rocks to look like they're bulging out towards me - much like how the real deal would be!

I realize that, so far, these have all been themed around seabeds and oceans, but it makes sense to me; these are all of water - commonly associated with emotion. My emotions, due to emotional neglect, depression, and PTSD are all over - in turmoil nearly constantly. The ones listed so far in particular all feature fairly calm, undisturbed waters - even the one with orca breaking the water surface. It is an external representation of what I want internally; emotions that are not roiling. On a less-deep level, I am also from a land-locked location; this is my way of bringing the oceans to me.

6) Dragon

Most of the tapestries I have or are in my wish-list awaiting purchase are of natural scenes or real animals. However, one room will - down the road - be transformed into a type of "hangout" room; somewhere I can dedicate to a soft, comforting, and creative space. Somewhere I can both get involved in creative pursuits like crafts, but can also just... chill. Nap. Read. Not be interrupted by the pets, who easily break into my office. It's supposed to have a futon I can lay on, a small coffee maker so I don't have to leave the room if I'm comfortable (sometimes I have to race the cats to use the bathroom by myself, so the less I have to leave a room for, say, water for coffee, the better), and a bunch of cozy things - including my stuffed animals.

The room itself needs work; it was, surprisingly, a nursery. I say that because, good grief, who puts their child in such a red room? It's so aggressive - it's not comforting at all. Not to me anyway, though I admit, I lean towards cooler color palettes. But that is such an aggressive color for a nursery... Needless to say, once it's cleaned out, that room needs repainted. To what color, I'm having trouble deciding. I know I want it to be a calm space where I can nap and create without mucking up my office space. Somewhere creative...

I considered a base coat of black and using some form of shape or pattern in several other colors to break it up, but uh... paint's expensive as shit... Also, as I mentioned earlier, there's some swirling texturing going on that encourages the least amount of painting possible. That room won't be done for a while though, so... I've got time to think on that. Purples, blues, turquoise, and even pinks are expected to be featured in the room in some form. But this tapestry is supposed to be featured in there frequently.

I can think of no better symbol of creativity and no better defender of a "safe spot" like this room is supposed to be than that of a dragon. And this one is stunning. I can't wait to see it featured in the room it's supposed to go in most often - it'll really set the atmosphere!

7) Polar Bear

My love of the polar bear goes all the way back to my first memory; my 4th birthday, where my sister gifted me my most beloved - and worn - stuffed animal, Klondike. At the time, the polar bear cubs Klondike and Snow captured Denver's attention at the Denver Zoo, and large stuffed animals in their likeness filled local grocery stores. I never got the matching Snow (they sold out so quickly), but Klondike has been through it all with me. You could say he's been favored to death... poor thing.

So it should come as yet another non-surprise that I found at least one tapestry of a polar bear I just had to have.

This is a lighter, cloth tapestry, and as you can see, this means it does wrinkle easily if it's not stored properly.

It's a very simple image, but I chose this one over more realistic versions because of 1) the contrast against the black background and 2) that effect at the back-end of the bear. It gives the illusion of either water or of that effect of snow being blown off or evaporated from the top of ice. Perhaps more symbolically, it highlights that, like wisps of snow shed from ice in the heat of sunlight, polar bears - and their habitat - are quickly evaporating into air.

The image is beautiful, but also instills consideration of the fate of the ice bears. There may be a day - in our lifetimes - where these bears disappear into extinction. It causes me a great deal of sadness to think about that, but if that's how things shake out, I will at least be reminded of the animals' beauty in the future with images like this one.

8) Geode

In my office, once it's cleaned and decorated, the themes are the elements and prehistoric life. There will be plenty of dinosaurs, and each wall of the office will feature at least one different element: fire and stone largely on one wall, water on another, greenery on a third, and the primal force of a tornado will feature next to the office window. I've already shown you the ancient marine reptile that will cruise by on occasion in the room, but now let me show you a less animated gem.

Literally!

I may not have hung it up the right direction; it's a little hard to tell. But the image is that of a blue geode. While I have another of some pink-ish/purple gemstones, I chose to feature this one as it is slightly easier to tell what you're looking at. Slightly. Pretty sure I hung this one upside-down...

But is it still gorgeous or what?

While the wall around the office closet is mainly going to house images of watery scenes, I have conceded that other elements - or even unrelated themes - are still welcome as tapestries over the closet! Since the room houses my fossil and rock collections... Well, it's not hard to figure out why I'd throw a tapestry of a geode up!

9) Mossy Jungle

Admittedly, close up, this one looks a tad splotchy and blurry. However, given the image is of a mossy tree and most of the time I'm looking at it with some distance; this is a cozy tapestry. It's another of those, "if it weren't for the fold lines, you'd feel like you were at the base of this tree" type of things.

It's lovely. It's soft - from the moss on the tree to the light shining down to the fabric it's printed on. It is definitely another image that invokes that sense of calm I'm looking for.

It would be so easy to hang this up - maybe put a green projection light up to cover the rest of the room - and play forest ambience or tribal music. Maybe even spritz on a little earthy perfume; I've found several featuring oak moss that I adore and would give an earthy smell fitting of the image. Maybe lay a mat on the floor, lay down with all that visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli and just... lay there. Enjoy that. Take it in. Get (pleasantly) lost in a forest.

10) Skeletal Lovers

This one isn't so unique; I've purchased several versions of skeletal lovers in various stages of, well, being lovers. However, this one captures more than others I bought; there's more of the skeletal lovers revealed in the image. It's an intimate pose without the distractions of the outer flesh; you focus on their actions, not the individuals. The tender embrace is the focus, not the who. Much like actual love, the actions of the lovers speaks louder than the outer appearance.

But also... skeletons. Turning the house into a version of mismatched nature documentary aside, I also dig the creepy. The Gothic. The dark.

With as many of these types of tapestries as I've already purchased, I have a nice selection to switch through between the bedroom they are meant to be featured in - and the hallway leading to it. It only seems fitting that the lovers spend most of their time in the bedroom, hm?

11) Galaxy

Initially, this was one of the tapestries chosen for the hallway. It's still likely to be featured there, but would also not be out of place in that cozy, chill-out-and-craft room the dragon is supposed to feature in frequently. Similar color ranges, you know?

Most of the space-y ones I picked out don't feature planets; usually they are just stars. However, I made an exception for this one. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be Saturn for sure, but it is, at the very least, reminiscent of the ice-ringed planet. And, as it turns out, Saturn is one of the only other planets I have an interest in.

It's soft in color and image. The colors are right in my favored color palette. And it invokes the sense of being a small part of the universe, but also showcases a perceived closeness within that vastness. I can't wait to have this one in the chill-out room and get stoned so I can just... space out.

12) Grim Reaper

While many of the tapestries I've bought have focused on bringing calmness and serenity into the home, I am a creature of habit. And my habits tend to seek out and feature creepy things. Sometimes, though, calmness also comes by looking into the eyeless sockets of the grim reaper. Facing mortality, while somber, can put other things into perspective.

And sometimes, you just want a creepy-ass atmosphere. Halloween parties come to mind. Appropriate atmosphere while writing a short horror story also lays claim to this type of tapestry.

Like the skeletal lovers, this is not the only grim reaper I have on hand. However, I chose to feature this one as it is the clearest and most intimate; this one, the grim reaper is front and center and not a ghastly apparition in the background.

13) Tiger

Finally, finishing out this Baker's Dozen list, we have a colorful tiger! Though I appreciate more natural images overall, I couldn't pass this beauty up!

This will be one tapestry featured mostly in the dining room, where the theme is jungle - and jungle cats. Mostly tigers, but leopards and jaguars are welcome as well! In a room full of greens and browns, this multi-colored piece should really stand out, though it wouldn't be out of place in the chill-out room either!

I can't wait to have plants growing on the stands around the dining room's walls, a group over for a dinner party, a projector casting more green into the room and the ambient sounds of a wild jungle breathing life into the space. It's going to be wildly beautiful; I just know it.

I have so many more decorations I can't wait to share, and a lengthy list of others I would like to acquire! Tapestries can really help set the mood in a room, and I am so excited to be able to start using that to my advantage! I can't wait to see how they help transform our home into somewhere I can unwind in! It's a long time coming, but we'll get there!

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy some of my past Baker's Dozen lists! Feel free to subscribe for free if you hope to see future content from me, including other lists like these, personal stories and struggles, and a lot of short fiction stories! Below are a few Baker's Dozen lists that made it as Top Stories on Vocal.media in the past:

Baker's Dozen: Perfumes I Loved (2022)

Baker's Dozen: Cannabis Strains (2021)

Baker's Dozen: YouTube Channels (2021)

Baker's Dozen: Comfort Shows (2021)