The Beauty of Patchwork: Quilt Styles and Patterns
A patchwork quilt is the epitome of timeless bedding, and its popularity persists because of the versatile designs, colors, and patterns available. But you don’t have to scour thrift stores or dig through your grandmother’s attic to find an heirloom-worthy patchwork quilt. Today, The Company Store brings expertise, precision, and premium materials to patchwork, creating top-quality handcrafted quilts just as lovely as vintage versions. Explore our guide to patchwork quilts to learn more about this enduring design and find tips for how to style quilts in your home, no matter your decor preferences.
What Is a Patchwork Quilt?
A patchwork quilt is a type of pieced quilt in which the overall design is created by arranging smaller squares or triangles of fabric into blocks, which are then stitched together to create the top layer of the quilt. The history of patchwork can be traced back thousands of years, but patchwork quilts are anything but old-fashioned and stuffy—rather, they make a beautiful addition to any bedroom.
Benefits of Patchwork Quilts
Whether designing a comfy kids’ bed or adding festive color to the guest suite, a patchwork quilt is a timeless, perfect option for every room, and its benefits range from style to sentimentality. Here are some of our favorite reasons to choose the classic patchwork quilt:
Add Color and Dimension
Say goodbye to boring bedding by incorporating a patchwork quilt into your design, whether you fold it at the foot of the bed or display it as the primary top layer. With its mix of patterns, hues, and styles, a patchwork quilt creates visual contrast and adds multifaceted color and dimension to your space—an effect that’s amplified by its varied textures and intricate stitching. This versatility makes patchwork quilts equally suitable for minimalists in pursuit of a pop of drama and daring decorators enthusiastic about mixing patterns, textures, and colors.
Invest in a Timeless Heirloom
Modern patchwork quilts offer a contemporary take on an enduring aesthetic, reimagining traditional designs for today’s tastes. You’ll find quilts that showcase classic patterns—traditional log cabin and star blocks are familiar favorites, as are grid like arrangements of square blocks. This adherence to tradition results in timeless bedding layers that can be passed down from generation to generation. When handcrafted in top-quality materials with care and attention, a patchwork quilt can last for decades—or longer.
Showcase Seasonality
The beauty of a patchwork quilt lies in its complex use of color and pattern, and patchwork designs can showcase or eschew seasonality, depending on which you choose. Choose a patchwork quilt in a palette that can work across seasons and layer it with solid colors or textures to suit the specific time of the year—deep red flannel sheets or a warm winter white blanket for the holiday months, and brighter hues or lightweight linen layers for summer’s warmer days. Or, choose a patchwork quilt for a particular holiday or season. Lovely pastel hues and ditsy florals feel delightfully springy, while rich jewel tones are lovely during winter. Because quilts are thinner than comforters or duvet inserts, they fold easily to store when not in use—the perfect bedding layer to swap and substitute for a new style throughout the year.
How To Coordinate a Patchwork Quilt and Bedding
Patchwork quilts often feature several colors and complementary patterns, so coordinating them with other bedding layers can take some practice. Follow these tips to mix and match patchwork quilts with sheets, comforters, and blankets in the kids’ room, primary suite, and beyond.
- Beginners, don’t be overwhelmed by patchwork quilts’ many pattern and palette options. Choose the piece that speaks to you, then opt for solid bedding for your other layers. If colorful bedding is not your style, an ombré-inspired patchwork quilt that features several shades of the same hue is an excellent entry point to this timeless style.
- In a kids’ room, choose a quilt that naturally lends itself to pairing with printed sheets and balances a child’s unique sense of style. A simple design of solid or subtly patterned blocks pieced together creates the perfect patchwork quilt for kids. A patchwork quilt in a rainbow of colors creates a bright and happy atmosphere for elementary-age kids. Choose pale, pastel hues for a soothing ambiance, or opt for saturated colors like a rich navy blue for a teenager’s room.
- While a patchwork’s many patterns can add some dimension to your bedding look, you can always add more by layering in other contrasting elements: Solid-colored sheets in a hue pulled from the patchwork prints bring balance beneath your quilt, and a lofty or textured blanket adds contrast above.
- Don’t shy away from pairing patchwork with patterns. Take a cue from standard tips for mixing and matching bedding and pay attention to scale, color, and style so your mismatched layers coordinate well. Our favorite combination? A patterned patchwork quilt with top-quality sheets showcasing subtle ticking stripes or teeny tiny polka dots.
Patchwork quilts effortlessly merge traditional craftsmanship and modern design, creating an adaptability that makes them a perfect addition to any bedroom. Follow our simple tips to incorporate a patchwork quilt into your home decor, and explore our other Articles and Tips for more advice on choosing bedding that reflects your style.