Guest Picks: Loving Linen All Over the Home
Charmingly rumpled or ironed smooth, these linen finds from napkins to curtains bring casual elegance to rooms
Anita Joyce
April 20, 2014
As a child, I always loved natural fibers. I would often excitedly show my mother a dress or top I wanted that was made from linen or cotton. As soon as her eyes locked on the label with the dreaded words “iron after washing,” she would grab my arm just a bit too tightly and with a crazed look in her eyes say, “It’s going to wrinkle, you know. Are you going to iron it? Because I’m not going to.” The look of sheer horror on her face terrified me. I would drop the item I thought I wanted like it was a rotten potato. Stepping back, but unable to avert my eyes, I would mumble, “No.” Something about the way she said “iron” scared me to the core.
I pictured indentured slaves or perhaps prisoners sentenced to die, being tortured not with whips and chains, but with an iron, an ironing board and a pile of wrinkled clothing. I avoided things that wrinkled for years because of my mother’s aversion to ironing. As an adult, I soon found that ironing was not to be feared but embraced. I enjoyed seeing the fabric go from very wrinkled to smooth as silk after the steam cleared.
I began to think again of natural fibers, and I fell in love with linen. Now that I sew slipcovers and bedding, I have found linen to be my very favorite fabric. It has a look that cannot be copied by any other material. I also found out for myself why linen was such a popular summer fabric in the days before air conditioning: It’s cool to the touch. Now that I no longer fear the iron, I use linen throughout my home, and I recommend it to clients. Here are several products I found around the web that are all made from real linen. — Anita from Cedar Hill Farmhouse
I pictured indentured slaves or perhaps prisoners sentenced to die, being tortured not with whips and chains, but with an iron, an ironing board and a pile of wrinkled clothing. I avoided things that wrinkled for years because of my mother’s aversion to ironing. As an adult, I soon found that ironing was not to be feared but embraced. I enjoyed seeing the fabric go from very wrinkled to smooth as silk after the steam cleared.
I began to think again of natural fibers, and I fell in love with linen. Now that I sew slipcovers and bedding, I have found linen to be my very favorite fabric. It has a look that cannot be copied by any other material. I also found out for myself why linen was such a popular summer fabric in the days before air conditioning: It’s cool to the touch. Now that I no longer fear the iron, I use linen throughout my home, and I recommend it to clients. Here are several products I found around the web that are all made from real linen. — Anita from Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Rough Linen
Linen sheets are cool to the touch on hot summer nights. In the heat of Texas summers, my linen sheets make the night just a little bit cooler.
Rough Linen
To be ensconced under a linen-covered duvet is my idea of luxury. Add a great book, and I’m in heaven.
The rustic feel of linen makes these napkins scrumptious. My mother-in-law once scoffed at any nonlinen napkins.
Mark and Graham
What’s better than a linen napkin? A monogrammed linen napkin, of course! It a requirement if you are from the South. Hey, I don’t make the rules; I just report them.
Rough Linen
Linen makes for such an elegant party setting, and this homespun-like linen is simply beautiful.
Linen-covered boxes make for beautiful, elegant storage. I wouldn’t mind leaving these out for everyone to see.
A linen window shade looks elegant and relaxed at the same time.
Amazon
This chair has a classic elegance to it, which the linen fabric only enhances.
Button-closure pillows have a quiet elegance, and these would add a pop of color.
I work a lot with vintage grain sacks, and this reproduction is spot-on.
I rarely see linen throws, but I love the idea. They speak of luxury and simpler times.
Mark and Graham
I know I’ve covered this already, but anything linen with a monogram is a must-have.
This linen-covered chair has a soft, elegant look and would work beautifully in a traditional room.
Rough Linen
I know it’s wrinkled, but that is part of linen’s charm. I think this shower curtain would work equally well in a contemporary or traditional home.
You just can’t have too many pillows, and these knife-edge ones are classic and simple.
Rough Linen
Its coolness against the skin and crumpled look make linen my go-to fabric for bed pillows.
These throws are made from thickly spun linen yarns, giving them a knit feel.
I don’t use coffee tables in my home. But because I so love to put my feet up, I have a linen-covered ottoman.
A big initial on a pillow? Yes, please!
These linen panels are from Ikea, so you get the real thing for a bargain price.
Next: 8 Modern Uses for Classically Beautiful Linen
Next: 8 Modern Uses for Classically Beautiful Linen
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I love linen! I'm surprised that it is usually mentioned for clothing or bed sheets. I think linen tablecloths deserve more attention. Check out this website with linen tablecoth collection: www.lenpol.com
Another resurrection of this thread. Although I've never spent SO MUCH MONEY on sheets before, I can't consider going back to regular cotton after sleeping on well-washed, well-ironed, quality linen. I have insomnia issues, and these are the best. For the first time in years, the combination of white linen sheets and a lavender essential oil diffuser has me sleeping soundly and restfully. Who knew.
Beautiful items! I'm a linen maniac as well. In my farmhouse everything is linen - curtains, tablecloths, deco pillows and even the rug :) I made this rug myself from old linen sheets from Ikea that I used for 2 years. I have now replaced them into MagicLinen sheets and they are heavenly soft.