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With Christmas just around the corner, you're probably looking to introduce some festive textiles into your home to get you in the spirit and ready for the season.

Alongside your Christmas tree, fairy lights and wreaths, tartan is the perfect print to incorporate with a traditional Christmas colour scheme of red and green.

However, tartan doesn't just have to be something we use in our homes at Christmas, it's also a fantastic print to decorate your rooms with all year round.

Here, we take a look at some of our favourite tartan textiles and delve deeper into the history of tartan and how it is made...

The History Of Tartan

As an important symbol of Scottish Heritage, the origins of different tartan patterns are a form of identification to different clans or families. From as early as the 1500s, each area or community would have their own weaver. He (they were almost always men) would produce the same tartan for each member of that group and people were identified by their weave.

The colours of the weave depended on where that community was situated. If the weaver lived on the west coast of Scotland, seaweed, Gipsywort and seashore welks would be used to create greens, nudes and purples, whereas those living inland would use what was available on the moors for their colours. Heather treated in different ways would make yellow, green and brown, blaeberries would provide purples, browns and blues, and lichens would create a wide range of subtle shades.

Over the years, tartan has developed into a multi-million pound industry and is made in large mills – mainly still based in Scotland, but popular throughout the UK. In more recent years, different coloured tartans have become a fashion staple on the high street, in clothing, accessories and household textiles.

What Is Tartan?

Tartan is the name of the pattern which consists of criss crossed horizontal and vertical bands. Tartan is a woven material, usually wool or acrylic, but more recently, different materials are used in different textures.

The weaves are different colours varying in breadth. Each thread in the warp (the vertical thread) crosses each thread in the weft (the horizontal thread) at right angles. Where a thread in the warp crosses a thread of the same colour it creates a solid colour and a thread crossing a different colour produces a mixture of the colours. The number of threads determines the the thickness of the pattern and the number of colours used determines the type of tartan that is created.

Why Choose Tartan For Your Home?

Tartan is available in many different colours, so if you feel as though the classic red would not fit with your style or current décor, there are other options to use in your home all year round.

At this time of the year, a traditional red tartan can pull together your autumn/winter look, and would look fantastic with traditional red, green and gold Christmas decorations. Tartan, and variations of tartan, can be used in any room.

Here are a few tips to add checks into your home décor...

- Tartan In Your Bedroom

A tartan bedspread or duvet cover would become the focal point of your room with its stand out design, especially if the rest of your décor is neutral. This Shrewsbury Red Check and Stripe Reversible Duvet Cover Set has a classic red tartan print, and is also available in Denim blue for a tartan print with a difference.

A way to add a more subtle tartan into your bedroom is with something like this Shrewsbury Graphite Check and Stripe Reversible Duvet Cover Set. The neutral tones will compliment other colours brilliantly to achieve an attractive décor.

For a festive, seasonal look, this Stag Reversible Tartan Natural Duvet Cover Set would be a great choice. With tartan stags heads, you're adding a touch of tartan to the room without making it into a statement.

- Tartan For Your Living Room

You can add touches of tartan to your living room in many ways - both for traditional and modern décor. Add tartan print cushions alongside cushions of similar colours to add touches of the trend into your room.

The Birkdale Tartan Check Cushion Cover comes in red and cream, cream and beige, charcoal silver grey and teal duck egg blue, so you have options to work alongside other cream and coloured cushions.



The Birkdale Check Lined Eyelet Curtains come in the same colours as the cushions (red, beige, teal and grey), which is a perfect way of bringing the room together and adding a pop of colour to your décor.

You can also change the look of the room with a throw. Tartan throws can be used to cover sofas or seats, or can be draped over the side of your settee to add a pop of colour. They're also cosy for winter evenings when you want to curl up and watch TV. You could store them rolled up in a wicker basket or woven bin at the side of the sofa for an extra decorative touch.

This Supersoft Check Tartan Throw in green, brown or orange would be a great addition to your living room.



- Tartan For Your Kitchen

Add a touch of the tartan trend to your kitchen with these PVC gingham table cloths and curtains. As a variation of tartan, gingham is seen as more of a kitchen-themed print, which works perfectly to create a homely, cottage-style décor.



Revamp Your Decor

No matter what time of year it is, tartan is always a popular choice when it comes to home décor and household textiles. It's easy to add touches here and there to complete a neutral colour scheme with pops of colour, and it's a great print to choose to create an attractive feature in a room.

Towards the Christmas period, tartan can help make your home feel cosy and festive alongside festive Christmas decorations. Add tartan to your colour scheme this Christmas by tying tartan ribbons on your tree alongside the fairy lights and baubles for a traditional and classic look.

How do you style your tartan furniture and textiles in your rooms? Let us know in the comments below.

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