13 enchanting rya: these traditional textiles steal the show
A traditional rya can also transform modern decor. We’ve selected ideas from various homes that made this wall textile a spectacular focal point.
1. A frame completes the wall hanging
A large wall textile perfectly echoes the apartment’s green and burgundy walls. Once framed, it looks like a painting.
2. A rug soared onto the wall
In the second-floor bedroom of a new CLT house, a Moroccan rug on the wall is the main attraction, almost like a large rya. Because the space is open, it’s visible from downstairs, too. A big textile also helps with acoustics.
3. Tufted double doors as a custom job
A rya was commissioned for an old house in Turku’s Portsa area from Salon Matto ja Ryijy by Joonas Salo. Its theme is a paneled door, and the colors were inspired by the home’s tiled stoves and its Jugend style.
4. A rya like an apple
This flea market find is called Hedelmä, and it was designed by Johannes Saari. The living room’s wall color, Tikkurila V431 Nukkumatti, perfectly complements the rya's shades and the home’s tranquil atmosphere. The rya's colors also appear in the rug.
5. A traditional rose rya on a log wall
In the living room of a Southern Ostrobothnian house built in the early 1900s, a rose rya was discovered in the attic. It was likely made by one of the home’s earlier hostesses. There are various versions of the rose rya, and on the Tori marketplace they can sometimes be found for just a few dozen euros.
6. A bold choice for a young couple
Textile designer Tuula Saarenpää’s Kuunkivet rya made its way onto the wall of a young couple’s apartment from the sauna chamber at their summer cottage. It’s the perfect companion for a 1960s Asko chair and the bright green wall color.
7. Softness for the headboard
A Hopeanharmaa rya, designed by Leena-Kaisa Halme, acts as a striking headboard-like element behind the bed, softening the bedroom’s look. Its blue tones pair nicely with the wood-toned log walls.
8. The unexpected comeback of the 80s
A 1980s–90s wall hanging is an unexpected sight in the stylishly decorated old wooden apartment of KAJ’s Axel Åhman and his spouse Louise Mannil’s home. They picked it up at a flea market because it shares the same hues as the tiled stove.
9. Repeating the same shades
The turquoise-blue tones of this 1930s rya appear in variously painted wooden chairs and other details in the large living area.
10. A rya like it’s from Star Wars
The son of a rya-loving homeowner spotted textile designer Satu Peura’s Ketunleipä rya at a flea market and wanted it for his own room. Once at home, they discovered it was in mint condition and quite rare. Plus, it’s a perfect fit for a child’s room.
11. The chair’s important backdrop
Textile designer Ritva Puotila’s Maalla ja merellä rya is a Tori find from Tampere. It pairs beautifully with the inherited armchair.
12. Soft and traditional
A huge Porin tienoo rya was found at a flea market. The woven-in years add to its story. In the cottage bedroom, it serves as a headboard that extends up to the ceiling.
13. The star of the blue room
The resident’s mother made textile designer Ritva Puotila’s Pohjan poika rya in 1964, taking 270 hours to complete. Now it’s the unquestioned focal point in the fully blue dining room.
