Decorating
Turkish Peshtemals Bring Bohemian Beauty Home
Lightweight and thin yet super absorbent, the traditional Turkish bathhouse towel finds uses throughout the house
Dating back more than 600 years to the heyday of the hammam, or Turkish bathhouse, the peshtemal is an oversize towel made of natural fibres and traditionally hand-loomed by women in the Black Sea and Aegean regions of Turkey. It’s distinguished by its fringed hem and stripes, and prized for its high absorption, quick drying time, thin profile and tendency to become softer with each washing.
Simple luxuries, many peshtemals are still made by true artisans from cotton, linen, silk and bamboo in Turkey, whose prime climate is well-known for producing some of the world’s finest textile fibres. Besides being delightful gifts, the towels offer a breadth of budget decorating solutions to those who appreciate a bohemian aesthetic without a heavy price tag. Here are 10 ways to feature this timeless fabric at home.
Simple luxuries, many peshtemals are still made by true artisans from cotton, linen, silk and bamboo in Turkey, whose prime climate is well-known for producing some of the world’s finest textile fibres. Besides being delightful gifts, the towels offer a breadth of budget decorating solutions to those who appreciate a bohemian aesthetic without a heavy price tag. Here are 10 ways to feature this timeless fabric at home.
2. Table runner
Folded in half and spread in rows across a table, peshtemals keep the tone organic and laid-back for everyday dining indoors and out. Cotton ones are the perfect fuss-free table coverings because they’re easily washable – they don’t take up much room in the machine and actually get softer with laundering.
Folded in half and spread in rows across a table, peshtemals keep the tone organic and laid-back for everyday dining indoors and out. Cotton ones are the perfect fuss-free table coverings because they’re easily washable – they don’t take up much room in the machine and actually get softer with laundering.
3. Furniture cover
There’s no doubt that the peshtemal lends bohemian charm to any room it graces. Its unpretentious material is rarely at home in very formal settings but is just perfect for casually draping over furniture. For those on a budget, a large peshtemal or two can take the place of a slipcover or hide a multitude of crimes against upholstery. My sister uses one to add colour to her basic beige apartment couch while stealthily masking a nail-polish catastrophe.
There’s no doubt that the peshtemal lends bohemian charm to any room it graces. Its unpretentious material is rarely at home in very formal settings but is just perfect for casually draping over furniture. For those on a budget, a large peshtemal or two can take the place of a slipcover or hide a multitude of crimes against upholstery. My sister uses one to add colour to her basic beige apartment couch while stealthily masking a nail-polish catastrophe.
4. Bed runner
The bed is truly a decorator’s dream. There are so many possibilities for expression in the multiple layers of fabric that make up a bedding ensemble. While many traditionalists are fond of placing a quilt at the foot of their bed, those with more eclectic or minimalist tendencies will appreciate the way a peshtemal can inexpensively achieve the same layered contrast with no need for fluffing up a bulky down insert.
The bed is truly a decorator’s dream. There are so many possibilities for expression in the multiple layers of fabric that make up a bedding ensemble. While many traditionalists are fond of placing a quilt at the foot of their bed, those with more eclectic or minimalist tendencies will appreciate the way a peshtemal can inexpensively achieve the same layered contrast with no need for fluffing up a bulky down insert.
5. By the entryway
If you don’t have a proper mudroom, keep a peshtemal on hand for quick wipe-ups of mud or sandy feet. The classic stripes will look good hanging in even the most public, high-traffic areas, and keeping your entryway sparkling clean may just become a daily habit.
If you don’t have a proper mudroom, keep a peshtemal on hand for quick wipe-ups of mud or sandy feet. The classic stripes will look good hanging in even the most public, high-traffic areas, and keeping your entryway sparkling clean may just become a daily habit.
7. Throw
Owing to its luxurious proportions, the peshtemal makes a fantastic lightweight throw. Draped over a chair, it adds softness, colour and a subtle striped pattern, and imparts an international flair to the decor. Its far-flung origins appeal to worldly sophisticates and surf-shack dwellers, but we see here that it’s right at home among more traditional furnishings too.
Owing to its luxurious proportions, the peshtemal makes a fantastic lightweight throw. Draped over a chair, it adds softness, colour and a subtle striped pattern, and imparts an international flair to the decor. Its far-flung origins appeal to worldly sophisticates and surf-shack dwellers, but we see here that it’s right at home among more traditional furnishings too.
8. Beach towel
Peshtemals are synonymous with summer vacations. Just having one around the house in summer can be enough to inspire a trip to the beach. Among its many virtues is an ability to pack tightly into a beach bag, where it takes up barely more room than your sun cream. What’s more, its versatility as a quick-drying beach towel, coverup and scarf for windy boat rides makes it a true summer essential.
Peshtemals are synonymous with summer vacations. Just having one around the house in summer can be enough to inspire a trip to the beach. Among its many virtues is an ability to pack tightly into a beach bag, where it takes up barely more room than your sun cream. What’s more, its versatility as a quick-drying beach towel, coverup and scarf for windy boat rides makes it a true summer essential.
9. In a small space
It’s not only inside a suitcase that peshtemals offer a space-saving advantage. Consider that three of them consume the same amount of room as the typical towel, and you can see why they’re a popular choice among studio apartment dwellers with limited storage. Plus, they look perfectly chic out in the open, so there’s no need to hide them away in a dedicated linen cupboard.
More ways to store towels
It’s not only inside a suitcase that peshtemals offer a space-saving advantage. Consider that three of them consume the same amount of room as the typical towel, and you can see why they’re a popular choice among studio apartment dwellers with limited storage. Plus, they look perfectly chic out in the open, so there’s no need to hide them away in a dedicated linen cupboard.
More ways to store towels
10. Dish towel
What works well in the bath often works well in the kitchen, and the peshtemal is no exception. Wherever there’s a need for dry hands and surfaces, it trumps the competition with its quick-drying power. Plus, dozens can be stashed in a drawer, and those that are hung add mega personality to the hard surfaces, the way they do in the washroom.
MORE
Easy and Affordable DIY Tricks to Keep Bath Towels Handy
10 Quick Fixes to Get Your Home in the Mood for Summer
13 Questions to Help You Choose the Right Bath Towel
What works well in the bath often works well in the kitchen, and the peshtemal is no exception. Wherever there’s a need for dry hands and surfaces, it trumps the competition with its quick-drying power. Plus, dozens can be stashed in a drawer, and those that are hung add mega personality to the hard surfaces, the way they do in the washroom.
MORE
Easy and Affordable DIY Tricks to Keep Bath Towels Handy
10 Quick Fixes to Get Your Home in the Mood for Summer
13 Questions to Help You Choose the Right Bath Towel
Kudos to Anthropologie for capturing the unassuming versatility of the Turkish peshtemal (sometimes spelled pestemal). In this understated bathroom, we see the towels tossed over a rail to be used post-shower or even as a stylish shawl to grab on the way out the door. There’s no need to spread them out to dry; lightweight and thin, they don’t stay damp for long.
You can also find robes made in the same style and material as the peshtemal.