I wouldn't myself, but I'm in favour of using anything that fits the space and style of the room and makes you happy. This red/white/blue room looks great. My country's flag has six colours -- not sure if that would make it easier to use or harder. The latter, I suspect. :-)

Only for holidays such as Independence Day or Flag Day. I am not comfortable using them in ways that I feel would dishonor them for instance as a rug to be walked on or upholstery to be sat upon. I sound like Wojo on Barney Miller when he arrested the flag vendor for having a flag on the seat of his pants that he sat on. LOL!

@Al Fortunato- That is a valid concern, but we live in a post - nineteen sixties world where nothing is sacred. "Good luck with your asparagus" on that one. Outside of former or present military members, who knows anything about flag etiquette? (Maybe the Scouts)
Anyway, back to the dilemma; when I was a child, I had a red, white and blue room. My mother bought me an American flag and it always stood in the corner of my room. If I remember correctly, she made a corduroy bag and put some bricks in it for a flag stand. I would like to get a couple of small state flags to display in my office as part of my Western theme.

If it fits the theme as in the original poster's pic then I think it really adds a great feel to the room. I wouldn't just place a flag in any room even if the colors work, it would just seem out of place.

@River Valley. I think that your displaying of flags in your office is acceptable and admirable, or in your room when you were a child. As long as they are displayed correctly and not used as throws on your chairs, etc. Just because we live in a "post - nineteen sixties world" doesn't mean that all customs should be thrown out or ignored. US Flags are not decorating items, I don't care how the other countries view their flag. It is also acceptable to display them in public buildings, schools, private residences, and any other appropriate place, as long as they are displayed correctly. How many people know that a flag hung outside should be taken down at night unless it is illuminated? A lot, I see it all the time, I guess they are just too lazy to take it down and put it back up, or too cheap to pay for the electricity. Flag etiquette is not a hard thing to find out about. We worry what side of the plate the forks and knives go on, and on this site what color a wall is, but not how to correctly display our flag.

@Al, may I also add that a tattered flag must be replaced and disposed of properly. (We bring them to our friend who is a fire chief in NY). In addition, when displaying more than one flag, the American flag must be on top, or higher than the others.

@ Ecletic; Although I disagree with a black and white representation of a US flag, I also don't consider it a US Flag, so I guess you can do whatever you want with it.

We have two flags that will be in the music room. I know some of the rules for the display (my husband seems to know a lot more:)). Regarding the display of more than one, we display them at the same level (not one on top of the other). I believe that is also the etiquette if you have a guest from a different country and you want to display their flag as well.
I don't consider flags as a decor accessory; it's the same as displaying a cross or a Christian icon painting or anything else that is sacred to you.

We love it in this way: (pixersize.com)

Where I live, the flag we got in 1994 was so joyously received that you could not stop citizens from using it in any way they wanted, putting it on anything they wanted in any way they wanted. Love totally overruled the rules. Which certainly do exist. But I do respect different strokes for different folks -- and I would never, never countenance a flag of any nation to be walked upon. Unless it were a good and respected tradition for that nation, in which case it would still not be for foreigners to do, probably.

Printesa, I don't think flags are often used just as a decor accessory. But I also don't really like the idea of them being plunked in a room where they look out of place. That's a kind of disrespect in itself. If you want your flag there, then create a room that is a suitable home for it. I like the adaptations of the US flag that Pixers has posted. There isn't the slightest trace of disrespect in them.

PS Al, it took me ages to find the little adaptation of the flag on the cushion in the pic; I didn't know what you were talking about. We have the problem of: does red go on the top and blue below, or vice versa? There will not be a quiz. Red goes on top. And no, that doesn't mean the communists won. :-)

When I was in high school, I attended a school that was coed and partially boarding students. The rule was that a person of the opposite sex could be in your room as long as the blinds were open. This led to a lot of creative placement of beds up against windows with blankets descending form the top bunk and flags displayed inside or outside of the blinds, especially with students in long term relationships. There will always be this high school/dorm room association with flag as decoration for me. I suppose it could be done in a more sophisticated way, but I've never seen it.

PRO - When used correctly. In our home, we celebrate the summer and all the holidays it entails by putting up bunting and flags in our front and backyard. They are only up for June, July, August and September.

We also have a flag proudly displayed in our front yard and back yard.

In my office I also have two flags on vertical display. Not only is it important to me as a Vietnam vet and the Father of a young vet, it's important that others see our flag when I'm doing SKYPE chats around the world.

RIna, the photos posted by Pixers are nice and not disrespectful. I just don't like when I see flags on pants, rugs, etc. This is valid for all the flags. Just to give a quick example...I was at a rock concert (Finnish band) here in the US. One person had the Finnish flag and asked the band to sign it, The singer did not want to do that. He did say that it was disrespectful.

Displaying the flag CORRECTLY is always appropriate. RWB is a traditional color scheme and showing your patriotism never goes out of style. But, the flag is not to be used as a decorating accessory.

@DR Rawson, thank you and your son for your service.

The flag isn't a relic, it's a beautiful living symbol and can be used as a celebration of all kinds. The Brits put theirs on the top of cars, on sofas, all over the place! And the Danes use little ones on birthday cakes, as table cloths and more. Both countries are very proud of their flags. I think we should be careful of defining too closely what is appropriate or not. Tearing it up and burning it are violent acts but are, from one perspective, just a pathetic attempt to rile some of us up. Let's wave our flag everywhere.

I have a soft spot for American folk art and primitives - look what I found yesterday at an antique shop! Hand-carved, hand-painted, very cool.

If it is your country's flag, then it needs to be displayed respectfully.

If you want to display your patriotism get a flag pole but please do not use your nation's flag as window drapes.

I am German, and due to our country's history we have a rather complicated 'relationship' with our flag. But my husband is Danish and the Danes love their Dannebrog. So when members of his family visit, we hang a Dannebrog over a large painting. Nobody cares that the correct display is horizontal instead of vertical.

I would never use the flag to "decorate" as both of my boys are Eagle Scouts and during their scouting years one of the many things learned were there are actual flag rules of respect and certain laws. And now that those boys are men serving our country I choose to honor the flag for what it truly stands for...hard fought freedom.

For the most part no. However during the appropriate holiday and when 9/11 occurred we hung the flag outdoors. I almost forgot, in our home Super Bowl Sunday is a holiday. We have a HUGE celebration. On that day we hang the American flag in the center with the opposing team flags on the side. It's a 54 year tradition.

I probably wouldn't use a flag as decor, but I have no objection to those who do. Part of what the flag celebrates is our right to free expression.

Honoring America via Americana...

We think so! This little boy’s parents hail from several places, but he was born in the US. Nothing lovelier than understanding your heritage and we were able to emphasize this with a beautiful vintage tea-dyed flag. I know he certainly has fun stories to tell with that as inspiration at bedtime.

obscure flags or artful flags only for me!

I have purchased some great local art of whimsical flags that have made perfect decorations for our home as a way of supporting local artists, adding great color to a room, etc. For ex., state flag using mixed media (wood & metal), US flag using hearts & peace signs instead of stars & stripes, flags with local towns painted in the flag, etc.

Generally no, unless for a kids room or a part of an overarching theme but of course rules are always meant to be broken.

I think flags can be cute indoors, especially framed antique flags.

Flags looking good..

Depends on the room and the way it's displayed

Down through the years of offering custom framed flags we've enjoyed seeing them placed in Washington DC, on movie sets, in universities, corporate board rooms, and home dens. Never lose sight of the fact that people are proud of the places they live and want to celebrate that in their decor. Will they sometimes get flag etiquette wrong? Perhaps. We all could use a bit more good old American pride in this wonderful nation.

Although I am a stickler for flag etiquette... I loved that my brother had a huge 48 star flag hanging in his childhood bedroom.

If I were to hang one I am fond of the Olde West Florida Republic Bonnie Blue

FYI: the red parishes (not counties) made up the whole nation

As decor because I have a 49-star flag, made for 6 months in 1959 between January and August after Alaska became a state and before Hawaii made statehood. Most don't notice, but the ones who do are delighted. Me too.

I pass

I dislike all flags, inside or out. They are okay for a used car dealership, however.

Am much more fond of antique maps!